| Why are we changing from Red Cross to Lifesaving Society Swim for Life® Program? |
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The Canadian Red Cross is winding down its swim and lifeguard programming to direct more attention to surging humanitarian demands in other areas – such as disaster and pandemic response, opioid harm reduction and caregiving for seniors.
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| What does the Swim for Life® Program look like? |
| Like the Red Cross program, there are Parent & Tot swimming lessons, Preschool lessons, and Children’s lessons. The Swim for Life® program also includes Fitness and Adult programs too to ensure that everyone is able to learn how to swim and be safe around water. #NeverTooYoungToLearn #NeverTooOldToStart |
| Parent & Tot (4 months to 3 years) |
| Parent & Tot 1 (previously Starfish) |
| Designed for the 4 to 12 month-old to learn to enjoy the water with the parent. |
| Parent & Tot 2 (previously Duck) |
| Designed for the 12 to 24 month-old to learn to enjoy the water with the parent. |
| Parent & Tot 3 (previously Sea Turtle) |
| Designed for the 2 to 3 year-old to learn to enjoy the water with the parent. |
| Parent & Tot Overview |
| Parent & Tot curriculum-at-a-glance |
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| Preschool (3-5 years) |
| Preschool 1 (previously Sea Otter) |
| We encourage the parent to participate until their child lets them know they can do it themselves (thank you very much). These preschoolers will have fun learning to get in and out of the water. We’ll help them jump into chest deep water. They’ll float and glide on their front and back and learn to get their faces wet and blow bubbles underwater. |
| Preschool 2 (previously Salamander) |
| These preschoolers learn to jump into chest-deep water by themselves, and get in and get out wearing a lifejacket. They’ll submerge and exhale underwater. Wearing a lifejacket they’ll glide on their front and back. |
| Preschool 3 (previously Sunfish) |
| These youngsters will try both jumping and a sideways entry into deep water while wearing a lifejacket. They’ll recover objects from the bottom in waist-deep water. They’ll work on kicking and gliding through the water on their front and back. |
| Preschool 4 (previously Crocodile) |
| Advanced preschoolers will learn to do solo jumps into deeper water and get out by themselves. They’ll do sideways entries and open their eyes underwater. They’ll master a short swim on their front wearing a lifejacket and gliding and kicking on their side. |
| Preschool 5 (previously Whale) |
| These youngsters get more adventuresome with a forward roll entry wearing a lifejacket and treading water for 10 seconds .They’ll work on front and back crawl swims for 5 meters, interval training and get a giggle out of whip kick. |
| Preschool Overview |
| Preschool curriculum-at-a-glance |
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| Swimmer (6-13 years) |
| Swimmer 1 (previously Swim Kids 1) |
| These beginners will become comfortable jumping into water with and without a lifejacket. They’ll learn to open their eyes, exhale and hold their breath underwater. They’ll work on floats, glides and kicking through the water on their front and back. |
| Swimmer 2 (previously Swim Kids 2) |
| These advanced beginners will jump into deeper water, and learn to be comfortable falling sideways into the water wearing a lifejacket. They’ll be able to support themselves at the surface without an aid, learn whip kick, swim 10 meters on their front and back, and be introduced to flutter kick interval training (4 x 5 meters). |
| Swimmer 3 (previously Swim Kids 3) |
| These junior swimmers will dive and do in-waterfront somersaults and handstands. They’ll work on 15 meters of front crawl, back crawl and 10 meters of whip kick. Flutter kick interval training increases to 4 x 15 meters. |
| Swimmer 4 (previously Swim Kids 4 or 5) |
| These intermediate swimmers will swim 5 meters underwater and lengths of front, back crawl, whip kick, and breaststroke arms with breathing. Their new bag of tricks includes the completion of the Canadian Swim to Survive®Standard. They’ll cap it all off with front crawl sprints over 25 meters and 4x25 meters front or back crawl interval training. |
| Swimmer 5 (previously Swim Kids 6) |
| These swimmers will master shallow dives, cannonball entries, eggbeater kicks, and in-water backward somersaults. They’ll refine their front and back crawl over 50 meters swims of each, and breaststroke over 25 meters. Then they’ll pick up the pace in 25 meters sprints and two interval training bouts: 4x50 meters front or back crawl; and 4 x 15 meters breaststroke. |
| Swimmer 6 (previously Swim Kids 7) |
| These advanced swimmers will rise to the challenge of sophisticated aquatic skills including stride entries, compact jumps and lifesaving kicks like eggbeater and scissor kick. They’ll develop strength and power in head-up breast stroke sprints over 25 meters. They’ll easily swim lengths of front crawl, back crawl, and breaststroke, and they’ll complain about the 300 meters workout. |
| Swimmer 7 - Rookie Patrol (previously Swim Kids 8) |
| Swimmers continue stroke development with 50 meter swims of front crawl, back crawl and breaststroke. Lifesaving sport skills include a 25 meter obstacle swim and 15 meter object carry. First aid focuses on assessment of conscious victims, contacting EMS, and treatment for bleeding. Fitness improves in 350 meter workouts and 100 meter timed swims. |
| Swimmer 8 - Ranger Patrol (previously Swim Kids 9) |
| Swimmers develop better strokes over 75 meters swims of each stroke. They tackle lifesaving sport skills in a lifesaving medley, timed object support and rescue with a buoyant aid. First aid focuses on assessment of unconscious victims, treatment of victims in shock and obstructed airway procedures. Skill drills develop a strong lifesaving foundation. |
| Swimmer 9 - Star Patrol (previously Swim Kids 10) |
| Swimmers are challenged with 600 meters workouts, 300 meters timed swims and a 25 meters object carry. Strokes are refined over 100 meters swims. First aid focuses on treatment of bone or joint injuries and respiratory emergencies including asthma and allergic reactions. Lifesaving skills include defence methods, victim removals and rolling over and supporting a victim face up in shallow water. |
| Swimmer Overview |
| Swimmer curriculum-at-a-glance |
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| Adult / Teen Swimmer (14+) |
| Adult / Teen Swimmer 1 |
| You’ll work towards a 10–15 meters swim on your front and back. You’ll do jump entries from the side and recover an object from the bottom in chest-deep water. Improve your fitness and your flutter kick with 4 x 9–12m interval training. |
| Adult / Teen Swimmer 2 |
| Kick it up a notch working on two interval training workouts of 4x25 meters kicking and front or back crawl. You’ll be able to perform dive entries and demonstrate breast stroke arms and breathing over 10–15 meters. You’ll be supporting yourself at the surface for 1–2 minutes, and showing off your handstands in shallow water. |
| Adult / Teen Swimmer 3 |
| No sweat (or at least none anyone can see). You’ll learn eggbeater, stride entries and compact jumps. You’ll be doing a 300 meters workout and sprinting 25–50 meters. You’ll master your front crawl, back crawl and breast stroke. Whew! |
| Adult / Teen Swimmer Overview |
| Adult / Teen Swimmer curriculum-at-a-glance |
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| What level should I register my child in? |
| Great question! Please click here for the registration conversion chart. |
| Advanced Aquatic Leadership |
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Here are the next steps on your swimming journey!
| Bronze Star |
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The Lifesaving Society's Bronze Star develops swimming proficiency, lifesaving skill and personal fitness. Candidates refine their stroke mechanics, acquire self-rescue skills, and apply fitness principles in training workouts. Bronze Star is excellent preparation for success in Bronze Medallion and provides a fun introduction to lifesaving sport.
Prerequisite: Must be able to swim 300 m (Swimmer 7, 8, 9 experience recommended)
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| Bronze Medallion with Emergency First Aid & CPR-B |
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The Lifesaving Society's Bronze Medallion challenges the candidate both mentally and physically. Judgment, knowledge, skill, and fitness – the four components of water rescue – form the basis of Bronze Medallion training. Candidates acquire the assessment and problem-solving skills needed to make good decisions in, on, and around the water. Bronze Medallion is a prerequisite for assistant lifeguard training in Bronze Cross.
Prerequisite: Minimum 13 years of age or Bronze Star certification.
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| Bronze Cross |
The Lifesaving Society's Bronze Cross begins the transition from lifesaving to lifeguarding and prepares candidates for responsibilities as assistant lifeguards. Candidates strengthen and expand their lifesaving skills and begin to apply the principles and techniques of active surveillance in aquatic facilities. Bronze Cross emphasizes the importance of teamwork and communication in preventing and responding to aquatic emergencies. Bronze Cross is a prerequisite for advanced training in the Society’s National Lifeguard and leadership certification programs.
Prerequisite: Bronze Medallion and Lifesaving Society Emergency or Standard First Aid certifications or EFA or SFA from a training agency approved by the Ontario government. A list of approved agencies can be found at www.lifesavingsociety.com |
| National Lifeguard |
National Lifeguard training develops a sound understanding of lifeguarding principles, good judgment, and a mature and responsible attitude towards the lifeguard's role. National Lifeguard training emphasizes prevention and effective rescue response in emergencies including first aid treatment. Candidates develop teamwork, leadership and communication skills. Fitness requirements include a timed object recovery, 50 m sprint challenge, 50 m rescue drill and 400 m endurance challenge. 100% attendance is required. Session dates vary for this course depending on instructor availability.
Prerequisites: minimum 15 years of age, Bronze Cross and Lifesaving Society Standard First Aid with CPR C certification or SFA with CPR C from a training agency approved by the Ontario government. A list of approved agencies can be found at www.lifesavingsociety.com |
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| Session Dates |
| Session | Dates | Cancellations | Registration Date |
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| Fall |
September 7 - November 16, 2024 |
September 28, October 14, 31, November 8, 9, 10, 2024 |
August 14, 2024
8 am |
| Winter 1 |
November 18, 2024 - February 2, 2025 |
December 23, 2024 - January 5, 2025 |
October 30, 2024
8 am |
| Winter 2 |
February 3 - April 13, 2025 |
March 10-16, 2025 |
January 15, 2025
8 am |
| Spring |
April 14 - June 22, 2025 |
April 18, 20, May 19, 2025 |
March 26, 2025
8 am |
| Summer |
Session 1 June 30 - July 11, 2025
Session 2 July 14 - 25, 2025
Session 3 July 28 - August 8, 2025
Session 4 August 11 - 22, 2025
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July 1, 2025 |
June 11, 2025
8 am
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*Start & end dates pending on lesson day selected. Please review registration confirmation form for more details.
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Early in 2022, the Canadian Red Cross announced the end of their Water Safety programs in order to better support other areas of their community support efforts. The Department of Planning Development & Recreation is excited to continue their partnership with the Lifesaving Society and to offer the Swim for Life® program starting in Fall 2022!
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