Portage Pool Swimming Lessons Spring 2015 Portage Pool reserves the right to cancel lessons with low registration before the start of the second class. Registered participants whose class is canceled may have the option to transfer to another open class or 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. Spring Bathing Suit Drive Portage Pool is having its annual bathing suite drive. This spring, bring in a gently used children s bathing suit and get 1 free admission to Portage Pool! The admission must be on the same day as the donation and is not transferable. Session Dates Monday April 27, May 4, 11, 25, June 1, 8, 15, 22 Tuesday April 28, May 5, 12, 19, 26, June 2, 9, 16 Wednesday April 29, May 6, 13, 20, 27, June 3, 10, 17 Thursday April 30, May 7, 14, 21, 28, June 4, 11, 18 Friday May 1, 8, 22, 29, June 5, 12, 19, 26 Saturday May 2, 9, 23, 30, June 6, 13, 20, 27 Cancellations All lessons are canceled Friday May 15, Saturday May 16, and Monday May 18. Parent Teacher Meeting Lessons will end about 5 minutes early on the dates listed below so that parents can meet with the instructor to ask questions about your child s progress. Monday May 25 Tuesday May 26 Wednesday May 27 Thursday May 28 Saturday May 30 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 Friday 10-10:30 am Max 12 Min 3 $45 Saturday 11:30-12 pm Max 12 Min 3 $45 1
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 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. Monday 4-4:30 pm Max 4 Min 2 $55 Tuesday 4:30-5 pm Max 4 Min 2 $55 Wednesday 4-4:30 pm Max 4 Min 2 $55 Thursday 3:30-4 pm Max 4 Min 2 $55 Friday 9-9:30 am Max 4 Min 2 $55 Saturday 9-9:30 am Max 4 Min 2 $55 Saturday 10:30-11 am Max 4 Min 2 $55 Monday 5-5:30 pm Max 4 Min 2 $55 Wednesday 4:30-5 pm Max 4 Min 2 $55 Thursday 4-4:30 pm Max 4 Min 2 $55 Saturday 11-11:30 am Max 4 Min 2 $55 Requirement: Complete Sea Turtle or 3 years old Sea Otter/ Salamander Friday 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. Monday 6-6:30 pm Max 4 Min 2 $55 Tuesday 5-5:30 pm Max 4 Min 2 $55 Wednesday 5:30-6 pm Max 4 Min 2 $55 Thursday 4:30-5 pm Max 4 Min 2 $55 Saturday 9:30-10 am 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. Swimmers will learn to submerge their head without assistance. This class takes place in the shallow end of the Main Pool. Tuesday 5-5:30 pm Max 5 Min 2 $65 Tuesday 6-6:30 pm Max 5 Min 2 $65 Wednesday 5-5:30pm Max 5 Min 2 $65 Wednesday 5-5:30pm Max 5 Min 2 $65 Wednesday 6-6:30pm Max 5 Min 2 $65 Saturday 9-9:30 am Max 5 Min 2 $65 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. Monday 5-5:30 pm Max 5 Min 2 $65 Tuesday 5:30-6 pm Max 5 Min 2 $65 Wednesday 5:30-6 pm Max 5 Min 2 $65 Saturday 9:30-10 am Max 5 Min 2 $65 Saturday 10-10:30 am 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 5:30-6 pm Max 5 Min 2 $65 Tuesday 6-6:30 pm Max 5 Min 2 $65 Wednesday 6-6:30 pm Max 5 Min 2 $65 Saturday 10:30-11 am Max 5 Min 2 $65 Requirement: Complete Swim Kids 2 Swim Kids 4 Front crawl is further developed and distances are increased for glides. Participants learn about staying safe in different water environments. Swimmers will also work on a 25m distance swim. Tuesday 5:30-6:15pm Max 6 Min 2 $70 Saturday 9:30-10:15 am Max 6 Min 2 $70 Requirement: Complete Swim Kids 3 Swim Kids 5 Back crawl and whip kick on the back are introduced. Participants learn about boat safety, staying warm and disorienting entries into water. Successful completion includes a 50m distance swim. Tuesday 5:30-6:15pm Max 6 Min 2 $70 Saturday 10:30-11:15 am Max 6 Min 2 $70 Requirement: Complete Swim Kids 4 3
Swim Kids 6 Dolphin kick, elementary backstroke, and headfirst sculling are introduced. Front and back crawl continue to be refined. Successful completion includes a 75m distance swim. Thursday 5:30-6:15 pm Max 6 Min 2 $70 Requirement: Swim Kids 5. Swim Kids 7/8 In Swim Kids 7, swimmers will learn whip kick on the 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. Wednesday 5:30-6:15pm Max 8 Min 2 $70 Requirement: Complete 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: Complete Swim Kids 7 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. Cost: $15 per 30 minutes lesson Leadership Courses Bronze Star Bronze Star is good preparation for success in Bronze Medallion. Participants develop problem-solving and decision-making skills individually and in partners. Candidates learn CPR and develop lifesaving skills needed to be their own lifeguard. 100% attendance is required to pass this course. Thursday 5-6:30 pm Max 12 Min 3 $85 Recommendation: Ages 9-12 who are strong swimmers; comfortable swimming 400m in 12 minutes or less. 4
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. Tuesday 8-10pm Max 12 Min 3 $85 Requirement: Bronze Medallion; comfortable swimming 600m in 18 minutes or less. 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 Note: This class takes place during the open swim. Adult Beginner Swim Participants are taught front crawl, back crawl, treading water and deep water skills, depending on existing abilities. Participants are encouraged to work at their own pace with instructors providing a mix of group instruction and one-on-one correction. Participants should be comfortable moving around in chest-deep water and swimming 10m. This program is co-ed. Fridays 8-8:45pm 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 enough registration to run and space is available. Mondays 5:30-6:15pm May 4, 11, 25, June 1, 8, 15 Min 5 $50 Fridays 5:30-6:15pm May 8, 29, June 5, 12, 19 Min 5 $45 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. 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, 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. Please make sure that your contact information is up to date when registering. How are swimmers 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 for that level. Because swimmers develop differently, it is normal for participants to do 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?! The most important thing parents can do to help their child do well in swimming lessons is to bring them to the pool to practice. 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 backslide and may be asked to repeat a level they have already completed if their skills are not at the standard needed 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 asked not to use the pool for 72 hours after their last symptom. How do I register? You can register in person at Portage Pool or call the front desk and pay with a credit card. We can t hold spots without payment. If a class is full, please ask to be placed on the waiting list more classes may be added if there is need and instructors are available. 6