Swim Lesson Descriptions

Aqua Tots and Preschool: Group Swim Lesson Progression Aqua Tots: 6 months to 3 years old Aqua Tots is a program providing (six months to three years old) children and their parent(s) an opportunity to learn and experience the fun of swimming together. Swim diapers are required for the Aqua Tot program. Water entry and exit, cue words, floating on front and back, arm movement.

 Preschool: 3- to 5-year-olds: Because this is a first-time swimming experience; the student to teacher ratio is lower in the Guppies class. This class has a maximum of four children per instructor to ensure children learn to enjoy and respect the water. This class is a must for the first-time swimmer. Getting face wet, blowing bubbles, bobbing, assisted floating on front and back, introduce flutter kick and crawl stroke arms and safety skills.

Guppies: Non-swimmer. Not water adjusted or the first time in a group lesson without a parent. This class emphasizes water adjustment and learning how to enjoy and respect the water.

Preschool Skill Development: 3- to 5-year-olds: The following classes are a great experience in skill development and social adjustment for children three to five years of age that have some aquatic experience. Kindergarten children may go into preschool or grade school lessons. These classes operate on a small student/teacher ratio. A minimum of four children must be enrolled to conduct a class.

Polliwog: Non-swimmer has been water adjusted. This class will work on introductory swimming skills.

Tadpole: Develop front and back skills. Fundamentals of the front crawl stroke, breath control, and deep-water adjustment are covered.

Frog: Can swim 20 feet and knows the basics of rhythmic breathing. Along with increasing rhythmic breathing skills, backstroke skills and endurance will be developed.

Otter: Can swim 15 yards and intro of the elementary backstroke. Under water swim and endurance swimming are stressed.

Seal: Can swim 25 yards front crawl, 15 yards backstroke. Breaststroke is introduced along with more emphasis on endurance training.

Level 1 Thru Level 5: Group Swim Lesson Progression: 5 Years and Above

Level 1 - Introduction to Water Skills: Must have completed Preschool Seal. Students will learn how to feel comfortable in the water and safely enjoy it. Submerge entire body under water, roll front to back and back to front, demonstrate arm and leg movement for five feet on front and back and safety skills.

 Level 2 - Fundamental Aquatic Skills: Must have completed Level 1. Children will learn basic swimming skills. Students will focus on complete submerging, floating and gliding without support, swim using alternating leg and arm action for five yards, and water safety rules, and how to help others. Children in this level should be comfortable trying things on their own.

Level 3 - Stroke Development: Must have completed Level 2. Additional guided practice will help students improve their skills. Students will focus on deep water entry and safety, side breathing, treading water, introduction to freestyle, backstroke, butterfly kick and body motion. Children in this level should be able to swim five yards on their own.

Level 4 - Stroke Improvement: Must have completed Level 3. Kids will gain confidence during swim lessons, improve their stroke and gain additional aquatic skills. Students will focus on surface dives and underwater swimming, treading water using all kicks, freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke and butterfly, and safety in diving. Children in this level should be able to swim 25 yards without stopping.

Level 5 - Stroke Refinement: Must have completed Level 4. Shallow dive, glide 2 body lengths and begin any stroke, back float and survival float 2 minutes, front and back crawl 50 yards butterfly, elementary backstroke, sidestroke and breaststroke 25 yards and safety skills. Students will focus on building endurance and technique on all strokes, race starts and flip turns. Children in this level should be able to swim 50 yards without stopping.