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  LESSONS

The Red Cross Swim Program:

Red Cross Swim

We are pleased to offer the Red Cross Swim Program at our facilities. The Canadian Red Cross has been a leader in Swimming and Water Safety for close to 60 years and continues to renew and refine its learn-to-swim program to meet the growing needs of Canadians.

Red Cross Swim Preschool is a eight level program with engaging animal themes for children from 4 months to 6 years of age. The lessons are designed for small class sizes so preschoolers can fully enjoy their time with the Instructor and other children.

Level Age Description
Starfish 4 - 12 months Babies and their caregivers work on getting wet, buoyancy and movement, front back and vertical position in the water and shallow water entries and exits.  To enter this level, babies must be able to hold their head up.
Duck 12- 24 months Babies and their caregivers work on rhythmic breathing, moving forward and backward, front and back float and recovery and shallow water entries and exits.
Sea Turtle 24 - 36 months Toddlers and caregivers work on submersion, front and back floats and glides, jumping into chest deep water with assistance and kicking on front and back swim. 
Sea Otter 3 - 6 years Swimmers work on front and back glides, kicking on front with a buoyant object and will be able tos wim 1 meter upon completion of this level.
Salamander 3 - 6 years Swimmers work on improving their front and back floats as well as jumping into chest deep water unassisted.  Kicking is added to the front and back glide and students will be able to swim 2 metres upon completion.
Sunfish 3 - 6 years Swimmers work on kicking and can perform glides (front and back), enter deep water safely, float in deep water, swim with a PFD and swim 5 metres continuously up0on completion.
Crocodile 3 - 6 years Swimmers further develop the front and back glide with kick, front and back swim, jump into deep water, swim with a PFD in deep water and swim 10 metres continuously.
Whale 3 - 6 years Swimmers increase their distance on front and back glide with kick, increase distance on front and back swim, learn the sitting dive and will be able to swim 15 metres continuously upon completion.

Red Cross Swim Kids is a 10 level program for children five years and older is a fresh approach to swimming and water safety education. The 10 levels will challenge those who took a preschool program, but will also provide a starting point for children with limited swimming experience.

Level Description
Level 1 This is an entry level for children ready to move in shallow water.  This level provides an orientation to the water and introduces floats and glides with kicks. Swimmers build endurance by working on a 5 metre front swim.
Level 2 Swimmers work on propulsion skills to move through the water and to remain at the surface.  Swimmers work on the  front swim (5m) and learn about deep-water activities and proper use of a PFD. Fitness actives include the 10m flutter kick and a 10m distance swim.
Level 3 This level provides and introduction to diving and teaches swimmers how to make wise choices about when and where to swim.  Endurance is achieved by building strength in the flutter kick and a 15m swim
Level 4 This level introduces the front crawl (10m) and back swim with shoulder roll (15m).  Swimmers work on kneeling dives, surface support (45 seconds, deep water) and developing a greater sense of self-safely by understanding their own limits.  Endurance is built through a 25m swim.
Level 5 This level introduces the back crawl (15m), sculling skills, whip kick on the back, stride dives and treading water.  front crawl increase to 15m. An introduction to safe boating skills is also included.  Endurance is developed through a  50m swim.
Level 6 This level refines front crawl with a focus on hand entry and breathing (25m) and introduces elementary back stroke (15m), ice safety and rescue of others with throwing assists.  Swimmers demonstrate the front dive and their ability to tread water in deep water for 1.5 minutes.  Endurance is built through dolphin kick and a 75m swim.
Level 7 This level builds skills and endurance for the front crawl (50m), back crawl (50m), elementary back stroke (25m) and introduces whip kick on the front.  Swimmers learn about airway and breathing obstructions, reaching assists and stride entry.  Swimming endurance is increased to a 150m swim.
Level 8 This level is an introduction to breast stroke (15m) and feet-first surface dives.  Swimmers learn about the dangers of open water, hypothermia , the performance of rescue breathing on children and adults and standing shallow dives.  Swimmers participate in timed treading water activities using the eggbeater skill to improve their ability to remain at the surface in the event of an unexpected fall into water.  Endurance is built on a 300m swim.  Front crawl and back crawl distances are increased to 75m each.
Level 9 This level refines the front crawl (100m), back crawl (100m), elementary back stroke (50m) and breast stroke (25M) and encourages swimmers to combine different kicks for fitness (3 minutes).  Swimmers also work on head-first surface dives and learn about wise choices, peer influences and self rescue on ice.  Endurance is built through a 400m swim.
Level 10 This level includes further refinement of strokes with an introduction to butterfly and scissor kick as a warm up/cool down for fitness.  Swimmers learn about sun safety, rescue of others from the ice, and head first and feet first shallow dives.  Endurance is built using dolphin kick and butterfly drills and a 500m swim.

If you are looking for information on lesson dates, prices or the classes available at our indoor and outdoor pools we encourage you to visit Spectrum Interactive