Swimming Lessons
Northern Vermont University-Johnson
Spring 2020 Pending
****The SHAPE facility is closed until further notice starting March 13, 2020. Learn more about Northern Vermont University's responce to COVID-19 at NorthernVermont.edu/Coronavirus
American Red Cross Levels outlined below
How to pick the swimming level:
The American Red Cross swim app is free helpful tool to track your swimmers skill level and learn water safety information. If the program finds your child will be better served in a different level we will try to accommodate that need for change after the first week in the session. There are always a spectrum of abilities within each level and that is what our certified instructors are prepared to teach.
Swim Lessons – Level Descriptions
Parent Child (6 months to 3 years)
For parents to get in to the water with infants & toddlers age 6 months to 3 years old. There must be one at least one parent in the water with each child, but more than one is welcome. Please limit older siblings over than 3, or leave them at home as it can be distracting and disruptive to the class. This class is 100% hands on with the baby/toddler learning how to help them feel comfortable in the water to learn pre-swimming skills. The use of toys, games & songs helps the participant and the parent get all wet, safely explore the water & have fun. Note: The pool is a minimum of 4.5 feet deep and temp is 80. Your comfort in the water is important to a great class experience. Your child may not last the full 30 minutes and that is okay!
Preschool Beginner (3-5 years old)
Preschool Beginners: For preschool age children who are new to exploring the water or have small amount of experience in either a parent/child class or playing in the water with caregivers in the past. They may be nervous or unsure of themselves or they may be blowing bubbles and love splashing, but they are not yet jumping in and floating. They must be able to stay with the instructor without the parent at the side, in the water. It is often requested for parents to not be in sight during the class time.
Preschool Intermediate (3-5 years old)
Preschool Intermediate: For preschool age children who love to explore the water, have experience playing or in classes in the past or much experience playing in a parent/child class or with a parent in the water. They want to jump, need to learn water safety rules and are ready to be challenged to learn floating and swimming movements. These swimmers require hands on or aids to explore the water. They must be able to stay with the instructor without the parent at the side, in the water. It is often requested for parents to not be in sight during the class time.
Preschool Advanced (3-5 years old)
Preschool Adventurous: For preschool age children who love the water, have had lesson experience in the past or enough positive water experience in a supervised setting that they show near swimming skills. They are comfortable jumping, going under water and back floating. They may still need some aid to be successful but are ready for more independent skills. They may still need to learn water safety rules and need to link many swimming skills together to make smart independent choices. They must be able to stay with the instructor without the parent at the side, in the water. It is often requested for parents to not be in sight during the class time.
Learn to Swim, Level 1 (5-8 years old)
Beginner Swimmer: for School age children 5 to 8 (often new swimmers older than this need an older class group or individual lessons). This class will focus on water comfort, water safety, underwater exploration, flotation and swimming skills. All skills are taught with hands on or flotation support.
Learn to Swim, Level 2 (5-8 years old)
Fundamentals of Swimming: for school age children who are comfortable exploring the water and ready to lean independence. This class will teach the fundamental skills of floating, submerging, breath control and swimming with assistance of a teacher or flotation with the goal of becoming independent.
Learn to Swim, Level 3 (5-8 years old)
Water Competence: for school age children who can float, submerge, swim several body lengths and are ready to organize their movements to swim farther. This group will practice treading water, explore jumping into deep water, introduce elementary back stroke and front crawl skills. The goal of this group is for swimmers to be water competent at the end or work toward this goal: jump into deep water, tread or float for 1 minute and swim 25 yards without assistance.
Learn to Swim, Level 4 (5-8 years old)
Stroke Development: for school age children who have passed the water competency skill set. They can swim 25 yards after jumping into deep water and treading for 1 minute. They are ready to develop stroke mechanics such as front crawl, breaststroke, back crawl, sidestroke, and butterfly. They will continue to refine elementary back stroke, treading and diving. This level will introduce continuous swimming longer than one length and open turns at the walls.
Swim Club Stroke Clinic (ages 8 and up)
Stroke Clinic - This is a group for swimmers who have passed the water competency in level 3 and ahd some exposure or lessons around strokes or previous swim club experience. This session will work on stroke drills to refine technique as well as improve endurance and swimming sport knowledge. This group is open to school aged children 8 and up, pre-teens and teenagers are welcome!