American Red Cross LEARN TO SWIM

WCU is excited to announce a new American Red Cross format for swim lessons.

Please read these new descriptions carefully as they have changed significantly from previous years.

Classes will be held Tuesday and Thursday Evenings, Oct. 24 - Nov. 16, 2023
Regular Online Registration will open Oct. 4*
All Classes / All Age Groups..... $69.00 per child

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*Open House / Skill Evaluation - Sunday, October 1 from 2:00pm to 5:00pm

Receive a free 10-15 minute swim evaluation to get a recommendation of which level to enroll your child
-- Wear a swimsuit and bring a towel
-- Optional: bring goggles (without a nose piece – should cover eyes only)
Open House attendees will get 24 hours advanced access to registration. Spots are very limited so attendance at this open house is encouraged. 

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Parent/Child Levels 1 & 2 (6 months – 3 years)

Purpose: To familiarize children with the water and teach swimming readiness skills. Provides safety information for parents and teaches techniques that parents can use to orient their children to the water.

Parent/Child Level 1  (5:30 - 6:00pm) – introduces basic skills to parents and children that lays a foundation for learning to swim.

• • No prerequisite skills required, only age minimum
  • Parent required to be in the water for each child

Parent/Child Level 2  (6:10 - 6:40pm)– builds on skills learned in level 1 and introduces more advances skills.

• • • Parent required to be in the water for each child
    • Prerequisites:
      • Completion of Parent/Child Level 1
      • Child understands how to ask for permission before entering the water and waits for permission.
      • Child is comfortable in the water with a parent.
      • Child can submerge their mouth, nose, and eyes completely.
      • Child understands how to blow bubbles.
      • Child understands how to move their legs while on their front and back.

While the age minimum is still 6 months for this level, children are usually at least 12-18 months before they are ready for a level 2 class.

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Preschool (3 – 5 years)

Purpose: Facilitate developmentally appropriate learning of fundamental water safety and aquatic skills. The is recommended for children who are 4 -5 years of age, however, a 3-year-old student may be able to join if they are developmentally ready with basic water skills and mature enough to follow directions without a parent present.

Preschool Level 1  (5:30 - 6:00 pm)  Introduces basic aquatic skills that will continue to be built upon as a child progresses through levels.

• • No prerequisite skills required, only age minimum

Preschool Level 2 - Two Class Available  (6:10-6:40 and 6:50-7:20)
Further develops basic aquatic skills. Children will begin to develop some independent aquatic skills.

Prerequisites:  Perform the following skills with assistance of an adult (unless otherwise specified):

• • • • Enter the water independently, travel at least 5 yards in the pool, submerge mouth and blow bubbles for at least 3 seconds, then safely exit the water (child can walk, move along the wall, or “swim”)
      • While in shallow water, glide on front for at least 2 body lengths, then roll to back and float on back for 3 seconds, then stand up.

Questions to ask yourself before registering for this level:

• • • • Is my child comfortable getting their face wet?
      • Can they blow bubbles for at least 3 seconds?
      • Are they comfortable laying on their back in the water with the help of an adult? Their front?
      • Do they know how to kick their legs and move their arms on the front and the back, with the help of an adult?
      • If the answer to any of the above is “No”, they should register for level 1

Preschool Level 3  (6:50 - 7:20) – increases child’s proficiency in aquatic skills. Improves coordination and control in the water and increases independence in the water

Prerequisites

• Skills may be performed with assistance of a noodle or bar float:
• • • • Glide on front for at least 2 body lengths, roll to back, float on back for 15 seconds, then stand up.
      • Glide on back for at least 2 body lengths, roll to front, then stand up.
      • Swim using combined arm and leg actions on front for 3 body lengths, roll to back, float for 15 seconds, roll to front, then continue swimming on front for at least 3 body lengths.

Questions to ask yourself before registering for this level:

• • • • Can my child bob in the water 5 times independently?
      • Can my child open their eyes underwater (with or without goggles that cover only the eyes) without holding their nose?
      • Can my child front glide and front float with only a noodle for support?
      • Can my child back glide and back float with only a noodle for support?
      • Can my child roll from their front to their back, and from their back to their front?
      • If the answer to any of the above is “No”, they should register for level 1 or 2 (refer to level 2 info)
        
        

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Learn to Swim (Ages 5 – 12 years)

Purpose: Teaches children and young teens to be safe in, on and around the water and to swim well. Aquatic and personal water safety skills are taught in a logical progression as children progress through the levels. The is recommended for children who are 6 years of age or older, however, a 5-year-old student may be able to join if they are developmentally ready and mature enough.

Learn to Swim Level 1  (6:50 - 7:20 pm) – introduces basic aquatic skills. Start developing positive attitudes with the water, effective swimming habits, and safe practices in and around the water.

• • No prerequisite skills required, only age minimum

Learn to Swim Level 2  (5:30 - 6:00 pm)– Build fundamental aquatic skills. Develop many independent swimming skills, including floating and gliding.

Prerequisites

• • • Enter independently, travel at least 5 yards, bob 5 times, then safely exit the water (child can walk, move along the wall, or “swim”)
    • Glide on the front at least 2 body lengths, roll to a back float for 5 seconds, then stand up (this can be performed with assistance of a noodle or bar float)

Questions to ask yourself before registering for this level:

• • • Can my child fully submerge underwater, blow bubbles, and bob at least 5 times independently?
    • Can my child open their eyes underwater (with or without goggles that cover only the eyes) without holding their nose?
    • Can my child front glide and front float with only a noodle for support?
    • Can my child back glide and back float with only a noodle for support?
    • Can my child roll from their front to their back, and from their back to their front?
    • If the answer to any of the above is “No”, they should register for level 1

Learn to Swim Level 3  (6:10 - 6:40 pm)– expands proficiency of previously learned skills. Begins to develop formal strokes of front crawl and elementary backstroke at rudimentary levels.

Prerequisites

• • • Step into the side into chest deep water, push off the bottom, move into a treading or floating position for at least 15 seconds, swim on front and/or back for 5 body lengths, then exit the water.
    • Move into a back float for 15 seconds, roll to front, then stand up.
    • Push off and swim using combined arm and leg actions on front for 5 body lengths, roll to back, float for 15 seconds, roll to front, then continue swimming for at least 5 body lengths.

Questions to ask yourself before registering for this level:

• • • • Can my child fully submerge and hold their breath for at least 10 seconds?
      • Can my child bob in the water at least 10 times in a row independently?
      • Can my child front float in a face down position for at least 10 seconds independently?
      • Can my child back float for at least 15 seconds independently?
      • Can my child make forward motion by swimming on their front for at least 5 body lengths, independently?
      • Can my child make forward motion by swimming on their back for at least 5 body lengths, independently?
      • Can my child tread water for at least 15 seconds, independently?
      • If the answer to any of the above is “No”, they should register for level 1 or 2 (refer to level 2 info)

All participants in WCU swim programs must carefully read and agree to the terms of the WCU Campus Recreation Center and Reid Pool Assumption of Risk and Release/Waiver of Claims.