Swim Lessons - American Red Cross (2021)

• If you have received an ARC swim lesson booklet please bring to your first class so your instructor can update your progress.
• •All classes are processed on a first come, first serve basis.
• •Classes with fewer than 3 participants enrolled my be cancelled. Participants will be notified of changes.
• •Classes are not cancelled or rescheduled for rain or cold, however if there is an electrical storm in the area, classes will be held inside where we'll do programming centered around swimming and safety in, on and around water.
• •Please arrive 10 minutes prior to each lesson, suited up with a towel and wait on the grassy area near the shade pavilion for your instructor to call you to the pool.
• •Private Lessons may be scheduled through the office pending instructor availability.
• •Bathing suits are a requirement. No other clothing is allowed in the pool.
• •Children wearing diapers must wear "swim diapers" to be permitted in the pool. They are available for sale at the counter.
• •Baby carriages, lawn chairs, umbrellas, etc. are not permitted on the pool deck or in the grass circle, but are welcome on the grass area around the pool.
• •Parents and family are invited to watch lessons from the grassy area at the shade pavilion. No one is permitted on deck, the grass circle or at the pool's edge during lessons.
• •Snorkels, Masks, fins, floatation devices etc. are not permitted during swim lessons.
• •Once a participant is registered, there is no refund. When possible, we are happy to switch class times for you.

Level 1—Introduction to Water Skills -
Helps participants feel comfortable in the water - Enter water using ramp, steps or side - Exit water using ladder, steps or side - Blow bubbles through mouth and nose - Bobbing - Open eyes underwater and retrieve submerged objects - Front and back glides and recover to a vertical position - Back float - Roll from front to back and back to front - Tread water using arm and hand actions - Alternating and simultaneous arm and leg actions on front - Alternating and simultaneous arm and leg actions on back - Combined arm and leg actions on front and back - Plus age-appropriate water safety topics

Level 2 - Fundamental Aquatic Skills -
Enter water by stepping or jumping from the side - Exit water using ladder, steps or side - Fully submerge and hold breath - Bobbing - Open eyes underwater and retrieve submerged objects - Rotary breathing - Front, jellyfish and tuck floats - Back glide and recover to a vertical position - Front glide and recover to vertical position - Roll from front to back and back to front - Tread water using arm and leg actions - Change direction of travel while swimming on front or back - Combined arm and leg actions on front and back - Finning arm action - Plus age-appropriate water safety topics

Level 3 - Stroke Development
Enter water by jumping from the side, fully submerge then recover to the surface and return to the side - Headfirst entries from the side in sitting and kneeling positions - Bobbing while moving toward safety - Rotary breathing - Back float - Survival float - Change from vertical to horizontal position on front and back - Tread water - Flutter and dolphin kicks on front - Scissors and breaststroke kicks - Front crawl and elementary backstroke - Plus age-appropriate water safety topics - Builds on skills learned in Level 2 by practicing in deeper water

Level 4 - Stroke Improvement
Develops confidence in the skills learned and improves other aquatic skills. Headfirst entries from the side in compact and stride positions - Swim underwater – Feet first surface dive - Survival swimming - Open turns on front and back - Tread water using 2 different kicks - Front and back crawl, elementary backstroke, breaststroke, sidestroke and butterfly – Flutter and dolphin kicks on back - Plus age-appropriate water safety topics

Level 5—Stroke Refinement
Provides further coordination and refinement of strokes. Shallow-angle dive from the side then glide and begin a front stroke - Tuck and pike surface dives, submerge completely - Front flip turn and backstroke flip turn while swimming - Front and back crawl, elementary backstroke, breaststroke, sidestroke and butterfly - Sculling - Plus age-appropriate water safety topics

Level 6—Swimming and Skill Proficiency
Refines the strokes so participants swim them with ease, efficiency, power and smoothness over greater distances. Level 6 is designed with “menu” options that focus on preparing participants for more advanced courses, including the Water Safety instructor course, or other aquatic activities, such as competitive swimming or diving. Each option also includes applicable water safety topics.
Options include the following: Fitness Swimmer - Personal Water Safety - Fundamentals of Diving


Preschool Level Guidelines for kids 3-5 years old
Level 1—Orients children to the aquatic environment and helps them gain basic aquatic skills. Enter water using ramp, steps or side - Exit water using ladder, steps or side - Blow bubbles through mouth and nose - Submerge mouth, nose and eyes - Open eyes underwater and retrieve submerged objects - Front glide and recover to a vertical position - Back glide and recover to a vertical position - Back float - Roll from front to back and back to front - Tread with arm and hand actions - Alternating and simultaneous arm and leg actions on front - Alternating and simultaneous arm and leg actions on back - Combined arm and leg actions on front and back - Plus age-appropriate water safety topics

Level 2 Helps children gain greater independence in their skills and develop more comfort in and around water. Enter water by stepping in from a deck or low height - Exit water using ladder, steps or side - Bobbing - Open eyes underwater and retrieve submerged objects - Front float - Back glide and float and recover to a vertical position - Roll from front to back and back to front - Tread water using arm and leg actions - Combined arm and leg actions on front and back - Finning arm action on back - Plus age-appropriate water safety topics

Level 3 Helps children start to gain basic swimming propulsive skills to be comfortable in and around water. Enter water by jumping in - Fully submerge and hold breath - Bobbing - Rotary breathing - Front, jellyfish and tuck floats - Front and back float or glide and recover to a vertical position - Change direction of travel while swimming on front or back - Tread water using arm and leg actions - Combined arm and leg actions on front and back - Finning arm action on back - Plus age-appropriate water safety topics


Parent & Child Class Info for kids 6mos to 3 years old
Parents and children learn together to increase a child's comfort level in the water and build a foundation of trust and basic skills, such as arm and leg movements and breath control. The classes are fun-filled and help introduce water safety concepts, encouraging a healthy recreational habit that your entire family can enjoy.

Classes provide experiences and activities for children to Learn to ask for permission before entering the water - Learn how to enter and exit the water in a safe manner - Feel comfortable in the water - Explore submerging to the mouth, nose and eyes and fully submerging - Explore buoyancy on the front and back position - Change body position in the water -Learn how to play safely - Experience wearing a U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jacket - Plus age-appropriate water safety topics. There is not a pass/fail component to these classes. Many times families take the class several times throughout the summer for a fun consistent way to be in the water.