Swimming Lessons

Registering in Consecutive Seasons: Participants must complete their current program and receive their report card result before registering in the following program set or season.
For example, if your child is in Swimmer 1 in the winter session, you must wait until he/she has received a report card on the final day of the lesson set before registering him/her into Swimmer 2 in the spring session.

The BV Pool and Recreation Centre is offering Swim for Life swim lessons.

The Lifesaving Society Swim for Life® program is a comprehensive swim lesson program that focuses on the development of fundamental swim strokes and skills for learners of all ages and abilities. Instructors ensure swimmers get lots of in-water practice in every lesson. Swim for Life includes fun, hands-on activities that focus on teaching Water Smart education for the whole family. Lessons that will last a lifetime!

If your child previously completed levels in our Red Cross Swim program or has not taken any lessons for a while then we encourage you to get your child assessed by a BV Pool Swim Instructor.

All of our instructors are certified Swim For Life instructors. We offer the Swim Instructor leadership program once a year to become a certified Swim for Life Swimming instructor. Pre-requisites are proficient swimming skills, Bronze Cross, and a minimum of 15 years of age.

Parent & Tot Programs

For children 4 months to 3-years old

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Parent & Tot 1 - Jellyfish

For children 4-12 months old and ready to learn and enjoy the water with parents.

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Based on the principle "Within Arms Reach", these classes focus on close playful interaction and shared fun between child, parent and water. Students will learn to...

  1. Enter & exit the water safely with tot
  2. Readiness for submersion Hold tot on front, eye contact
  3. Hold tot on back, head & back support
  4. Front float (face out) – assisted
  5. Back float – assisted
  6. Float wearing PFD – assisted
  7. Arms: splashing, reaching, paddling, on front & back
  8. Legs: tickling, splashing, kicking, on front & back
  9. Water Smart Messages

Parent & Tot 2 - Goldfish

For children 13-24 months old and ready to learn and enjoy the water with parents.

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Based on the principle "Within Arms Reach", these classes focus on close playful interaction and shared fun between child, parent and water. Children will learn to...

  1. Entry from sitting position- assisted
  2. Exit the water – assisted
  3. Blow bubbles on & in water
  4. Face wet & in water
  5. Attempt to recover object below surface
  6. Entry from sitting position wearing PFD & return – assisted
  7. Front float (face in) – assisted
  8. Back float – assisted
  9. Kicking on front & back – assisted
  10. Surface passes with continuous contact
  11. Water Smart Messages

Parent & Tot 3 - Seahorse

For children 2-3+ years old and ready to learn and enjoy the water with parents.

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Based on the principle "Within Arms Reach", these classes focus on close playful interaction and shared fun between child, parent and water. Children will learn to...

  1. Jump entry – assisted
  2. Entry & submerge from sitting position – assisted
  3. Exit the water – unassisted 4. Hold breath underwater – assisted
  4. Attempt to open eyes underwater
  5. Attempt to recover object from bottom
  6. Standing jump entry, return to edge – assisted
  7. Jump entry & float wearing PFD – assisted
  8. Front & back “starfish” floats – assisted
  9. Front & back “pencil” floats – assisted
  10. Kicking on front & back – assisted
  11. Underwater passes
  12. Water Smart Messages

Preschool Programs

For children 3-5 years old

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Swim Preschool 1 - Octopus

For children 3-5 years old and starting lessons on their own.

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Skills they will learn.

  1. Enter & exit shallow water - assisted
  2. Jump into chest-deep water – assisted
  3. Face in water
  4. Blow bubbles in water
  5. Float on front & back (3 sec. each) - assisted
  6. Safe movement in shallow water – wearing PFD
  7. Glide on back wearing (3 m. each) - assisted
  8. Water Smart Messages

Swim Preschool 2 - Crab

For children 3-5 years old who can...

  • Jump into chest-deep water assisted
  • Float and glide on front assisted
  • Blow bubbles and get face wet unassisted
  • Float and glide on back assisted

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Skills they will learn.

  1. Enter & exit shallow water wearing PFD
  2. Jump into chest-deep water
  3. Submerge
  4. Submerge & exhale (3 times)
  5. Float on front & back (3sec. each) wearing PFD or with buoyant aid Roll laterally front to back & back to front, wearing PFD
  6. Glide on front & back wearing PFD (3 m each) wearing PFD or with buoyant aid
  7. Flutter kick on back with buoyant aid (5m)
  8. Water Smart Messages

Swim Preschool 3 - Orca

For children 3-5 years old who can...

  • Jump into chest deep water unassisted
  • Submerge and exhale underwater 3 times
  • Roll from front to back & back to front with a PFD on
  • Kick on front for 5m

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Skills they will learn.

  1. Jump into deep water wearing PFD, return & exit
  2. Sideways entry wearing PFD
  3. Hold breath under water (3 sec.)
  4. Submerge & exhale (5 times)
  5. Recover object from bottom in waist-deep water
  6. Back float; roll to front; swim 3 m
  7. Float on front & back (5 sec. each) 8. Roll laterally front to back & back to front
  8. Glide on front & back (3 m each) 10. Flutter kick on back (5 m)
  9. Flutter kick on front (3 m)
  10. Water Smart Messages

Swim Preschool 4 - Sea Lion

For children 3-5 years old who can...

  • Jump into deep water with a PFD
  • Hold breath underwater for 3 seconds
  • Float on front and back for 5 seconds unassisted
  • Glide on front and back unassisted

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Skills they will learn.

  1. Jump into deep water, return & exit
  2. Sideways entry
  3. Tread water 10 sec. wearing PFD
  4. Open eyes under water
  5. Recover object from bottom in chest-deep water
  6. Wearing a PFD, sideways entry into deep water; tread (15 sec.); swim/kick (5 m)
  7. Front float; roll to back; swim 5 m
  8. Glide on side (3 m)
  9. Flutter kick: on front (7 m); on back (7 m); on side (5 m)
  10. Front crawl (5 m) wearing PFD
  11. Water Smart Messages

Swim Preschool 5 - Narwhal

For children 3-5 years old that can...

  • Jump into deep water and swim to edge
  • Side glide for 3m
  • Pick up a ring from the bottom of the pool
  • Flutter kick on front and back 7m

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Skills they will learn.

  1. Forward roll entry wearing PFD
  2. Tread water (10 sec.)
  3. Submerge & hold breath (5 sec.) 4. Recover object from bottom in chest-deep water
  4. Wearing PFD, sideways entry into deep water; tread (20 sec.); swim/kick (10 m)
  5. Whip kick in vertical position (20 sec.) with PFD or buoyant aid
  6. Front crawl (5m)
  7. Back crawl (5 m)
  8. Interval training: 4 x 5 m flutter kick on back with 30 sec. rests
  9. Water Smart Messages

Swimmer Programs

For children 5-12 years old.

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Swimmer 1

For children 6-12 years old with no or limited lesson experience.

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Skills they will learn.

  1. Enter & exit shallow water
  2. Jump into chest-deep water
  3. Jump into deep water wearing PFD
  4. Tread water (30 sec.) wearing PFD
  5. Hold breath under water (5 sec.)
  6. Submerge and exhale (5 times)
  7. Open eyes under water
  8. Float on front & back (5 sec. each)
  9. Roll laterally front to back & back to front
  10. Glide on front, back & side (3 m each)
  11. Flutter kick on front & back (5 m each)
  12. Front Crawl (5 m ) wearing PFD
  13. Water Smart Messages

Swimmer 2

For children 6-12 years old who can...

  • Jump into chest-deep water unassisted and into deep water in a PFD
  • Open eyes, exhale and hold breath underwater
  • Float, kick and glide on front and back

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Skills they will learn.

  1. Jump into deep water, return & exit
  2. Sideways entry wearing PFD
  3. Tread water (15 sec.)
  4. Recover object from bottom in chest-deep water
  5. Wearing PFD jump into deep water, tread 30 sec. & swim / kick (15 m)
  6. Flutter kick on front, back & side (10 m each)
  7. Whip kick in vertical position (30 sec.) with aid
  8. Front crawl & back crawl (10 m each)
  9. Interval training: 4 x 5 m flutter kick with 20 sec. rests
  10. Water Smart Messages

Swimmer 3

For children 6-12 years old who can...

  • Jump into deep water and do a sideways entry wearing a PFD
  • Surface support for 15 sec
  • Front and back crawl for 10m each

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Skills they will learn.

  1. Kneeling dive into deep water
  2. Forward roll entry into deep water
  3. Tread water (30 sec.)
  4. Handstand in shallow water
  5. Front somersault (in water)
  6. Jump into deep water, tread 30 sec. & swim / kick (25 m)
  7. Flutter kick on back (5 m); reverse direction and flutter kick on front (5m)
  8. Flutter kick on front (5 m); reverse direction and flutter kick on back (5m)
  9. Whip kick on back (10 m)
  10. Front crawl & back crawl (15 m each)
  11. Interval training: 4 x 15 m flutter kick with 20 sec. rests
  12. Water Smart messages

Swimmer 4

For children 6-12 years old who can...

  • Surface support for 30 sec
  • Kneeling dive and somersaults
  • Whip kick on back
  • Front and back crawl 15m

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Skills they will learn.

  1. Standing dive into deep water
  2. Tread water (1 min.)
  3. Swim underwater (5 m)
  4. Canadian Swim-to-Survive®
  5. Standard: Roll entry into deep water, tread 1 min. and swim 50 m
  6. Whip kick on front (15 m)
  7. Breaststroke arms drill (15 m)
  8. Front crawl & back crawl (25 m each)
  9. Interval training: 4 x 25 m front or back crawl with 20 sec. rests
  10. Sprint front crawl (25 m)
  11. Water Smart Messages

Swimmer 5

For children 6-12 years old who can...

  • Complete swim to survive challenge: Roll-tread(1min)-Swim(50)
  • Standing dive
  • Swim underwater
  • Whip kick on front 15m

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Skills they will learn.

  1. Shallow dive into deep water
  2. Tuck jump (cannonball) into deep water
  3. Jump entry into deep water & tread 2 min.
  4. Stationary eggbeater kick (30 sec.)
  5. Back somersault (in water)
  6. Roll entry into deep water, tread 90 sec. and swim 75 m
  7. Breaststroke (25 m)
  8. Front crawl & back crawl (50 m each)
  9. Head-up front crawl (10 m)
  10. Interval training: 4 x 50 m front or back crawl with 30 sec. rests
  11. Interval training: 4 x 15 m breaststroke with 30 sec. rests
  12. Sprint front crawl & back crawl (25 m each)
  13. Water Smart Messages

Swimmer 6

For children 6-12 years old who can...

  • Shallow dive and cannonball
  • Eggbeater and scissor kick
  • Front and back crawl 50m
  • breastroke 25m
  • Sprint 25m

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Skills they will learn.

  1. Stride entry into deep water
  2. Compact jump into deep water
  3. Legs-only surface support 45 sec.
  4. Swim underwater (10 m) to recover object
  5. Eggbeater kick on back (15 m)
  6. Scissor kick (15 m)
  7. Breaststroke (50 m)
  8. Front crawl & back crawl (100 m each)
  9. Head –up swim 25 m
  10. Interval training: 4 x 25 m breaststroke with 30 sec. rests
  11. Sprint breaststroke (25 m)
  12. Workout (300 m)
  13. Water Smart Messages

Canadian Swim Patrol Programs

Introduction to water proficiency, first aid and recognition and rescue skills.

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Swimmer 7 - Rookie Patrol

For children 8 years old + who can...

  • Stride entry and compact jumps
  • Legs only surface support 45sec.
  • Back and front crawl 100m
  • Head-up front crawl
  • 300m workout

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Canadian Swim Patrol provides enriched training for young swimmers who are ready to go beyond learn-to-swim with introduction to water proficiency, first aid and recognition and rescue skills. As an on-ramp to lifesaving, lifesaving sport and lifeguarding, the prerequisite is the ability to swim.

Swimmer 8 - Ranger Patrol

For children who have completed Swimmer 7.

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Canadian Swim Patrol provides enriched training for young swimmers who are ready to go beyond learn-to-swim with introduction to water proficiency, first aid and recognition and rescue skills. As an on-ramp to lifesaving, lifesaving sport and lifeguarding, the prerequisite is the ability to swim.

Swimmer 9 - Star Patrol

For children who have completed Swimmer 8

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Canadian Swim Patrol provides enriched training for young swimmers who are ready to go beyond learn-to-swim with introduction to water proficiency, first aid and recognition and rescue skills. As an on-ramp to lifesaving, lifesaving sport and lifeguarding, the prerequisite is the ability to swim.