2023 American Red Cross Swim Lessons

Lessons will run Monday through Thursday from 9:00 am – Noon. Children are only allowed to be registered for one class per session. Class sizes will range from 5-7 students per instructor. If you have any questions, please call the Kendrick Pool at 307-674-9436.

Registration will begin Monday, May 29th through opening day from Noon to 6:00 pm and continue throughout the summer during regular operating hours. There will be testing dates for students to ensure proper swim level placement. For an idea of which level to register for, please reference the list of swim skills below. Please understand, if your child hasn’t continued using their swim skills through the school year, they may have regressed. They might be placed in a lower level than last year.

Swim Lesson Cancellations

Any cancellations due to inclement weather will be made up on Fridays at the regular lesson time slot. We will also be able to add additional minutes to the end of each lesson in the event of multiple cancellations. To receive updates visit our Facebook page.

This program is divided into six course levels. The prerequisite for each level is the successful demonstration of the skills from the preceding level, except for Level 1. These levels are recommended for children five (5) years and older. However, children younger than five will be tested to ensure the proper fit to the correct level.

Level 1: Introduction to Water Skills
Purpose: Helps participants feel comfortable in the water.
Skills:

• Blow bubbles through mouth and nose
• Open eyes underwater and retrieve submerged objects
• Front and back glides and back float
• Recover to vertical position from a front glide and back float or glide
• Roll from front to back and back to front
• Alternating and simultaneous leg actions on front and back

Level 2: Fundamental Aquatic Skills
Purpose: Gives participants success with fundamental skills.
Skills:

• Fully submerge and hold breath
• Open eyes underwater and retrieve submerged objects
• Front, jellyfish, and tuck floats
• Front and back glides and back float
• Change direction of travel while swimming on front or back
• Tread water using arm and leg actions

Level 3: Stroke Development
Purpose: Builds on Level 2 skills through additional guided practice in deeper waters.
Skills:

• Enter water by jumping from the side
• Head first entry from the side in sitting and kneeling positions
• Rotary breathing
• Change from vertical to horizontal position on front and back
• Push off in a streamlined position then use flutter and dolphin kicks
• Front crawl and elementary backstroke
• Scissors kick
• Tread water

Level 4: Stroke Improvement
Purpose: Develops confidence in the skills learned and improves other aquatic skills.
Skills:

• Head first entry from the side in compact and stride positions
• Swim under water
• Feet first surface dive
• Front crawl and backstroke open turns
• Tread water using two different kicks

Level 5: Stroke Refinement
Purpose: Provides further coordination and refinement of strokes.
Skills:

• Shallow-angle dive from the side then glide and begin a front stroke
• Tuck and pike surface dives
• Front flip turn and backstroke flip turn
• Tread water
• Standard scull
• Front and back crawl, elementary backstroke, breaststroke, sidestroke, and butterfly

Level 6: Swimming and Skill Proficiency

Purpose: Refines the strokes so participants swim them with ease, efficiency, power, and smoothness over greater distances.

Skills: Level 6 is designed with “menu” options that focus on preparing participants for lifetime fitness and safety, as well as more advanced courses, such as the Water Safety Instructor course, or other aquatic activities, including competitive swimming or diving. Options include - Personal Water Safety, Fitness Swimmer, and Fundamentals of Diving.

Parent & Child Aquatics (Level A)

Builds basic water safety skills for both parents and children, helping infants and children ages 6 months to 3 years become comfortable in the water. This class requires a parent to accompany the child into the water.

Preschool Aquatics (Level B)

Gives young children ages 3 to 5 a positive, developmentally appropriate aquatic learning experience that emphasizes water safety, survival and foundational swimming concepts. This course will restrict class size from three to five students.