American Red Cross Learn to Swim Program
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Red Cross recommends that preschool children attend lessons with their parents.
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Child-only lessons are available for those age 5 and up.
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Classes are offered based on the latest Red Cross skills outline. Check the level descriptions and requirements carefully.
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Signing up for a level above or below ability will only cause frustration for the students and class. Students that are in the incorrect level will not be allowed to participate (and a credit issued) unless space is available in an appropriate class.
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Note: many classes fill quickly!
Level Descriptions
Preschool Level A
This class helps participants feel comfortable in the water. Skills will include enter/exit the water, blow bubbles, submerge face, open eyes under water and retrieve submerged objects, front and tack glides, back float, roll over, tread water, leg and arm actions on front and back, and water safety topics.
Preschool Level B
This class is for children who have passed Preschool Level A. Children will learn fundamental skills, which will include enter water by stepping in, bobbing, open eyes under water and retrieve submerged objects, front and back floats and glides, roll over, tread water, combined arm and leg actions on front and back, finning and water safety topics.
Preschool Level C
Build on skills learned in Preschool Levels A and B. Children will build on skills learned in Level B through additional practice in deeper water. They will learn to enter water by jumping in, fully submerge and hold breath, bobbing, front, jellyfish and tuck floats, back float and glide, change direction of travel while swimming, tread water, combined arm and leg actions on front and back, finning arm action on back, and water safety topics.
Level I: Intro to Water Skills, ages 5+. Helps students feel comfortable in the water and enjoy the water safely. Students learn elementary aquatic skills & develop good attitudes and safe practices around the water.
Level II: Fundamental Aquatic Skills. The beginning of true locomotion skills. Students explore simultaneous & alternating arm & leg motions on the front and back to lay the foundation for future strokes. Students mush have passed previous level.
Level III: Stroke Development. Students will learn to coordinate the front and back crawl, elements of the butterfly, treading water and rules for head-first entries. Students mush have passed previous level.
Level IV: Stroke Improvement. Helps students improve their skills & increase their endurance by swimming familiar strokes. Continue to build the butterfly stroke and be introduced to the breaststroke, elementary backstroke, elements of the sidestroke and basic turns.
Level V: Stroke Refinement. Coordination & refinement of all the strokes: front crawl, back crawl, butterfly, breaststroke & sidestroke. Students will increase their distance & be introduced to flip turns on the front and back.
Level VI: Lifeguard Readiness. Refine strokes so students swim with more ease, efficiency, power and smoothness over greater distrances. This course includes skills for lifeguarding and personal water safety. Practice the prerequesites for the Lifeguard and Water Safety Instructor course.
Private and Semi-Private Lessons
Our Red Cross certified instructors will give you or your child the personal attention needed to feel comfortable learning to swim. Whether it is a beginner level or moving on into more advanced skills, this option can fit your needs. Also great for adults or anyone with special needs. Click on the link below to view current options.
Click here to view current Aquatics options.
Click here to view Sunday lessons.
