Swimming Lessons and Course Registration Guide

Introduce your little swimmer to the water in a Parent & Tot Class:

• Learn to be comfortable in the water with songs and activities.
• Get ready to float, go under water and jump in with a help from an adult.

Parent & Tot 1: 4 to 12 months old and ready to learn to enjoy with water with a parent.

Start early with age-appropriate lessons that focus on water safety, confidence, and basic swimming skills. Levels include:

• Preschool 1 to 5
• Small class sizes
• Fun, engaging activities

Preschool 1: 3 to 5 years old and just starting on his/her own.

Preschool 2: 3 to 5 years old and can get in and out alone, jump into chest deep water assisted, float and glide in a PFD on front and back, blow bubbles and get face wet.

Preschool 3: Can get in and out alone, jump into chest deep water, submerge and exhale underwater, and float on front and back assisted for 3-5 seconds.

Preschool 4: Can jump into deep water wearing a PFD; recover objects from the bottom, hold their breath underwater, float and glide on front and back.

Preschool 5: Can do solo jumps into deep water and get out by themselves, swim front crawl 3-5 meters and do flutter kick on their front, back and side.

For school-aged children ready to advance their swimming skills through progressive levels:

• Swimmer 1 to 6
• Focus on stroke development, endurance, and safety
• Builds readiness for advanced programs

Swimmer 1: 5 to 10 years old and has never taken swimming lessons.

Swimmer 2: 5 or 6 years old, and passed Preschool 5; or can jump into the water with and without a PFD; open eyes, hold breath, and exhale underwater, float, kick and glide on front and back.

Swimmer 3: Can jump into deeper water, roll sideways into water wearing PFD; support self at the surface without an aid, do whip kick in the vertical position, and swim 10-15 m on front and back.

Swimmer 4: Can complete the Canadian Swim to Survive Standard Roll - Tread (1 minute) - Swim (50 m); handstands and kneeling dives, and whip kick on their back.

Swimmer 5: Can do dives, swim underwater, tread water for 2 minutes, 25 m of front and back crawl, breaststroke arms with breathing; and interval training of 4 x 25 m.

Swimmer 6: Can do shallow dives and cannonballs; stationary eggbeater kick; 50 m of front and back crawl, breaststroke for 15-25 m; sprint 25 m; interval training of 4 x 50 m.

Continue developing strong swim skills and prepare for leadership programs:

• Swimmer 7 / Rookie Patrol
• Swimmer 8 / Ranger Patrol
• Swimmer 9 / Star Patrol
• Introduces rescue techniques and first aid basics

Rookie Patrol: Can do stride entries and compact jumps; eggbeater kick and scissor kick; sprint breaststroke over 25 m; and a workout of 300 m.

Ranger Patrol: Can swim carrying a 5 lbs weight 15 m, swim 300 minutes continuously; head and foot-first surface dives; shallow dives.

Star Patrol: Can do eggbeater; swim 75 m of front crawl, back crawl and breaststroke, support a 5 lbs object for 1 minute; complete a 350 m workout.

Begin leadership training with nationally recognized Lifesaving Society courses:

• Bronze Star (recommended but not required)
• Bronze Medallion (requires 13+ years or Bronze Star)
• Bronze Cross (prerequisite for NL)

Bronze Star: Preferred successful completion of Swim Patrol Star; 10 years or older, swim 400 m; eggbeater; surface dives; head up swimming.

Stroke Improvement: Can swim 25 m continuously and would like to focus on improving their stroke's technique and endurance.

Lifesaving Sport Fundamentals: Can swim 25 m continuously and is looking for a mental and physical challenge with introduction to lifesaving rescue and sport. Excellent preparation to become a Lifeguard.

Bronze Medallion

The lifesaving Society's Bronze Medallion challenges the candidate both mentally and physically. Judgement, knowledge, skill, and fitness - the four components of water rescue - form the basis of Bronze Medallion training. Candidates acquire the assessment and problem-solving skills needed to make good decisions in, on and around the water. Stoke mechanics, endurance, and rescue of others are included. Bronze Medallion is a prerequisite for assistant lifeguard training in the Lifesaving Society's Bronze Cross. Includes a 400 m timed swim within 12 minutes.

Course is split between classroom learning, in water practice and assessment and some take home assignments.

Prerequisites: Minimum 13 years of age (or older or Bronze Star certification).

Required: Canadian Lifesaving Manual, available at the Water Park Guest Services. Candidates receive Bronze Medallion medal, Bronze Medallion Award crest, certification card, CPR-A and AED with this course.

Learn vital lifesaving skills:

• Standard First Aid with CPR-C (prerequisite for National Lifeguard training)
• Recognized across Canada
• Valuable in and out of the pool

Become a certified lifeguard:

• National Lifeguard (NL) Pool Certification
• Must be 15+, hold Bronze Cross & Standard First Aid
• Teaches advanced rescue skills, scanning techniques, and emergency response

Prerequisites: Must be 15 or older, have completed Bronze Cross Award and hold a current Standard First Aid & CPR-C and AED (or Aquatic Emergency Care) award form the following agencies: Lifesaving Society, Red Cross, St. John's Ambulance, Ski Patrol, Heart & Stroke Foundation.

Lifesaving Instructor

This combined course of the Lifesaving Society's Swim for Life Instructor and Lifesaving Instructor is a leadership course that provides candidates with theory, knowledge and skill and practice to teach and certify in the following Lifesaving Society programs and awards:

• Swim for Life
• Canadian Swim Patrol
• CPR A & C with AED
• Bronze Star, Bronze Medallion, Bronze Cross

A package of required course materials is included in the registration fee.

Prerequisites: Must be 15 or older, have completed Bronze Cross Award. For purposes of employment, must hold a current OH&S Recognized Standard First Aid & CPR-C and AED award (Lifesaving Society, Red Cross, St. John's Ambulance, Ski Patrol) and National Lifeguard Award.