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Swimming lessons

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Parks, Recreation & Culture

Swim lesson image by Mirae Campbell

Swimming lessons are offered for all ages, using the Red Cross curriculum. There are eight Red Cross preschool swim levels, beginning at 4 months of age and ten school-aged levels beginning at 6 years of age.

In which level do I register my child?

If your child is 3 years old and has never taken a lesson before, they should register in Otter. If you are unsure which lesson your child should attend, consult your online registration account under “Activity Outcomes” to check their previous course history.  Alternatively, read the detailed level descriptions listed towards the bottom of this page.

How to register

View upcoming registration dates/times and get prepared for registration day by visiting whistler.ca/register.  Browse the program levels below to view available programs.

Registration options

  • Online 
  • By Phone at 604-935-PLAY (7529) extension 0, during operating hours

Waitlists

If the class that you would like to register for is full, please add your child to the waitlist. If a space opens up, we will contact you by email. We will also try to accommodate creating new lessons for waitlists, dependant on instructor availability, pool space and other considerations. 

Facility use before and after programs

Program participants are permitted to use the MPSC facility before or after their program classes.  Parents accompanying their children must pay admission.

Change rooms and showers:​

  • Change rooms and shower facilities are available.
  • Please shower prior to entering the pool area.
  • Secure your belongings in our complimentary lockers.

General Guidelines for use:

  • Stay home if you are sick.
  • Practice good hand hygiene.
  • Masks are mandatory in indoor public settings for all people 5 and older.
  • Respect personal space; consider other people’s situations and different comfort levels.
  • Follow all guidelines and abide by the posted Code of Conduct.

Preschool swim lessons (4 months to 5 years)

Give your child the gift of aquatic fun and swimming at an early age. Songs, games and introductory swimming skills will make your child comfortable and happy in the water. Each level is built around an aquatic animal mascot, which makes lessons engaging and fun. The Instructor uses progressive teaching techniques adapted to each child and provides constant feedback and encouragement. Parents will participate in the classes with their child for the first three levels.*

*Please note that only one caregiver/parent may attend a parented class with their child. If both parents wish to attend, we recommend parents alternate accompanying their child to each class.

Children enter a level based on their age and abilities: 

  • Orientation to water for babies and their parent/caregiver
  • To enter this level, 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/caregiver age-specific water safety.
  • This level is participation-based only, without formal evaluation.

See available programs

*these lessons are currently unavailable

  • Orientation to water for toddlers and their parent/caregiver.
  • Age is the only condition for entering this level.
  • Swimmers learn how to use floating objects for support and explore different water movements through games, songs and active water play.
  • The parent/caregiver also learns age-specific water safety. 
  • This level is participation-based only, without formal evaluation.

See available programs

*these lessons are currently unavailable

  • Orientation to water for toddlers and their parent/caregiver.
  • Age is the only condition for entering this level.
  • Swimmers learn, through fun games and songs, how to combine skills, how to kick with a buoyant object and how to perform basic floats, glides and kicks.
  • This level is participation-based only, without formal evaluation.

See available programs

*these lessons are currently unavailable

  • Transitional level that transfers the preschooler to the care of the Instructor. All skills are assisted by the Instructor.
  • Swimmers enter this level when they are 3 years of age
  • Using games and activities, swimmers learn to open their eyes under water, further develop basic floats and glides, and swim 1 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.

See available programs

  • Swimmers enter this level when they have successfully completed Sea Otter.
  • Using games and activities, swimmers learn to swim 2 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. 

See available programs

  • Swimmers enter this level when they have successfully completed Salamander.
  • Using games and activities, swimmers learn to swim 5 metres, increase their distance using buoyant objects, increase their front and back glide with kick, and develop their rollover glide, side glide and front swim.
  • Safety skills include deep water skills and use of a Personal Flotation Device (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.

See available programs

  • Swimmers enter this level when they have successfully completed Sunfish.
  • Through games and other fun activities, swimmers learn to swim 5 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 Personal Flotation Device (PFD) in deep water.
  • Swimmers are evaluated based on performance criteria and progress to Whale once all criteria have been successfully completed.

See available programs

  • Swimmers enter this level when they have successfully completed Crocodile.
  • 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 5m, surface support for 20 seconds a return to safety, throwing assists and sitting dives.
  • Swimmers are evaluated based on performance criteria and complete the program once all criteria have been achieved. Children 5 years or older are ready for the appropriate level of Red Cross Swim Kids.

See available programs

How to transition from preschool to school-aged swim lessons

If your child is turning 6 years old, use the following chart to determine which Swim Kids level to register for next:

Red Cross Swim Kids level transition chart

*Please note that 5 year olds who have completed Whale are eligible to enrol in SK3. Please contact the pool programmer at 604-935-8357 for details.

School-aged swim lessons (6 to 12 years)

Help your child develop a healthy lifestyle through swimming. Your child will learn to swim and stay safe in a fun environment that promotes a personal best and celebrates individual success. The 10 levels allow for solid progression. Children learn competitive and survival strokes, and build their distance and speed, while focusing on making safe decisions in, on and around the water. In each level, participants are evaluated based on performance criteria and progress to the next level once all criteria have been successfully completed.

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 5 metre front swim.

See available programs

 

Swimmers work on propulsion skills to move through the water and to remain at the surface. Swimmers work on the front swim (5m) and learn about deep-water activities and proper use of a Personal Flotation Device (PFD). Fitness activities include the 10m flutter kick and a 10m distance swim.

See available programs

 

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. 

See available programs

 

This level introduces the front crawl (10m) and back swim with shoulder roll (15m). 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 25m swim.

See available programs

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

See available programs

This level refines front crawl with a focus on hand entry and breathing (25m), back crawl with a focus on arm positions and body roll (25m), and introduces elementary backstroke (15m), 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 1½ minutes. Endurance is built through dolphin kick and a 75m swim.

See available programs

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

See available programs

This level is an introduction to breast stroke (15m) 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 3 minutes to improve their ability to remain at the surface in the event of an unexpected fall into water. Endurance is built on a 300m swim. Front crawl and back crawl distances are increased to 75m each. 

See available programs

This level refines the front crawl (100m), back crawl (100m), elementary back stroke (50m) and breast stroke (25m), and encourages swimmers to combine different kicks for fitness (3 mins). 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 400m swim.

See available programs

This level is a final assessment of the strokes for technique and distance (front crawl 100m, back crawl 100m, elementary back stroke 50m, breast stroke 50m and sidestroke 25m). 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 500m swim. 

See available programs

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