Red Cross Swimming Lessons Program Guide
BROWSE PROGRAMS
Check swimming lesson availability and schedules on the eCity/Registration website.
REGISTRATION
Register in Person: Artillery Park Aquatic & Fitness Centre, 76 Ordnance St. (entrance off Bagot Street). For inquiries please call 613-546-7998.
Register Online: use the eCity/Registration website to sign up for lessons.
Make sure your child is placed in the appropriate level. Show the front desk staff a copy of your child's previous report card with the swimming instructor's recommendations, or an orange Red Cross Swimming Lesson Assessment Card. You can pick up a blank assessment card at Artillery Park's front desk or in the Lifeguard Office. Head Guards are available during any scheduled Adult and Family Swim to assess your child.
WHAT TO EXPECT FROM LESSONS
Swimming requires a lot of practice and positive feedback. The Red Cross Swim Program allows students to progress comfortably and have tailored their program toward certain age groups. For this reason, Artillery Park does not allow age overrides for any swim programs. Talk about lessons with your child. Make sure that you have realistic expectations and that your child feels no pressure to "pass" a level or get a badge. Focus on "completing" the skills at a comfortable rate.
MIDTERM REPORT CARDS
Feedback is essential for successful learning! To provide this reinforcement, each participant will receive a written report outlining their swimming progress.
FINAL REPORT CARDS
These reports are yours to keep. However, the Progress Cards must be returned to your next instructor to see. To progress to the next level, all items must be completed.
If your child is away on the last day of lessons, your child's report cards are filed at the front desk to be picked up at your convenience.
REFUND POLICY
- Withdrawal from a program will be accepted up to 48 hours prior to the start of the program.
- Requests to withdraw from a program within 48 hours of the program start date, or after the program has started, will be accepted on a pro-rated basis for certified medical reasons. You must submit a request in writing to Artillery Park Aquatic & Fitness Centre or by email to cstorring@cityofkingston.ca.
- Refunds will be credited to your account to be used toward future registrations for a maximum of one year after which the remaining credit will be refunded. If you wish to request a refund for the credit balance on your account, you must contact ecityservices@cityofkingston.ca or call 613-546-0000 during regular business hours. All refunds will be sent to the applicant within 30 days of the request and are subject to a $10 administration fee.
- No program refunds will be considered after the halfway point of the program.
- Insufficient registrations, facility malfunction, or other circumstances beyond the City's control may necessitate the cancellation of a program. In the event that the City cancels a program, every effort will be made to reschedule or to transfer the participant to another course. If alternate arrangements cannot be made, a full refund will be issued. Refund credits will be placed on your account (for any recreation or aquatic program use) unless otherwise requested.
PROGRAM DETAILS
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RED CROSS PROGRAM |
RATIO |
LENGTH |
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|---|---|---|---|
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SWIM PRESCHOOL, PARENT ASSISTED |
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Starfish (4 - 18 months) |
1:10 |
9 30-minute lessons |
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Description: An introductory class for babies and their parent or caregiver. To enter this level, babies must be able to hold their head up. The goal of this orientation to water class is to experience buoyancy, movement, entries, and songs and play in the water. |
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Duck (18 - 30 months) |
1:10 |
9 30-minute lessons |
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Description: For toddlers or older babies with a parent or caregiver. Toddlers build confidence wile enjoying the water through games, songs and active water play. |
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Sea Turtle Jr. (30 - 36 months) |
1:10 |
9 30-minute lessons |
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Description: A transitional level for preschoolers and their parents. Parents can gradually transfer the preschoolers to the care of the Instructor. |
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SWIM PRESCHOOL - 3-5 YEARS |
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Sea Turtle Sr. |
1:4 |
9 30-minute lessons |
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Description: This level is for children 3-5 years of age who have not previously taken swimming lessons. This level develops skills in swimming, glides, and floating and builds awareness of deepwater and safe entries. |
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Salamander |
1:4 |
9 30-minute lessons |
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Description: Preschoolers actively learn new swimming skills including assisted floats and glides through games and songs. The fun includes learning to jump into chest deep water. |
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Sunfish |
1:4 |
9 30-minute lessons |
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Description: Assisted by the instructor, preschoolers work on stroke and skill progressions. Learning also focuses on good judgment in, on and around the water, and entries and floats in deep water. |
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Crocodile |
1:4 |
9 30-minute lessons |
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Description: Preschoolers start independent glides and kicking in deepwater. Endurance is built through increasing distance for front and back swims. |
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Whale |
1:4 |
9 30-minute lessons |
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Description: Children will learn to swim independently and participate in team games. Preschoolers will increase their distance and improve skills in front and back swims. |
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KIDS - 6 YEARS AND OLDER |
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Level 1 |
1:6 |
9 30-minute lessons |
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Description: This is an entry level for children ready to move in shallow water. This level provides an orientation to the water and the pool area and introduces floats and glides with kick. Children build their endurance by improving distance. |
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Level 2 |
1:6 |
9 30-minute lessons |
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Description: This level helps the children build skills in front and back swims. Children are introduced to deep water activities and proper use of a Personal Floatation Device (PFD). Endurance is built on flutter kicking with assisted glides. |
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Level 3 |
1:6 |
9 30-minute lessons |
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Description: This level provides an introduction to front crawl as well the foundation for making wise choices on where and when to swim. Diving is introduced and children will work on floats and changing direction. Endurance is achieved by building strength in flutter kick and a 15-metre swim. |
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Level 4 |
1:6 |
9 30-minute lessons |
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Description: The front crawl, back glide and shoulder roll for back crawl are further developed. Children work on kneeling dives, surface support and developing a greater sense of self-safety by understanding their own limits. Endurance is built through a 25-metre swim. |
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Level 5 |
1:8 |
9 45-minute lessons |
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Description: Back crawl is introduced, along with sculling skills and ship kick on the back. Children try stride dives receive an introduction to safe boating skills. Endurance is developed through dolphin kick and a 50-metre swim. |
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Level 6 |
1:8 |
9 45-minute lessons |
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Description: Front and back crawl continue to be refined as the elementary backstroke is newly introduced. Children are also introduced to safety on ice, elementary rescue of others with throwing assists, treading water and the front dive. Endurance is built through a 75-metre swim. |
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Level 7 |
1:10 |
9 60-minute lessons |
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Description: Level 7 continues to build skills and endurance for front crawl, back crawl and elementary back stroke and introduces whip kick on the front. Children learn about airway and breathing obstructions, and participate in timed treading water for increasing endurance. Endurance is built through timed treading water and a 150-metre swim. |
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Level 8 |
1:10 |
9 60-minute lessons |
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Description: Level 8 provides an introduction to the breaststroke, foot first surface dives, and rescue entries. Children learn about the dangers of open water, hypothermia, and the performance of rescue breathing on children and adults. Endurance is built on the dolphin kick and 300-metre swim. |
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Level 9 |
1:10 |
9 60-minute lessons |
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Description: Front crawl, back crawl, elementary backstroke and breaststroke continue to be refined. In this level children are encouraged to try combining different strokes and kicks for fitness. They also work on head-first surface dives and standing dives and learn about wise choices, peer influences, and self-rescue from ice. Endurance is built through a 400-metre swim. |
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Level 10 |
1:10 |
9 60-minute lessons |
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Description: Further refinement of strokes, with an introduction to butterfly and scissor kick as a warm-up/cool down stroke for fitness. Children learn about sun safety, rescue of others from the ice, and head-first and fee-first surface dives. Endurance is built using dolphin kick and butterfly drills and a 500-metre swim. |
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Private Lesson |
1:1 |
9 30-minute lessons |
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Semi-Private Lesson (upon request) |
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9 30-minute lessons |
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