Find your swim level

Designed for the 3 to 12-month-old, this level is all about helping your child feel and explore the water with tickling, floating, splashing, reaching and paddling methods.

You'll learn how to help your child play in and with the water confidently.

One parent per child may attend.

Designed for the 12 to 24-month-old, this level teaches children to get their face wet and blow bubbles (the first step in breath control). With your guidance, your child recovers objects below the surface, performs front and back floats and learns how to travel by kicking.

One parent per child may attend.

In this level, your child will have fun jumping into the water and getting out without assistance. They will learn to hold their breath and open their eyes underwater to recover an object from the bottom.

Mastering front and back floats in "starfish" and "pencil" positions and kicking on front and back provide the building blocks for swimming stroke development.

One parent per child may attend.

In this transitional program, the parent accompanies the child in the water for the first 5 lessons for advanced parent and tot instruction. 

For the last 4 to 6 lessons (depending on the session length), the child attends the lesson without a parent. 

One parent per child may attend.

This class is taught in the swirlpool.

For children who can be in the water without a parent but are still learning basic skills.

Children will:

• put on a lifejacket
• blow bubbles
• float on their own

Prerequisite: successful completion of Tykes or equivalent and comfortable in the pool without a parent.

For preschoolers who can already float on their front and back without help or flotation devices.

Children will:

• learn to glide on their own
• practice flutter kick in the shallow end

Prerequisite: successful completion of Preschool A or equivalent. Child must float on front and back for 3 seconds without assistance.

For preschoolers who can glide on their front and back while kicking for 3 metres without help or flotation devices.

Children will:

• learn the basics of front crawl
• practice side rolls into deep water
• be introduced to a new Swim to Survive skill

Prerequisite: successful completion of Preschool B or equivalent.

For preschoolers building independence and endurance in the water.

Children will:

• jump into deep water and climb out on their own
• open eyes underwater and recover objects from chest-deep water
• swim 5 metres using front crawl, front glide with kick, and side kicking

Prerequisite: successful completion of Preschool C or equivalent.

For advanced preschoolers who are ready for more challenging deep-water skills.

Children will:

• do a forward roll entry while wearing a personal flotation device
• hold their breath underwater for up to 10 seconds
• build endurance with interval training
• be introduced to whip kick

Prerequisite: successful completion of Preschool D or equivalent.

These beginners jump into chest deep water all by themselves. They learn to open their eyes, exhale and hold their breath underwater. They work on floats, glides and kicking through the water on their front and back.

Advanced beginners jump into deeper water and become comfortable falling sideways into the water wearing a personal floatation device.

Swimmers support themselves at the surface without an aid and recover an object in chest-deep water, swim 5 to 10 metres on front and back, and are introduced to flutter kick interval training (2 x 9 to12 metres).

Swimmers develop swimming skills by learning whip kick as well as front and back crawl. They tread water for 30 to 45 seconds and interval training repetitions are increased (4 x 9 metres).

Swimmers learn in-water handstands and work towards the Canadian Swim to Survive Standard, including roll into deep water, tread 45 to 60 seconds and swim 25 to 50 metres. They improve the front crawl, back crawl and whip kick and transitions from front to back flutter kick.

These junior swimmers dive into deep water and perform in-water front somersaults. They work on increasing their distance and efficiency in front crawl, back crawl and whip kick. Flutter kick interval training increases to 4 x 15 metres.

These intermediate swimmers swim 5 metres underwater and lengths of front, back crawl, whip kick, and breaststroke arms with breathing. They achieve the Canadian Swim to Survive Standard of rolling into deep water, treading water for 1 minure and swimming 50 metres.

Swimmers master shallow dives, cannonball entries, eggbeater kicks, and in-water backward somersaults. They refine their front and back crawl with over 50 metre swims of each, and breaststroke over 25 metres.

Swimmers rise to the challenge of advanced aquatic skills including stride entries, compact jumps and lifesaving kicks like eggbeater and scissor kick. They develop strength and power in head-up breaststroke sprints over 25 metres. They swim lengths of front crawl, back crawl and breaststroke, and they complete a 300 metre workout.

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

Swimmers develop better strokes over 75 metre 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. Swimming drills develop a strong lifesaving foundation.

Swimmers are challenged with 600 metre workouts; 300 metre timed swims and a 25 metre object carry. Strokes are refined over 100 metre 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.

Work on front and back floats and glides and front, back and side flutter kicks. Learn breath control and tread water wearing a personal flotation device. Improve fitness and kicks with 4 x 9 to 12 metre interval training.

Jump into deep water and tread for 60 seconds. Learn to recover an object from the bottom in chest-deep water. Improve the flutter kick over longer distances and work towards 15 metre front crawl and back crawl swims. Improve both fitness and flutter kick with 2 x 25 metre interval training.

Kick it up a notch! Work on front crawl and back crawl and kicking in 25 to 50 metre swims and 25 metre interval training workouts. Learn how to swim under water and how to do breaststroke arms and breathing over 10 to 15 metres. Support yourself at the surface for up to 2 minutes. Show off with cannonball entry into deep water and handstands in shallow water.

Learn eggbeater, stride entries and compact jumps. Swim a 300 metre workout and sprint 25 to 50 metre. Master the front crawl, back crawl and breaststroke. 

Work on front and back floats, glides and flutter kick on front, side and back. Swimmers learn breath control and tread water wearing a personal flotation device. Improve fitness and kicks with 4 x 9 to 12 metre interval training.

Jump into deep water and tread for 60 seconds. Learn to recover an object from the bottom in chest-deep water. Improve the flutter kick over longer distances and work towards 15 metre front crawl and back crawl swims. Improve both fitness and flutter kick with 2 x 25 metre interval training.

Work on front crawl and back crawl and kicking in 25 to 50 metre swims and 25 metre interval training workouts. Learn how to swim under water and how to do breaststroke arms and breathing over 10 to 15 metre. Support yourself at the surface for up to 2 minutes. Show off with cannonball entry into deep water and handstands in shallow water.

No sweat or at least none anyone can see! Learn eggbeater, stride entries and compact jumps. Swim a 300 metre workout and sprint 25 to 50 metre. Master the front crawl, back crawl and breaststroke.

This program is available for individuals 12 years or older with special needs (physical, developmental, behavioural) who have little or no swimming experience and require specialized instruction. One instructor will assist up to 2 participants with additional volunteer support.

Private lessons

• minimum age is 6
• lessons are 30 minutes
• you’ll be asked your child’s level when you register
• bring your child’s last progress report on the first day

Semi-private lessons

Semi-private lessons are available if you find a sibling or friend to join. These lessons work best when participants are in the same level or one level apart.

You must register for semi-private lessons in person.