Swim for Life is a comprehensive swim instruction program that focuses on the development of fundamental swim strokes and skills for learners of all ages and abilities. Swim for Life is accessible, flexible, success-oriented and fun. Instructors make sure swimmers get lots of in-water practice in every lesson.
If your child has taken Red Cross swim lessons up to this point, don't worry, with our help you will be able to easily identify which level your child should be enrolled in by checking out the information below or attending a Swim Assessment with a certified Swim Instructor during any of our public swim times.
Recreation Program Registration
The Lifesaving Society’s Swim for Life program is split into five parts.
- Parent and Tot for parents and children up to 3 years of age. Activities and progressions are based on child development, so parents register in the level appropriate for their child’s age.
- Preschool for children 3-5 years. In the preschool program, we work to ensure 3–5-year-olds become comfortable in the water and have fun, while developing a foundation of water skills.
- Swimmer for children 5 years or older. The Swimmer program makes sure children learn the fundamental physical literacy skills for aquatic activities. Progressions accommodate beginners and swimmers who want to build on the basics.
- Adult swimmer for people over 15 years. The Adult Swimmer program is for beginners who may be just starting out, or swimmers who want help with their strokes.
- Fitness swimmer for swimmers of any age who want to improve their overall physical fitness.
Check out the info below before you register for swim lessons this year to see what program your child should take.
Parent & Tot 1 (previously Starfish) – Enrol if your child is 4 to 12 months old and ready to learn to enjoy the water with a parent.
Parent & Tot 2 (previously Duck) – Enrol if your child is 12 to 24 months old and ready to learn to enjoy the water with a parent.
Parent & Tot 3 (previously Sea Turtle) – Enrol if your child is 2 to 3 years old and ready to learn to enjoy the water with a parent.
Preschool 1 (previously Sea Otter) – Enrol if your child is 3 to 5 years and just starting on their own.
Preschool 2 (previously Salamander) – Enrol if your child is 3 to 5 years and can get in and out alone, jump into chest deep water assisted, float and glide in a PFD on front and back, blow bubbles and get face wet.
Preschool 3 (previously Sunfish) – Enrol if your child can get in and out of the water alone, jump into chest deep water, sub-merge & exhale underwater, and float on front/back assisted for 3-5 seconds.
Preschool 4 (previously Crocodile) – Enrol if your child can jump into deep water wearing a PFD; recover objects from the bottom, hold their breath underwater, and float and glide on front & back.
Preschool 5 (previously Whale) – Enrol if your child can do solo jumps into deep water and get out by themselves, swim front crawl 3 - 5 m and do flutter kick on their front, back and side.
Swimmer 1 (previously Whale) – Enrol if your child is 5 to 12 years and has never taken a swimming lesson.
Swimmer 2 (previously completed Swim Kids 1) – Enrol if your child has passed Preschool 5 or Swimmer 1 and can jump into the water with and without a PFD; open eyes, hold breath, and exhale under-water, float, kick & glide on front and back.
Swimmer 3 (previously completed Swim Kids 2/3) – Enrol if your child can jump into deeper water, roll sideways into water wearing a PFD; support self at the surface without an aid, do whip kick in the vertical position, and swim 10 - 15 m on front and back.
Swimmer 4 (previously completed Swim Kids 4/5) – Enrol if your child can complete the Canadian Swim to Survive Standard: Roll - Tread (1 minute) - Swim (50 m); handstands and kneeling dives, and whip kick on their back.
Swimmer 5 (previously completed Swim Kids 6) – Enrol if your child can do dives, swim underwater, tread water for 2 minutes, 25 m of front and back crawl; whip kick on front; breast-stroke arms with breathing; and interval training of 4 x 25 m.
Swimmer 6 (previously completed Swim Kids 7) – Enrol if your child can do shallow dives and cannonballs; stationary eggbeater kick, 50 m of front and back crawl, breaststroke for 15 - 25 m; sprint 25 m; interval training of 4 x 50 m.
Swim Patrol: Rookie (previously completed Swim Kids 8) – Enrol if your child can do stride entries and compact jumps; eggbeater kick & scissor kick; sprint breaststroke over 25 m; and a workout of 300 m.
Swim Patrol: Ranger (previously completed Swim Kids 9) – Enrol if your child can swim carryuing a 5lb weight 15 m, swim 300 minutes continuously, and do head and foot-first surface dives and shallow dives.
Swim Patrol: Star (previously completed Swim Kids 10) – Enrol if your child can do eggbeater; swim 75 m of front crawl, back crawl and breaststroke; support a 5 lb object for 1 min; complete a 350 m workout.
Adult 1, 2, 3: For adults who have never swam before or want to improve their existing skills. Two instructors will teach the class, splitting the group into Beginner and Intermediate/Advanced.
You can learn more about the Lifesaving Society here: www.lifesaving.bc.ca
For more information or if you have questions, please contact Chelsey Keefer, Recreation Coordinator – Aquatics Lead, at pool@golden.ca