Swim Program Descriptions

Swim Preschool - Parented (3 - 36 months)

A mother rubber duck followed by two baby rubber ducks.

Starfish

An introductory class for caregivers and infants who are 3 months to 18 months. Babies experiment with entering and exiting the water, getting wet, buoyancy and experience movement in the water. Caregivers sing songs, learn about coking prevention and how to choose a proper PFD for their infant.

Pre-requisite: 3-18 months

Duck

Toddlers between the age of 18 and 36 months learn how to blow bubbles, float on front, float on back and experiment with movement in water. Toddlers build confidence while enjoying the water through games, songs and active water play.

Pre-requisite: 18-36 months

Swim Preschool - Unparented (3 - 5 years)

Preschool 1

We encourage the parent to participate until their child lets them know they can do it themselves (thank you very much). 

These preschoolers will have fun learning to get in and out of the water. We'll help them jump into chest deep water. They'll float and glide on their front and back and learn to get their faces wet and blow bubbles underwater.

Preschool 2

These preschoolers learn to jump into chest-deep water by themselves, and get in and get out wearing a lifejacket. They'll submerge and exhale underwater. They'll also glide on their front and back wearing a lifejacket.

Pre-requisite: Completion of Preschool 1

Preschool 3

These youngsters will try both jumping and a sideways entry into deep water while wearing a lifejacket. They'll recover objects from the bottom in waist-deep water. They'll work on kicking and gliding through the water on their front and back.

Pre-requisite: Completion of Preschool 2

Preschool 4

Advanced preschoolers will learn to do solo jumps into deeper water and get out by themselves. They'll do sideways entries and open their eyes underwater. They'll master a short swim on their front wearing a lifejacket and gliding and kicking on their side.

Pre-requisite: Completion of Preschool 3

Preschool 5

These youngsters get even more adventuresome with a forward roll entry wearing a lifejacket and treading water for 10 sec. They'll work on front and back crawl swims for 5 m, interval training, and get a giggle out of whip kick.


Pre-requisite: Completion of Preschool 4

Swim Kids (6-14 Years)

Swimmer 1

These beginners will become comfortable jumping into water with and without a lifejacket. They'll learn to open their eyes, exhale and hold their breath underwater. They'll work on floats, glides, and kicking through the water on their front and back.

Pre-requisite: Minimum 6 years of age, Incomplete or Complete Preschool 3, 4, or 5.

Swimmer 2

These advanced beginners will jump into deeper water, and learn to be comfortable falling sideways into the water wearing a lifejacket. They'll be able to support themselves at the surface without an aid, learn whip kick, swim 10 m on their front and back, and be introduced to flutter kick interval training.

Pre-requisite: Completion of Swimmer 1, Complete Preschool 5 or Incomplete Preschool 6.

Swimmer 3 

These junior swimmers will dive and do in-water front somersaults and handstands. They'll work on 15 m of front crawl, back crawl, 10 m of whip kick, and increased flutter kick interval training.

Pre-requisite: Completion of Swimmer 2, Complete Preschool 5 or Incomplete Preschool 6.

Swimmer 4

These intermediate swimmers will swim 5 m underwater and lengths of front, back crawl, whip kick, and breaststroke arms with breathing. Their new bag of tricks includes the completion of the Canadian Swim to Survive® Standard. They'll cap it all off with front crawl sprints over 25 m and 4 x 25 m front or back crawl interval training.

Pre-requisite: Completion of Swimmer 3 or Completion of Preschool 6

Swimmer 5

These swimmers will master shallow dives, cannonball entries, eggbeater kicks, and in-water backward somersaults. They'll refine their front and back crawl over 50 m swims of each, and breaststroke over 25 m. Then they'll pick up the pace in 25 m sprints and two interval training bouts: 4 x 50 m front or back crawl and 4 x 15 m breaststroke.

Pre-requisite: Completion of Swimmer 4

Swimmer 6

These advanced swimmers will rise to the challenge of sophisticated aquatic skills including stride entries, compact jumps and lifesaving kicks like eggbeater and scissor kick. They'll develop strength and power in head-up breaststroke sprints over 25 m. They'll easily swim lengths of front crawl, back crawl, and breaststroke, and they'll complain about the 300 m workout.

Pre-requisite: Completion of Swimmer 5

 Rookie Patrol (8-10 hr.)

Swimmers continue stroke development with 50 m swims of front crawl, back crawl and breaststroke. Lifesaving Sport skills include a 25 m obstacle swim and 15 m object carry. First aid focuses on assessment of conscious victims, contacting EMS and treatment for bleeding.  Fitness improves in 350 m workouts and 100 m timed swims.

Pre-requisite: Completion of Swimmer 6

Ranger Patrol (8-10 hr.)

Swimmers develop better strokes over 75 m swims of each stroke. They tackle Lifesaving Sport skills in a lifesaving medley, timed object support and rescue with a buoyant aid. First aid focuses on assessment of unconscious victims, treatment of victims in shock and obstructed airway procedures. Skill drills develop a strong lifesaving foundation.

Pre-requisite: Completion of Rookie Patrol

Star Patrol (8-10 hr.)

Swimmers are challenged with 600 m workouts, 300 m timed swims and a 25 m object carry. Strokes are refined over 100 m swims. First aid focuses on treatment of bone or joint injuries and respiratory emergencies including asthma and allergic reactions. Lifesaving skills include defence methods, victim removals and rolling over and supporting a victim face up in shallow water.

Pre-requisite: Completion of Ranger Patrol.

Leadership, Specialty and Elite Programs

Bronze Star

(10 hours) An excellent preparation course for success in Bronze Medallion. Participants develop problem-solving and decision-making skills. Candidates learn CPR and develop the lifesaving skills needed to be their own lifeguard. Includes a 400m timed swim.
Prerequisites: Swim Kids 10 or equivalent, minimum 11 years of age. 
Please visit the Lifesaving Society website for more information.

Bronze Medallion and Emergency First Aid/CPR-B

(20 hours) Teaches an understanding of the lifesaving principles embodied in the 4 components of water-rescue education: judgment, knowledge, skill & fitness. Rescuers learn tows and carries, and defense methods and releases in preparation for challenging rescues involving conscious and unconscious victims of various types. Lifesavers develop stroke efficiency and endurance in a 500m timed swim.
Prerequisites: 13 years of age OR Bronze Star award
Please visit the Lifesaving Society website for more information.

Bronze Cross

(20 hours) Designed for lifesavers who want the challenge of more advanced lifesaving training including an introduction to safe supervision in aquatic settings. Bronze Cross is the prerequisite for all advanced training programs, including National Lifeguard Service certification. Includes a 600m timed swim.
Prerequisites: Current Bronze Medallion and Emergency First Aid/CPR B
Please visit the Lifesaving Society website for more information.

Standard First Aid with CPR-C

(16 hours) Provides comprehensive training covering all aspects of first aid and CPR. Standard First Aid incorporates all of Emergency First Aid and is designed for those requiring a more in depth understanding of first aid including: legal implications of first aid treatment, spinal injuries, heat & cold injuries, bone & joint injuries, abdominal & chest injuries, burns, and medical emergencies.
Prerequisites: None

National Lifeguard Service (NLS)

(40 hours) The NLS program is designed to prepare lifeguards for the role of preventing emergency situations as professional facilitators in a safe and enjoyable aquatic environment. NLS is the national standard for all lifeguards. Must be recertified every 2 years to remain valid.
Prerequisites: 16 years old, Standard First Aid with CPR-C

Competitive Swimming

Swim Team is designed for participants at Swim Kids 4 and upwards to age 17. All swimmers must be comfortable in deep water and able to swim at least 4 lengths of the pool continuously. Trained coaches will take participants through the art of competitive swim strokes, flip turns, drills and endurance building. An excellent complement to regular lessons. Swim Team is offered at both our Winona and Palmerston locations. Participants will compete in a Swim Meet at the completion of each session.

All new participants must be prescreened by the Program Coordinator before registering for Swim Team. Prep Team minimum – 6 years old and Swim Kids 4+. Senior Team must have a strong whip kick.

Youth Swim Basics

This is a beginner class for youth that focuses on skills from Swimmer 1-3.

Youth Swim Intermediate

This class is for youth who have learned basic swimming skills and focuses on skills from Swimmer 4-6.

Adult Swim Basics

Adult Swim Basics is a beginner swim class for adults that focuses on developing comfort in the water through basic flotation, gliding, movement and breathing skills for shallow water.

Adult Swim Intermediate

Adult Swim Intermediate is a class for intermediate swimmers who would like to work on stroke improvement. The class moves at the pace of the swimmers and focuses on further development of skills and increasing comfort in deep water.

Adult Swim Advanced (Masters Swimming)

Adult Swim Advanced (Masters Swimming) is designed to promote fitness, develop endurance and learn competitive stroke techniques. This program is designed for swimmers 18 years and older with advanced swim skills.