• Review session dates.
• Review class offerings schedule.
• Confirm session, level and class offering time.
• Complete online registration.
• Review the welcome email, which will be sent the Friday before the start of the session. 
• Report to class the first day and check in at the check-in table. 

This class familiarizes children between the ages of 6 months and approximately 3 years with the water and teaches swimming readiness skills. It provides safety information for parents and teaches techniques parents can use to orient their children to the water.

Prerequisites

• No skill prerequisites
• Child must be at least 6 months old
• Parent must accompany child to each class

Exit Skills

• None

Register for Parent & Child lessons here. 

Preschool Level 1

This level familiarizes children approximately 3-5 years old to the aquatic environment and help them acquire rudimentary basic aquatic skills. Participants will begin to develop positive attitudes and safe practices in and around water.

Prerequisites

• No skill prerequisites
• Children must be at least 3 years old

• Enter water independently, using either the ramp, steps or side, travel at least 5 yards, submerge to mouth and blow bubbles for at least 3 seconds then safely exit the water. (Children can walk, move along the gutter or “swim.”)
• While in shallow water, glide on front at least 2 body lengths, then roll to back and float on back for 3 seconds, then recover to a vertical position.

Preschool Level 2

In this level swimmers will build on and improve skills learned in Preschool Aquatics Level 1. Swimmers will also increase knowledge of water safety topics introduced in Preschool Aquatics Level 1.

Prerequisites

• Successful demonstration of the Preschool Aquatics Level 1 exit skills.

Exit Skills

• Glide on front for at least 2 body lengths, roll to back, float on back for 15 seconds, then recover to a vertical position.
• Glide on back for at least 2 body lengths, roll to front, then recover to a vertical position.
• Swim using combined arm and leg actions on front for at least 3 body lengths, roll to back, float for 15 seconds, roll to front, then continue swimming on front for at least 3 body lengths.

Preschool Level 3

In this level swimmers will increase proficiency and build on the basic aquatic skills learned in Preschool Aquatics Levels 1 and 2. Water safety concepts and skills introduced in earlier levels will be reinforced and additional water safety topics will be introduced.

Prerequisites

• Successful demonstration of the Preschool Aquatics Level 2 exit skills assessment.

Exit Skills

• Step from the side into chest deep water, push off the bottom, move into a treading or floating position for 15 seconds, swim on front and/or back for 5 body lengths, then exit the water.
• Move into a back float for 15 seconds, roll to front, then recover to a vertical position.
• Push off and swim using combined arm and leg actions on front for 5 body lengths, roll to back, float for 15 seconds, roll to front, continue swimming for 5 body lengths.

Learn-to-Swim Level 1

This level orients participants to the aquatic environment and helps them gain basic aquatic skills. This level helps participants begin to develop positive attitudes and safe practices around water.

Prerequisites

• No skill prerequisites
• Participants usually start at about 6 years of age

• Enter independently, using either the ramp, steps or side, travel at least 5 yards, bob 5 times, then safely exit the water. (Participants can walk, move along the gutter or “swim.”)
• Glide on front at least 2 body lengths, roll to a back float for 5 seconds, then recover to a vertical position. (This part of the assessment can be performed with assistance.)

Learn-to-Swim Level 2

Build on the basic aquatic skills and water safety skills and concepts learned in Level 1.

Prerequisites

• Successful demonstration of the Learn-to-Swim Level 1 exit skills assessment

Exit Skills

• Step from the side into chest-deep water, push off the bottom, move into a treading or floating position for at least 15 seconds, swim on front and/or back for 5 body lengths, then exit the water.
• Move into a back float for 15 seconds, roll to front, then recover to a vertical position.
• Push off and swim using combined arm and leg actions on front for 5 body lengths, roll to back, float for 15 seconds, roll to the front, then continue swimming for at least 5 body lengths.

Learn-to-Swim Level 3

Build on the skills learned in Levels 1 and 2 to help participants achieve basic water competency in a pool environment

Prerequisites

• Successful demonstration of the Learn-to-Swim Level 2 exit skills assessment

Exit Skills

• Jump into deep water from the side, recover to the surface, maintain position by treading or floating for 1 minute, rotate one full turn, then turn as necessary to orient to the exit point, level off, swim front crawl and/or elementary backstroke for 25 yards, then exit the water.
• Push off in a streamlined position, then swim front crawl for 15 yards, change position and direction as necessary, swim elementary backstroke for 15 yards, then exit the water.

Learn-to-Swim Level 4

Improve participants’ proficiency in performing the swimming strokes that were introduced in Level 3

Prerequisites

• Successful demonstration of the Learn-to-Swim Level 3 exit skills assessment

Exit Skills

• Perform a feet first entry into deep water, swim front crawl for 25 yards, change direction and position as necessary and swim elementary backstroke for 25 yards.
• Swim breaststroke for 15 yards, change direction and position as necessary and swim back crawl for 15 yards.
• Submerge and swim a distance of 3 to 5 body lengths underwater without hyperventilating, return to the surface, then exit the water.

Learn-to-Swim Level 5

Help participants refine their performance of all six swimming strokes (i.e., front crawl, back crawl, butterfly, breaststroke, elementary backstroke and sidestroke). As well as, refine strokes so participants swim them with greater efficiency and effectiveness over longer distances.

Prerequisites

• Successful demonstration of the Learn-to-Swim Level 4 exit skills assessment

Exit Skills

• Perform a shallow-angle dive into deep water at least 9 feet deep, swim front crawl for 50 yards, then swim elementary backstroke for 50 yards using appropriate and efficient turning styles throughout.
• Swim breaststroke for 25 yards, change direction of travel as necessary and then swim back crawl for 25 yards using appropriate and efficient turning styles throughout.
• Swim 500 yards continuously using any 3 strokes, swimming at least 50 yards of each stroke.

Adult Learning the Basics

This level helps participants gain basic aquatic skills and swimming strokes. Participants will learn skills and concepts needed to stay safe in and around water and how to help themselves or others in an aquatic emergency.

Prerequisites

• None
• Ideally participants start at 15 years of age or older

Exit Skills

• Jump into deep water from the side, recover to the surface, maintain position by treading or floating for 1 minute, turn as necessary to orient to the exit point, level off, swim front crawl and/or elementary backstroke for 25 yards, and then exit the water.
• Push off in a streamlined position, then swim front crawl for 15 yards, change position and direction as necessary, swim elementary backstroke for 15 yards, then exit the water.

Adult Improving Skills & Stroke Improvement

This level improves participants’ proficiency in basic aquatic skills and the six basic swimming strokes. It teaches skills and concepts needed to stay safe in and around water and to help themselves or others in an aquatic emergency.

Prerequisites

• Must be comfortable in chest-deep water.
• Must be able to put their face in the water.
• Must be able to perform strokes that can be recognized as front crawl, breaststroke and back crawl, each for 15 yards.

Exit Skills

• Swim front crawl 50 yards, change direction and position of travel as necessary using an efficient turning style and then swim elementary backstroke for 50 yards, also with an efficient turn.
• Swim breaststroke 50 yards, change direction of travel using an efficient open turn as necessary and then swim back crawl for 25 yards using an efficient back crawl turn.
• Submerge underwater and swim 5 body lengths underwater without hyperventilation, return to the surface and then exit the water.

Adult Swimming for Fitness

This level refines participants’ front crawl, back crawl, and breaststroke strokes and turns and build endurance. It also teach skills and concepts needed to stay safe in and around water.

Prerequisites

• Participants must be able to swim the following strokes, at the higher level
• Front crawl, 25 yards
• Breaststroke, 15 yards
• Back crawl, 25 yards

Exit Skills

• None

Register for Adult Swim Lessons here.

Swim lessons are organized first by age and then by skill level. The skill stage is listed within each age group in program materials. Please use the class descriptions, as well as skill level surveys to assess where children stand in terms of levels of swimming. Swim instructors also conduct skill assessments on the first day of all sessions and make placement adjustments at that time.

Placement adjustments will be made based on class availability, but adjustments cannot be guaranteed. Current swimmers, should discuss level recommendations with the swim instructor prior to registering for the next session.

All swim lessons are taught in accordance with the American Red Cross Learn-to-Swim standards. The maximum ratios are as follows:

In the interest of building trust between a swimmer and the instructor, parents and guardians must observe their child’s class from the observation area. Please do not interrupt the teacher during class time. If a swimmer is having difficulty, parents and guardians may be asked to observe class from a location where swimmers can't see to keep the swimmer focused on the instructor.

Parents and guardians must remain in the facility in the event of an emergency.

Participants who are not fully potty trained must wear a disposable swim diaper, reusable swim diaper (which must be snug and completely cover the disposable diaper), and and a swimming suit. All three garments must be worn for class. 

All participants should use the restroom before entering the pool. All instances of contamination require full closure of the pool. 

Goggles are not a requirement for swim lessons, but may be used for the comfort of the swimmer. Participants wearing goggles will be asked to demonstrate skills without goggles until they are mastered. 

Goggles are recommended for higher levels that will be swimming laps during lessons. Masks that cover the nose are not permitted to allow swimmers to learn breath control. 

• Have you been told to quarantine / isolate by a medical provider or the health department?
• Are you currently awaiting Covid-19 test results?
• Excluding those individuals in an occupational setting wearing appropriate PPE and those who have been cleared for quarantine release prior to 14 days in the past 2 weeks have you had close contact with someone who has Covid-19? Close contact means you were within about 6 ft of a person diagnosed with Covid-19 for a cumulative total of 15 minutes or more over a 24-hour period.
• Are you experiencing a cough shortness of breath difficulty breathing which is new or not explained by a pre-existing condition?
• In the Past 48 hours, have you had at least two of the following symptoms which is new or not explained by a pre-existing condition:
  • Fever, chills, repeated shaking chills, fatigue, muscle pain, body aches, headache, sore throat, nasal congestion or runny nose, vomiting, diarrhea, or loss of taste or smell?
• Was your temperature 100.4 or above just prior to coming into lessons today?

• Diarrhea or intestinal flu within the last 24 hours
• Green/yellow discharge from the nose, has pink-eye, ringworm, or other contagious illnesses

Instructors are available to discuss swimmers' progress before or after class. Please keep in mind that the instructor may have another class beginning shortly. Additional discussions may be had with aquatics staff via phone or email.

The American Red Cross Swim App is available for download by texting SWIM to 90999. This FREE app includes games and videos for swimmers, plus a swim lesson progress tracker. The app also provides the latest in water safety guidance to help ensure swimmers stay safe in, on, and around the water.