Swimming Lessons
We offer swimming lessons for participants ages 6 months and up. The swim lesson program follows the American Red Cross Parent and Child, Preschool, Learn-to-Swim, and Adult curricula. To view class offerings and to register, visit the PARKS DIRECT webpage.
Finished swim lessons and looking for a USA Swim Team? Check out the Sharks Swim Team.
Swim Team
Finished swim lessons and looking for a USA Swim Team? Check out the Sharks Swim Team.
Adult Beginner
Adapt to the aquatic environment while developing a positive attitude and safe practices around water. Gain basic aquatic skills such as water entry and exit; breath control and submerging; arm and leg actions; floating and gliding on the front and back; and treading in chest-deep water. Due to the number of skills taught in this course, participants may need to repeat this level.
Adult Intermediate
Build on fundamental aquatic skills and swimming strokes such as water entry and exit; breath control and submerging; floating and gliding on the front and back; and treading in chest-deep water. Front crawl, breaststroke and back crawl are introduced at this level. Learn the skills and concepts to stay safe in and around water and how to help during an aquatic emergency. Due to the number of skills taught in this course, participants may need to repeat this level. Prerequisites
- Successful completion of the Adult Beginner Level or participants must be able comfortable in chest-deep water
- Able to submerge face in the water and able to perform front crawl for 15 yards
Adult Advance
Refined your front crawl, back crawl and breaststroke strokes and turns and build endurance. Butterfly and flip turns are introduced at this level. Learn the skills and concepts to stay safe in and around water and how to help during an aquatic emergency. Due to the number of skills taught in this course, participants may need to repeat this level.Prerequisites
- Successful completion of the Adult Intermediate Level or participants must be able comfortable in deep water
- Able to put face in the water
- Able to perform strokes that can be recognized as front crawl, breaststroke, and elementary backstroke, each for 15 yards
Adult Stroke and Turn
Refine the six strokes, turns and build endurance. Learn the skills and concepts to stay safe in and around water and how to help during an aquatic emergency. Due to the number of skills taught in this course, participants may need to repeat this level.
Prerequisites
- Successful completion of the Adult Advance Level or participants must be able to swim the following strokes:
- Back crawl - 25 yards
- Breaststroke - 50 yards
- Butterfly - 25 yards
- Elementary Backstroke - 50 yards
- Front crawl - 50 yards
- Sidestroke - 25 yards
Parent & Child Aquatics
Bubblers 1 (Ages 6 months-3 years)
Swimmers are familiarized with the water and learn swimming readiness skills such as becoming comfortable in water, support techniques and beginning breath control. This level also provides safety information for parents and teaches techniques parents can use to orient their children to the water. One parent/guardian in appropriate swimming attire must participate in the water with their child during each lesson. This course may be repeated until the child is old enough for Bubblers 2.
Bubblers 2 (Ages 18 months-3 years)
Swimmers will build on the skills learned in Bubblers 1. Continue to work on basic skills including water adjustment, support techniques and breath control. Skills such as floating and kicking on front and back are explored. One parent/guardian in appropriate swimming attire must participate in the water with their child during each lesson. This course may be repeated until the child is old enough for Bobbers.
Preschool Aquatics (Ages 3-5 Years)
Bobbers
Swimmers are familiarized to the aquatic environment and helps them acquire basic aquatic skills such as water entry and exit; breath control and submerging; floating/gliding on the front and back; and treading in chest-deep water. Arm and leg actions are also introduced at this level. Swimmers begin to develop positive attitudes and safe practices around water. Due to the number of skills taught in this course, participants may need to repeat this level.
Floaters
Swimmers build on basic swimming skills learned in the Bobbers Series including breath control and submerging; swimming using combined arm and leg actions on the front and back; and treading in shoulder-deep water. Due to the number of skills taught in this course, participants may need to repeat this level.
Strokers 1
Swimmers build on the skills learned in the Bobbers and Floaters levels, with a greater emphasis on swimming on the front and back without assistance and for longer distances. Treading in shoulder-deep water for longer periods of time will also be explored. Water safety concepts are reinforced in this level. Due to the number of skills taught in this course, participants may need to repeat this level.
Strokers 2
Swimmers will focus on stroke development including front crawl and elementary backstroke. Swimmers will be introduced to the scissors and dolphin kicks and will build on the fundamentals of treading water. Diving skills may also be introduced. Participants who successfully complete this level and who meet the appropriate age requirement may register for Youth 4. This course may be repeated until the child is old enough for Youth Level 4.
Stroke & Turn (Ages 10-17 years)
Lessons focus on building endurance, stroke and turn refinement. Participants in this course will be expected to swim longer distances using front crawl, back crawl, butterfly, elementary backstroke, breaststroke, and side stroke. Participants will also learn to utilize equipment such as pull buoys, fins, paddles, and/or a pace clock. Using swimming as part of personal water fitness will also be discussed. To improve strength and endurance, this course may be repeated.
Prerequisite
Successful completion of the Youth/Adult lesson 5.
Youth & Teen Learn To Swim
Youth lessons are for ages 6 to 12 years and Teen lessons are for ages 13 to 17. Level 1: Introduction to Water Skills
Adapt to the aquatic environment while developing a positive attitude and safe practices around water. Gain basic aquatic skills such as water entry and exit; breath control and submerging; arm and leg actions; floating and gliding on the front and back; and treading in chest-deep water. Due to the number of skills taught in this course, participants may need to repeat this level.
Level 2: Fundamental Aquatic Skills
Build on the fundamental aquatic skills learned in Level 1. Due to the number of skills taught in this course, participants may need to repeat this level.
Level 3: Stroke Development
Swimmers must successfully complete Level 2 as prerequisite. Focus on stroke development, including front crawl and elementary backstroke. Develop your breaststroke, scissors and dolphin kicks, build on the fundamentals of treading water in deep water and explore diving skills. Due to the number of skills taught in this course, participants may need to repeat this level.
Level 4: Stroke Improvement
Swimmers must successfully complete Level 3 as prerequisite.
Focus on improving swimming strokes: front crawl, breaststroke, butterfly, back crawl and sidestroke. Explore diving skills. Due to the number of skills taught in this course, participants may need to repeat this level.
Level 5: Stroke Refinement
Swimmers must successfully complete Level 4 as prerequisite.
Focus on stroke refinement for all six strokes: front crawl, breaststroke, butterfly, back crawl, elementary backstroke and sidestroke. Participants will work on surface dives, flip turns and explore diving skills. Due to the number of skills taught in this course, participants may need to repeat this level.
Level 6: Swimming and Skills Proficiency
Swimmers must successfully complete Level 5 as prerequisite.
Focus on stroke refinement to develop greater efficiency, power and smoothness for longer distances. Refine the front crawl, back crawl, butterfly, elementary backstroke, breaststroke and side stroke. There will also be extensive work on turns and water safety skills. Due to the number of skills taught in this course, participants may need to repeat this level.