Swimming Lessons

As of September 22, 2021, people aged 12+ are required to show proof of vaccination and ID (with name and date of birth) when entering our recreation facilities, including:

Alan Strike Aquatic and Squash Centre

Bowmanville Indoor Soccer/Lacrosse Bowl

Courtice Community Complex

Darlington Sports Centre

Diane Hamre Recreation Complex

Garnet B. Rickard Recreation Complex

South Courtice Arena

This does not apply to children aged 12+ entering to participate in active or organized sport. Valid medical exemptions will be recognized. Read the full press release.

This is part of the Provincial regulation under the Reopening Ontario Act.

Swimming lessons have changed

Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, and in consultation with the Canadian Red Cross, the following has changed:

Preschool levels Starfish to Level 3: A parent or caregiver (14 years of age or older) must be in the water for the duration of the lesson. Caregivers must be comfortable in the water and be able to hold the participant as needed as they practice skills. Usually, this is done by the Instructor; however, staff must maintain physical distancing at all times except in an emergency. Each child should have their own assigned caregiver. This includes private, semi-private and group lessons.
Caregivers of children in Sea Otter, Salamander and Level 1 must be comfortable in chest-deep water.
Caregivers of children in Sunfish, Crocodile/Whale, Level 2 and Level 3 must be comfortable in deep water.
Instructors will be teaching from the pool deck and, at times, in-water for demonstration purposes.
Limited equipment will be available for classes. Any equipment used will be assigned to each participant for the duration of the lesson.

Red Cross Preschool Lessons

Red Cross preschool swimming lessons are 30 minutes long.

Starfish | Ages 4 to 12 Months

Orientation to water for babies and their parent or caregiver.
Babies must be able to hold their head up.
The goals are to help babies experience buoyancy and movement through songs and play in the water and to teach the parent or caregiver age-specific water safety.

Duck | Ages 12 to 24 Months

Orientation to water for toddlers and their parent or caregiver.
Swimmers learn how to use floating objects for support and explore different water movements through games, songs and active water play. The parent or caregiver also learns age-specific water safety.

Sea Turtle | Ages 24 to 36 Months

Orientation to water for toddlers and their parent or caregiver.
Swimmers learn, through fun games and songs, how to combine skills, kick with a buoyant object and perform basic floats, glides and kicks.

Sea Otter | Ages 3 to 5 Years

Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, a parent or caregiver (14 years of age or older) must be in the water for the duration of the lesson. Caregivers must be comfortable in chest-deep water and be able to hold the participant as needed as they practise skills.

Transitional level that transfers the preschooler to the care of the instructor within the first three classes. All skills are assisted by the instructor.
Using games and activities, swimmers learn to open their eyes underwater, develop basic floats and glides and swim one metre. They also learn age-appropriate water safety skills.
Swimmers are evaluated based on performance criteria and progress to Salamander once all criteria have been successfully completed.

Salamander | Ages 3 to 5 Years

Using games and activities, swimmers learn to swim two metres, further develop basic floats and increase their distance on front and back glide. Front swim and roll-over glide are also included and swimmers learn appropriate water safety skills such as how to jump into chest-deep water and how to use a Personal Flotation Device (PFD).
Safety skills development includes water orientation, safe entries and exits and only swimming when an adult is present.
Swimmers are evaluated based on performance criteria and progress to Sunfish once all criteria have been successfully completed.

Sunfish | Ages 3 to 5 Years

Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, a parent or caregiver (14 years of age or older) must be in the water for the duration of the lesson. Caregivers must be comfortable in deep water and be able to hold the participant as needed as they practise skills.

Using games and activities, swimmers learn to swim five metres, increase their distance using buoyant objects, increase their distance on front and back glide with kick and develop their roll-over glide, side glide and front swim. Safety skills include deep-water skills and use of PFD.
Safety skills development such as water orientation, safe entries and exits and always asking for permission before going near the water.
Swimmers are evaluated based on performance criteria and progress to Crocodile once all criteria have been successfully completed.

Crocodile | Ages 3 to 5 Years

Through games and other fun activities, swimmers learn to swim five metres on their front and back, perform a dolphin kick and begin using rhythmic breathing. They also progress with kicking drills and increase their swimming distance to 10 metres.
Safety skills include jumping into deep-water and performing surface support for 10 seconds, recognizing when a swimmer needs help and using a PFD in deep water.
Swimmers are evaluated based on performance criteria and progress to Whale once all criteria have been successfully completed.

Whale | Ages 3 to 5 Years

Through fun activities, swimmers perform a front and back swim for 10 metres. Swimmers work on developing their flutter kick and perform a distance swim of 15 metres.
Safety skills include identifying safe swimming areas, jumping into deep water, swimming five metres, surface support for 20 seconds and return to safety, throwing assists, and sitting dives.
Swimmers are evaluated based on performance criteria and progress to Swim Kids Level 3 once all criteria have been successfully completed.

Red Cross Swim Kids

Red Cross Swim Kids levels one to 10 are for children ages six to 12. Levels one to four are 30 minutes long. Levels five to 10 are 45 minutes long. View the Red Cross age conversion chart to help you decide the right level to register in after your child turns six.

Red Cross Swim Kids 1 | Ages 6 to 12 Years

Swimmers receive an orientation to water and the pool area and work on floats, glides and kicking. Swimmers build their endurance by working on the five-metre front swim.

Red Cross Swim Kids 2 | Ages 6 to 12 Years

Swimmers work on propulsion skills to move through the water and to remain at the surface. Swimmers work on the front swim (five metres) and learn about deep-water activities and proper use of a Personal Flotation Device (PFD). Fitness activities include the 10-metre flutter kick and a 10-metre distance swim.

Red Cross Swim Kids 3 | Ages 6 to 12 Years

This level provides an introduction to diving and teaches swimmers how to make wise choices about where and when to swim. Endurance is achieved by building strength in the flutter kick and a 15-metre swim.

Red Cross Swim Kids 4 | Ages 6 to 12 Years

This level introduces the front crawl (10 metre) and back swim with shoulder roll (15 metre). Swimmers work on kneeling dives, surface support (45 seconds, deep water) and developing a greater sense of self-safety by understanding their own limits. Endurance is built through a 25-metre swim.

Red Cross Swim Kids 5 | Ages 6 to 12 Years

This level introduces the back crawl (15 metre), sculling skills, whip kick on the back, stride dives and treading water. Front crawl increases to 15 metres. An introduction to safe boating skills is also included. Endurance is developed through a 50-metre swim.

Red Cross Swim Kids 6 | Ages 6 to 12 Years

This level refines front crawl with a focus on hand entry and breathing (25 metre), back crawl with a focus on arm positions and body roll (25 metre) and introduces elementary backstroke (15 metre), safety on ice and rescue of others with throwing assists. Swimmers demonstrate the front dive and their ability to tread water in deep water for 1 1/2 minutes. Endurance is built through dolphin kick and a 75-metre swim.

Red Cross Swim Kids 7 | Ages 6 to 12 Years

This level builds skills and endurance for the front crawl (50 metre), back crawl (50 metre) and elementary back stroke (25 metre) and introduces whip kick on the front. Swimmers learn about airway and breathing obstructions, reaching assists and stride entry. Swimming endurance is increased to a 150-metre swim.

Red Cross Swim Kids 8 | Ages 6 to 12 Years

This level is an introduction to breast stroke (15 metre) and feet-first surface dives. Swimmers learn about the dangers of open water, hypothermia, the performance of rescue breathing on children and adults and standing shallow dives. Swimmers participate in timed treading water activities using the eggbeater skill for three minutes to improve their ability to remain at the surface in the event of an unexpected fall into water. Endurance is built on a 300-metre swim. Front crawl and back crawl distances are increased to 75 metres each.

Red Cross Swim Kids 9 | Ages 6 to 12 Years

This level refines the front crawl (100 metre), back crawl (100 metre), elementary back stroke (50 metre) and breast stroke (25 metre) and encourages swimmers to combine different kicks for fitness (3 minutes). They also work on head-first surface dives and learn about wise choices, peer influences and self-rescue from ice. Endurance is built through a 400-metre swim.

Red Cross Swim Kids 10 | Ages 6 to 12 Years

This level is a final assessment of the strokes for technique and distance (front crawl 100 metre, back crawl 100 metre, elementary back stroke 50 metre, breast stroke 50 metre and sidestroke 25 metre). Swimmers learn about sun safety, rescue of others from ice and head-first and feet-first surface dives. Endurance is built using the dolphin kick (vertical) and a 500-metre swim.

Private and Semi-Private Lessons

We offer private and semi-private lessons in 10-week blocks. Private lessons have a ratio of 1:1 and semi-private 2:1. All lessons are 30 minutes long.

Teen and Adult Lessons

Clarington offers both Learn to Swim and Swim Strokes and Fitness classes for all ages and swimming abilities. Adult lessons take place during the evening outside of public swimming hours. Lessons are 45 minutes long.

Teen Swim | Ages 13 to 17

Learn to swim and improve your swimming strokes. This program allows you to swim with youth who share the same goals. Advance through the Red Cross Swim program at a safe and comfortable pace. Please refer to the Red Cross Swim Kids level descriptions for correct placement.

Adult Lessons - Beginner | Ages 18+

This program allows participants to develop and increase comfort in the water through basic flotation, movement and breathing skills.

Adult Lessons - Intermediate | Ages 18+

This program introduces participants to deep water, surface support (treading water), front and back swim progressing to basic introduction to front/back crawl, and increasing distance.

Adult Lessons - Advanced | Ages 18+

This program is designed for adults who are looking to learn new swimming strokes, improve existing swimming strokes through distance and proficiency and develop fitness goals.