Portage Pool Swimming Lessons Winter 2015 The swimming lessons being offered reflect the number of instructors available at the time of publication. If more staff are hired, additional classes may be added. To receive updates, please ask to join our email newsletter. Thank you for your understanding! Portage Pool reserves the right to cancel lessons with low registration before the start of the second class. Registered participants whose class is canceled will receive a full refund. If financial barriers prevent you from registering in swimming lessons, please speak to Portage Pool staff in confidence. Not sure what level to register in? Our staff can help you choose the right level or you can register for a complimentary swim assessment. During the swim assessment, participants spend 5-10 minutes in the pool with an instructor. The instructor will check the swimmer s skills and tell you which level they should register in. Session Dates Parent Teacher Meeting Lessons will end about 5 minutes early on the dates listed below so that parents can meet with the instructor to discuss their child s progress. Tuesday February 24 Wednesday February 25 Thursday March 26 Saturday February 28 Red Cross Preschool Program (Children ages 6 months 5 years) Starfish/Duck (Parent & Tot) In this course, babies and toddlers are introduced to water skills in a safe environment with songs and games. Children are 1:1 with a parent or guardian (no exceptions) under the direction of an instructor. Children who are not toilet trained are required to wear a swim diaper, available for $2 at Portage Pool. This class takes place in the Wading Pool. Requirement: 6 months old up to age 3 Thursday 10-10:30 am Max 12 Min 3 $45 Saturday 11:30-12 pm Max 12 Min 3 $45 1
Sea Turtle This is the first preschool level in which children participate independently of their parents. Basic water skills such as submersion of the head and water movements (floats, glides, kicking) are introduced with songs and games. Children should be 3 years old by the first class. This class takes place in the Wading Pool. Requirement: 3 years old Sea Otter Skills from Sea Turtle are repeated with a progression towards the child doing the skills without the instructor s assistance. Children must be comfortable frequently submerging their head to register directly into this level. This class takes place in the Wading Pool. Requirement: Complete Sea Turtle or 3 years old Tuesday 4-4:30 pm Max 4 Min 2 $55 Wednesday 4-4:30 pm Max 4 Min 2 $55 Thursday 9-9:30 am Max 4 Min 2 $55 Thursday 4-4:30 pm Max 4 Min 2 $55 Saturday 10:30-11 am Max 4 Min 2 $55 Wednesday 4:30-5 pm Max 4 Min 2 $55 Thursday 4:30-5 pm Max 4 Min 2 $55 Saturday 11-11:30 am Max 4 Min 2 $55 Sea Otter/ Salamander Tuesday 4-4:30 pm Max 4 Min 2 $55 Thursday 9:30-10 am Max 4 Min 2 $55 Salamander Floats (front, back), glides (front, back, roll-over), and front swim (2m) are all completed without the assistance of the instructor. This class takes place in the Wading Pool or the Main Pool on a raised platform in the shallow end. Requirement: Complete Sea Otter Sunfish This class takes place in the Main Pool and provides an introduction to deep water skills for those children who have already mastered the independent skills in Salamander. Tuesday 5-5:30 pm Max 4 Min 2 $55 Thursday 5-5:30 pm Max 4 Min 2 $55 Saturday 10-10:30 am Max 4 Min 2 $55 Requirement: Complete Salamander 2
Red Cross Swim Kids (Children ages 5 +) Swim Kids 1 This first level of the Swim Kids program is for children ages 5 and up. No previous swimming experience is required. Swimmers will learn how to float and glide with help from the instructor. This class takes place in the shallow end of the Main Pool. Requirement: 5 years of age Swim Kids 2 Swimmers improve their floats and glides (done without help from the instructor) to develop front and back swimming skills, including flutter kick. Swimmers will also work on a 10m distance swim. Tuesday 5-5:30 pm Max 5 Min 2 $65 Tuesday 6-6:30 pm Max 5 Min 2 $65 Thursday 5:30-6 pm Max 5 Min 2 $65 Thursday 6-6:30 pm Max 5 Min 2 $65 Saturday 9-9:30 am Max 5 Min 2 $65 Tuesday 5:30-6pm Max 5 Min 2 $65 Thursday 6-6:30pm Max 5 Min 2 $65 Saturday 9:30-10am Max 5 Min 2 $65 Requirement: Swim Kids 1 Swim Kids 3 Swimmers are introduced to front crawl, sitting dives, changing direction in deep water, and treading water. Swimmers will also work on a 15m distance swim. Tuesday 6-6:30pm Max 5 Min 2 $65 Saturday 9-9:30am Max 5 Min 2 $65 Requirement: Swim Kids 2 Swim Kids 4 Front crawl is further developed; back crawl and side glides are introduced. Participants learn about staying safe in different water environments. Swimmers will also work on a 25m distance swim. Tuesday 5:30-6:15 pm Max 6 Min 2 $70 Requirement: Swim Kids 3 3
Swim Kids 5/6 In Swim Kids 5, back crawl is developed and whip kick on the back introduced. Participants learn about boat safety, staying warm and disorienting entries into water. Successful completion includes a 50m distance swim. Requirement: Swim Kids 4 Saturday 10:30-11:15 am Max 6 Min 2 $70 In Swim Kids 6, dolphin kick, elementary backstroke, and head-first sculling are introduced. Front and back crawl continue to be refined. Successful completion includes a 75m distance swim. Requirement: Swim Kids 5. Swim Kids 7/8 In Swim Kids 7, swimmers will learn whip kick on their front for the first time. Swimmers also learn how to recognize and respond to a choking victim. To complete this level, swimmers do a distance swim of 150m. Requirement: Swim Kids 6 In Swim Kids 8, swimmers learn eggbeater, breast stroke, and rescue breathing. Front and back crawl continue to be refined. To complete this level, swimmers do a distance swim of 300m. Requirement: Swim Kids 7 Swim Kids 9/10 In Swim Kids 9, swimmers refine all of their swimming strokes and Sidestroke is introduced. To complete this level, swimmers do a 400m distance swim. Requirement: Swim Kids 8 Wednesday 5:30-6:15pm Max 6 Min 2 $70 Saturday 9:30-10:15 am Max 6 Min 2 $70 In Swim Kids 10, candidates are expected to demonstrate mastery of all swimming strokes and skills, culminating in a 500m distance swim in order to successfully complete the Red Cross Swim Kids Program. Requirement: Swim Kids 9. 4
Private Lessons Private lessons are only available by request for swimmers with special needs or abilities and who require direct supervision and instruction. Please contact the Aquatics Services Coordinator directly at 780-623-6778. Space is extremely limited and not all requests can be met. Leadership Courses If you are interested in taking leadership courses to become a lifeguard or swimming instructor, please contact Katie at 780-623-6778. Courses will be scheduled when participants are confirmed. Courses require a minimum of 3 participants to run. Bronze Medallion Candidates develop the judgment, skills, and fitness required for water rescues including tows, carries, defenses and releases as well as resuscitation skills. Candidates develop stroke efficiency and endurance in a 500m timed swim. 100% attendance is required to pass this course. Requirement: 13 years of age or the Bronze Star award; comfortable swimming 500m in 15 mins. Bronze Cross Bronze Cross builds on Bronze Medallion. Candidates are introduced to safe supervision in aquatic facilities. Bronze Cross is the requirement in order to move on to advanced training programs like the National Lifeguard award. 100% attendance is required to pass this course. Requirement: Bronze Medallion; comfortable swimming 600m in 18 mins. Adult and Youth Swimming Lessons Teen Swim This course is meant for teens between age 12 and 16. In this course, swimmers will work at their own pace to learn front crawl, back crawl, treading water and deep water skills. Participants should be comfortable putting their face in the water and swimming on their front; swimmers do not need to know any swimming strokes or technique to enroll. Saturdays 12-12:45 pm Max 10 Min 2 $85 Aquafit Deanne, a certified WaterART instructor, provides an aquatic exercise class to improve flexibility, aerobic capacity, muscular strength, and endurance. Aquafit is low-impact and well suited to seniors and those just starting out on their fitness journey. Participants must be at least 15 years of age (or come with an adult). Drop-ins ($9/person) available if the program has sufficient registration to run and space is available. Mondays 5:30-6:15 pm January 26, February 2, 9, 23, March 2, 9, 16, 23 Min 5 $65 Fridays 5:30-6:15 pm January 30, February 6, 20, 27, March 6, 13, 20, 27 Min 5 $65 New Year s fitness blitz in partnership with the Bold Center! FREE aquafit from 5:30-6:15pm January 5, 7, and 9. Participants must have a current PARQ ask for more info at the front desk. 5
General Information Parents or guardians must bring their children to and from the pool or washroom during class time; the instructor cannot leave the class unattended. Children must shower, use the toilet, and blow their nose before the start of every class. Children must wear a proper bathing suit at all times. Hair below the ears should be tied back or tucked into a bathing cap (boys & girls). Goggles are allowed but not required for children in Swim Kids Levels 1-10; goggles are not recommended for preschool-aged children. Please remember: No outdoor shoes, strollers, food, drinks (other than water), or glass on the pool deck. Participants should NOT eat within 90 minutes of a swimming lesson. Frequently Asked Questions What is your cancellation policy? Cancellations for this session are included in the original class dates. If the pool is closed due to an unforeseen emergency, reasonable efforts will be made to schedule a makeup lesson, but this is not always possible. How are students evaluated? Students are evaluated during each class of the session. To complete a level, the swimmer must be able to show all of the skills in the level 3 times to the standard stated in the curriculum. Because swimmers develop differently, it is normal for participants to work on the same level more than once. Remember to save your child s report cards and return them to your new instructor at the start of the next session. My child was asked to repeat a level s/he already completed?! Swimming is a very perishable skill. The number #1 thing parents can do to help their child succeed in swimming lessons is to bring them to the pool to practice and be active as a family. Children who do not spend time in the pool outside of class will not be able to advance to the next level even over the course of several sessions. Similarly, children who have not participated in swimming lessons for over a year often regress, and yes, will be asked to repeat a level they have already completed if their skills are not at the standard required for that level. For questions about specific skills, please see the instructional board next to the vending machines or call Katie at 780-623-6778. What should I do if my child is sick or will miss a class? If you know your child will miss several lessons, please let the instructor know. Missing more than one lesson may effect whether or not your child is able to complete the level. Participants who experience diarrhea are kindly asked not to use the pool for 72 hours after their last symptom. How do I register? You can register starting Tuesday December 9 until all classes fill up. If a class is full, please ask to be placed on the waiting list. Additional classes may be added if there is a demonstrated need. 6