Pool - Tom Hornecker Recreation Centre

Parent & Tot classes provide an opportunity for parents and children to enjoy in-water interactions in a fun and social setting. Focusing on the importance of play and developing positive water aptitude and skills, children will gain valuable experience being in and around the water. Parents will learn to be Water Smart and keep themselves and their child safe in any aquatic setting.

Preschoolers will be assisted by their instructor when learning to enter and exit water safely, jump into chest deep water, and put their faces in the water to blow bubbles. Becoming comfortable with floats and glides and moving safely in shallow water while wearing life jackets will help swimmers gain confidence in their water skills.

Preschoolers will work on becoming more independent with their water skills. Some of these skills include jumping into chest deep water unassisted, submerging and exhaling under water, and floating and gliding with various buoyant aids. Swimmers will be introduced to lateral rollovers, and practice flutter kick on their backs. Prerequisite: Completed Preschool 1

Preschoolers will kick and glide their way through the water on their fronts and backs. They will work on retrieving objects from the bottom in water that is waist deep, and work towards mastering their floats, rollovers, glides, and kicks. In this level they work their way into deeper water for side entries and jumping in with their lifejackets on. Prerequisite: Preschool 2

Preschool 4: Preschoolers will start to gain independence in deep water. They will practice jumping into and exiting deeper water, sideways entries, and opening their eyes under water. Participants will work on completing 5m of front crawl in their lifejackets and work on their ability to tread water. Prerequisite: Preschool 3 

Preschool 5: Preschoolers will work towards achieving important swimming milestones such as treading in deep water for 10 seconds, and completing 5m swims of front and back crawl. Wearing a lifejacket, they will practice forward roll entries into deep water, learn to whip kick in a vertical position, and be introduced to interval training. Prerequisite: Preschool 4

Beginner swimmers will gain confidence in the water as they learn safe entries into various depths of water, treading water in a lifejacket, opening their eyes underwater, and breath control. Once they have learned their floats, rollovers, glides, and kicks from front to back, they will front crawl their way into the next level. Prerequisite: Min 6yrs old

Swimmers will make a splash with their kneeling dives and forward roll entries. Swimmers will be challenged by the introduction of various skills, including flutter kick on their front, back, and side, vertical whip kick with an aid, and swimming front crawl and back crawl for 10m. Swimmers will get to work on their Swim to Survive skills and be introduced to interval training. Prerequisite: Completed Swimmer 1 or 1+ or Preschool 5 experience

Swimmers will make a splash with their kneeling dives and forward roll entries. Swimmers will be challenged with the introduction of more difficult (but fun) skills, such as front somersaults and handstands in shallow water. Increased time and distance components are incorporated for skills such as flutter kick on front and back, whip kick on back, front and back crawl, and interval training. Prerequisite: Completed Swimmer 2

Swimmers will move from a beginner to intermediate swimming level. Swimmers will complete standing dives, tread water for 1 minute, and work towards being able to swim underwater for 5m. Swimmers will achieve the Swim to Survive standard by being able to roll into deep water, tread water for 1 minute, and swim 50m. In addition to improving their front crawl, back crawl, and whip kick, swimmers will be introduced to breaststroke. Prerequisite: Completed Swimmer 3

Swimmers will be challenged with a whole new set of skills; shallow dives, tuck jumps (cannonball entries), eggbeater kick, and backward somersaults. Technique and endurance will also receive greater focus as swimmers will need to complete longer distance swim and interval training sessions for all their strokes. Prerequisite: Completed Swimmer 4

In this final level of the Swimmer program, swimmers will build up their advanced skills set. Swimmers will work towards mastering side entries, compact jumps, and lifesaving kicks. Swimmers will also refine strokes to increase their swimming strength, power, and endurance- critical for success in the 300m swim required to complete the level. Prerequisite: Completed Swimmer 5

The Canadian Swim Patrol program provides enriched training for those who are ready to go beyond learn-to-swim. These programs continue to develop participants’ swim strokes and provide the skill foundation that prepares them for success in the Society’s Bronze Medal awards. The program has three modules: Water Proficiency, First Aid, and Recognition & Rescue.

Wanting 1:1 instruction, personalized swim lessons, or the ability to work on a specific skill? In our private lessons, participants will work on skills in the Lifesaving Society’s Swim for Life program and instructors will customize the lesson to the participants needs. *If the desire for private lessons is to pass a level, we recommend choosing 2-4 class sessions as this gives more opportunity for swimmers to practice and develop their skills*

Participants develop swimming proficiency, lifesaving skills and personal fitness. Participants will refine their stroke mechanics, acquire self-rescue skills and apply fitness principles in training workouts. Completion of this course allows participants to register for Bronze Medallion at 12yrs old.

This course provides an understanding of lifesaving principles embodied in the four components of water rescue education: judgement, knowledge, skill, and fitness. Candidates acquire the assessment and problem-solving skills required to make good decisions in, on, and around the water. Prerequisite: 13yrs or 12+yrs with Completion Bronze Star

This course activates the transition from life saving to lifeguarding. It prepares candidates for responsibilities as Assistant Lifeguards. This course emphasizes the importance of team work and communication in preventing and responding to aquatic emergencies. This is a prerequisite for all advanced training programs including National Lifeguard. Prerequisite: Completion Bronze Medallion and current Standard First Aid CPR-C/AED