Swimming lessons

COVID-19 restart: swimming lessons

Swimming lessons are offered at all eight indoor pools and Maple Grove outdoor pool for pre-school, children, and youth age groups.

There is limited capacity in the number of lessons and students per class. Infant, toddler, and adult lessons are not available at this time.

Learn about registration, what to expect, and new safety guidelines for swimming lessons before registering.

Summer swimming lessons

How to register
Swimming lessons registration starts on Wednesday, June 16 at 9am. You can register:
- Online.
- By phone: call a Park Board recreation facility near you.
- In-person registration will not be available due to COVID-19 restrictions.
What to expect
- There is limited capacity in the number of lessons offered and the number of students per activity.
  - Preschool levels: three students with their own caregiver per class (maximum of six participants total)
  - Swim Kids 1 to 4: four students with their own caregiver per class (maximum of eight participants total)
  - Swim Kids 5 to 10: maximum of six participants
- As swimming lessons fill up quickly, prepare for registration by creating an online account and selecting your lessons in advance. Learn more about registration tips.
- We will look at increasing the number of classes and capacity in the classes in the fall based on COVID-19 restrictions and staff availability.
COVID-19 safety measures
In the interests of comfort and safety, we are:
- Reducing capacity for all lessons to meet COVID-19 restriction guidelines and Red Cross directives:
  - The number of people per class is reduced
  - The number of classes per pool and per time slots is reduced
- Swimming lesson instructors will not go in the water with swimmers
- Preschool and Swim Kids 1 to 4 must be accompanied by a participating adult, 16 years or older
- There are no spectators for swimming lessons:
  - Parents cannot wait for students at the pool deck
  - Parents cannot wait for students at the facility lobby
- Swim Kids 5 and above must join lessons without an accompanying adult, but caregivers picking up and dropping off participants must wait for their swimmers outside of the building
- Masks are recommended in our facilities and are available at the front desk
What you should know before registering
- The name of Swim Kids 1 to 4 lessons has been changed to include the term "with parents".
- Private and semi-private swim lessons are not available.
- Change rooms are not available at this time. Swimmers should arrive 'swim-ready'.
- Swimming before and after lessons is not permitted.
Swimming lesson guidelines
- Each child attending a lesson up to Swim Kids 4 must be accompanied by an individual participating parent or caregiver. All activities for this age group will take place in the shallow end.
- Students in Swim Kids 5 and above will enter the facility on their own. Parents or caregivers must wait outside of the building.
- No spectators are permitted inside the facility. Parents will not be able to watch their child's lesson.
- Parents and caregivers picking up and dropping off must wait for their swimmers outside of the building.
- Please arrive at the pool no more than 10 minutes before your lesson. Those 12 years and older will be required to wear a mask, sanitize hands, and check-in with reception.
- Swimmers will be directed to the pool deck five minutes before the lesson.
- Please arrive ready to swim, wearing a clean swimsuit. Change rooms are not available at this time.
- There will be space to store your belongings on deck.
- Please rinse using the shower on deck before entering the pool.
- Changing rooms are closed at this time, so be prepared to leave immediately after your lesson.

Swimming lesson levels

All swimming lessons offered follow the Red Cross Swim program and are designed to offer age-appropriate learning, with a focus on safety and comfort, and skills that help you and your child to develop a healthy lifestyle through swimming.

Swimming lessons are grouped into four age groups:

Preschool swim lessons: 3 to 6 years
Swim kids lessons: 5 to 16 years

Swimming lessons not available at this time:

Parent and tot swim lessons: 4 to 36 months
Teens and adults swim lessons: 16 years and up

Preschool swim lessons (3 to 6 years)

Each level is based on age-appropriate learning through games and songs and built around an aquatic animal mascot, which makes lessons engaging and fun. The instructor uses progressive teaching techniques adapted to each child and provides constant feedback and encouragement.

Class	What swimmers learn and develop in class
Sea Otter (3 -5 years)	Open eyes under water Develop front and back floats and glides Swim 1 metre Learn age-appropriate water safety skills Register for Sea Otter
Salamander (3 -5 years)	Swim 2 metres Further develop basic floats Increase distance on front and back glides with kicking Front swim and roll-over glides Water safety skills (such as how to jump into chest deep water and how to use a personal flotation device) Register for Salamander
Sunfish (3 -6 years)	Swim 5 metres Increase distance using buoyant objects Increase front and back glide with kick Develop roll over glide, side glide, and front swim Deep water safety skills Learn to swim with a PFD/life jacket Register for Sunfish
Crocodile (3 -6 years)	Swim 5 metres on their front and back Swim with a floatation device Begin using rhythmic breathing Work on progressing swimming distance to 10 metres Jump into deep water and swim with flotation device Register for Crocodile
Whale (3 -6 years)	Swim 10 metres on their front and back Develop flutter kick Work on progressing swimming distance to 15 metres Sitting dive and surface support Surface support for 20 seconds and return to safety Jump into deep water and swim 5 meters Register for Whale

Swim kids lessons (5 to 16 years)

The 10 level allow for solid progression and helps your child learn to swim and stay safe in a fun environment that promotes a personal best and celebrates individual success.

Class level	What swimmers learn and develop in class
Swim Kids 1	Front and back float Front and back glide Flutter kick for 5 metres (assisted) Shallow water entries and exits Submerge head Rhythmic Breathing (5 times) Swim 5 metres continuously Register for Swim Kids 1
Swim Kids 2	Front and back glide with flutter kick Front swim Rhythmic breathing both ways Flutter Kick for 10 meters (assisted) Complete deep-water activities (assisted) Swim 10 metres continuously Register for Swim Kids 2
Swim Kids 3	Increase distance on front and back glide with flutter kick Perform flutter kick unassisted Wear a personal flotation device in deep water Float in deep water and surface support Rhythmic breathing (15 times) Introduction to diving Swim 15 metres continuously Register for Swim Kids 3
Swim Kids 4	Back swim with shoulder roll and front crawl (10m) Flutter kick on back (15m) Perform kneeling dive Introduction to sculling Rhythmic breathing (15 times) Front and side glide Front crawl (10m) Swim 25 metres continuously Register for Swim Kids 4
Swim Kids 5	Front crawl (15m) Back crawl (15m) Whip kick on back Stride dive and treading water Flutter Kick (25m) Rhythmic breathing (20 times) Perform head-first sculling on back Swim 50 metres continuously Register for Swim Kids 5
Swim Kids 6	Increase distance on front and back crawl (25m) Elementary back stroke (15m) Dolphin kick Tread water in deep water Perform front dive Head first sculling on back Swim 75 metres continuously Register for Swim Kids 6
Swim Kids 7	Increase distance on front and back crawl (50m) Increase elementary back stroke (25m) Front scull Perform whip kick on front Perform dolphin kick (15m) Learn stride entry and rescue assists Swim 150 metres continuously Register for Swim Kids 7
Swim Kids 8	Increase distance on front and back crawl (75m) Increase elementary back stroke (25m) Breast stroke (15m) Eggbeater/tread water Perform feet-first surface dive and standing shallow dive Swim 300 metres continuously Register for Swim Kids 8
Swim Kids 9	Increase distance on front and back crawl (100 m) Increase elementary back stroke (50m) Increase breast stroke (25m) Sidestroke kick Perform head-first surface dive Swim 400 metres continuously Register for Swim Kids 9
Swim Kids 10	Increase distance on front and back crawl (100 m) Increase elementary back stroke (50m) Increase breast stroke (50m) Sidestroke (25m) Perform dolphin kick (vertical) Feet- and head-first surface dives with underwater swim Swim 500 metres continuously Register for Swim Kids 10

Swimming lessons

COVID-19 restart: swimming lessons

Summer swimming lessons

How to register

What to expect

COVID-19 safety measures

What you should know before registering

Swimming lesson guidelines

Swimming lesson levels

Preschool swim lessons (3 to 6 years)

Swim kids lessons (5 to 16 years)

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