This year, in alignment with the Canadian Red Cross, we are transitioning our Red Cross swimming lessons and water safety training to the “Swim for Life” program offered by the Lifesaving Society!
The Swim for Life program is designed to provide participants with the swimming skills and strokes that provide a lifelong basis for safe, enjoyable and healthy participation in aquatic recreation, fitness or sport.
View the Letter to Parents and Participants
What does this mean for our swim lesson participants? Same great instructors and lessons, just some new names for swim lesson levels! These transition charts will help to understand the change from the Red Cross lesson structure to the new Swim for Life lessons:
Parent & Tot Programs
Lifesaving Society Parent & Tot Lessons are for children ages 4 months to 2 years (children move into the next level based on their age).
Classes are 40 minutes long and there are 8 classes in a lesson set, unless otherwise indicated.
| Parent & Tot 1 |
For babies ages 4 months – 12 months and who are able to hold their head up on their own (equivalent to Red Cross Starfish level) Upcoming Sessions
Cost Location Contact |
| Parent & Tot 2 |
|
For children ages 12 months – 24 months (equivalent to Red Cross Duck level) Upcoming Sessions
Cost Location Contact |
| Parent & Tot 3 |
|
For children 24 months – 36 months (equivalent to Red Cross Sea Turtle level) Upcoming Sessions
Cost Location Contact |
Preschool Programs
Lifesaving Society Preschool Lessons are for children ages 3 to 5 years old. Once the child is three years old, the levels become evaluation-based for them to continue to advance, meaning the swimmers need to meet the standards of each skill in the level before moving onto the next Preschool level.
All Preschool classes will run for 40 minutes, and every level runs 8 classes, unless otherwise indicated.
| Preschool 1 (3 years old) |
|
This Preschool 1 is for participants that are 3 years old. A responsible individual 14 years or older MUST accompany the child you have registered to be IN the water and ACTIVELY participate. Participants who have never attended learn to swim classes, have just turned 3 years old, or have attended Red Cross Sea Otter level, whether or not they completed the level, should register into classes for the Lifesaving Society's Swim for Life Preschool 1 level. Preschoolers will be assisted when learning to enter and exit water safely, jump into chest deep water, and put their faces in the water to blow bubbles. Becoming comfortable with floats and glides and moving safely in shallow water while wearing lifejackets will help them gain confidence with their water skills. Upcoming Sessions
Cost Location Contact |
| Preschool 1 (4/5 years old) |
|
This Preschool 1 is for participants that are between the ages of 4-5 years old (6-year-old can register if required) and is the first preschool level participants are able to attend class unparented. Participants who have never attended learn to swim classes, are 4/5 years old, or have attended Red Cross Sea Otter level, whether or not they completed, should register into classes for the Lifesaving Society's Swim for Life Preschool 1 level. Preschoolers will be assisted when learning to enter and exit water safely, jump into chest deep water, and put their faces in the water to blow bubbles. Becoming comfortable with floats and glides and moving safely in shallow water while wearing lifejackets will help them gain confidence with their water skills. Upcoming Sessions
Cost Location Contact |
| Preschool 2 (3 years old) |
|
This Preschool 2 is for participants that are 3 years old. A responsible individual 14 years or older MUST accompany the child you have registered to be IN the water and ACTIVELY participate. Participants who have completed their Red Cross Salamander level should register into classes for the Lifesaving Society's Swim for Life Preschool 2 level. Preschoolers will work on becoming more independent with their water skills. Some of these skills include jumping into chest deep water unassisted, submerging and exhaling underwater, and floating and gliding with various buoyant aids. They will be introduced to lateral rollovers and practice their flutter kick on their backs. Upcoming Sessions
Cost Location Contact |
| Preschool 2 (4/5 years old) |
|
This Preschool 2 is for participants that are between the ages of 4-5 years old (6-year-old can register if required). Participants who have completed their Red Cross Salamander level should register into classes for the Lifesaving Society's Swim for Life Preschool 2 level. Preschoolers will work on becoming more independent with their water skills. Some of these skills include jumping into chest deep water unassisted, submerging and exhaling underwater, and floating and gliding with various buoyant aids. They will be introduced to lateral rollovers and practice their flutter kick on their backs. This level is evaluation-based, and swimmers need to meet the standards of this level before moving onto the next Preschool level (Preschool 3). Upcoming Sessions
Cost Location Contact |
| Preschool 3 |
|
Preschool 3 is for participants that are between the ages of 4-5 years old (6-year-old can register if required). Participants who have completed the Red Cross Sunfish level should register into classes for the Lifesaving Society's Swim for Life Preschool 3 level. Preschoolers will kick and glide their way through the water on their fronts and backs. They will work on retrieving objects from the bottom in the water that is waist deep, and work towards mastering their floats, rollovers, glides, and kicks. In this level they work their way into deeper water for side entries and jumping in with their lifejackets on. Upcoming Sessions
Cost Location Contact |
| Preschool 4 |
|
Preschool 4 is for participants that are between the ages of 4-5 years old (6-year-old can register if required). Participants who completed the Red Cross Crocodile level should register into the Lifesaving Society's Swim for Life Preschool 4. Preschoolers will gain some independence in deep water. They will practice jumping into deeper water (including getting out by themselves), sideways entries, and opening their eyes underwater. These swimmers in training will work on completing 5 meters of front crawl in their lifejackets and work on their ability to tread water. Upcoming Sessions
Cost Location Contact |
| Preschool 5 |
|
Preschool 5 is for participants that are between the ages of 4-5 years old (6 year old can register if required). Participants who completed the Red Cross Whale level should register into the Lifesaving Society's Swim for Life Preschool 5. Preschoolers will work towards achieving important swimming milestones. They will work on being able to support themselves treading in deep water for 10 seconds and complete 5-metre swims with front crawl and back crawl. Wearing a lifejacket, they will practice forward roll entries into deep water, learn to whip kick in a vertical position, and be introduced to interval training. Upcoming Sessions
Cost Location Contact |
Swim for Life
Lifesaving Society Swim for Life is for children 5 to 12 years old and goes from Swimmers 1 all the way to Swimmer 6. All Swimmer levels are evaluation-based to advance into the next level. Students will learn about skills, stroke development, Water Smart messages, and participate in fitness activities through all of the Swimmer levels.
Swimmer 1 to Swimmer 3 will run for 40 minutes. Swimmer 4 to Swimmer 6 will run for 55 minutes. Every level runs 8 classes, unless otherwise indicated.
| Swimmer 1 |
|
Swimmer 1 is for participants that are between the ages of 5-12 years old. Participants who are new to formal learn to swim lessons, attended any of the Red Cross Preschool levels, or Red Cross Swim Kids 1 level, whether or not they completed, should register into the Lifesaving Society's Swim for Life Swimmer 1. Building the foundation of swimming skill development beginner swimmers will gain confidence in the water as they learn safe entries into various depths of water, treading water in a lifejacket, opening their eyes underwater, and breath control. Once they have learned their floats, rollovers, glides, and kicks from front to back. They will front crawl their way into the next level! Upcoming Sessions
Cost Location Contact |
| Swimmer 2 |
|
Swimmer 2 is for participants that are between the ages of 5-12 years old. Participants who completed Red Cross Swim Kids 2 level should register into the Lifesaving Society's Swim for Life Swimmer 2. Swimmers will gain comfort in deeper water by jumping in, learning their sideways entry and treading water without a lifejacket. Swimmers will be challenged by the introduction of various skills including, flutter kick on their front, back and side, vertical whip kick with an aid, and swimming front crawl and back crawl for 10 meters. Swimmers will get to work on their Swim to Survive skills and be introduced to interval training. Upcoming Sessions
Cost Location Contact |
| Swimmer 3 |
|
Swimmer 3 is for participants that are between the ages of 6-12 years old. Participants who completed the Red Cross Swim Kids 3 or Red Cross Swim Kids 4 levels should register into the Lifesaving Society's Swim for Life Swimmer 3. Swimmers will make a splash with their kneeling dives and forward roll entries. Swimmers will be challenged with the introduction to more difficult (but fun) skills such as handstands in shallow water and in front somersaults (in water). Increased time and distance components are incorporated for skills learned such as flutter kick on front and back, whip kick on back, front and back crawl, and interval training. Upcoming Sessions
Cost Location Contact |
| Swimmer 4 |
|
Swimmer 4 is for participants that are between the ages of 6-12 years old. Participants who completed the Red Cross Swim Kids 5 level should register into the Lifesaving Society's Swim for Life Swimmer 4. Swimmers will move from a beginner to intermediate swimming level. Swimmers will complete standing dives, tread water for 1 minute, and work towards being able to swim underwater for 5 meters. Swimmers will achieve the Swim to Survive standard by being able to roll into deep water, tread water for 1 minute, and swim 50 meters. In addition to improving their front crawl, back crawl, and whip kick, swimmers will be introduced to breaststroke. Upcoming Sessions
Cost Location Contact |
| Swimmer 5 |
|
Swimmer 5 is for participants that are between the ages of 6-12 years old. Participants who completed the Red Cross Swim Kids 6 level should register into the Lifesaving Society's Swim for Life Swimmer 5. Swimmers will be challenged with a whole new set of skills; shallow dives, tuck jumps (cannonball entries), eggbeater kick, and backwards somersaults (in water). Technique and endurance will also receive greater focus as swimmers will need to complete longer distance swims and interval training sessions for all their strokes. Upcoming Sessions
Cost Location Contact |
| Swimmer 6 |
|
Swimmer 6 is for participants that are between the ages of 6-12 years old. Participants who completed the Red Cross Swim Kids 7 level should register into the Lifesaving Society's Swim for Life Swimmer 6. As the final level in the Swimmer program, swimmers will build up their advanced skillset. Swimmers will work towards mastering stride entries, compact jumps, and lifesaving kicks. They will also refine their strokes to increase their swimming strength, power, and endurance - critical for success in the 300-meter workout required to complete the level. Upcoming Sessions
Cost Location Contact |
Canadian Swim Patrol
Lifesaving Society Canadian Swim Patrol is for children 8 years to 14 years old. This program provides enriched training for those who are ready to go beyond learn-to-swim classes. Rookie, Ranger & Star will continue to develop participants’ swim strokes and provide the skill foundation that prepares them for success in the Lifesaving Society’s Bronze Medal courses.
Canadian Swim Patrol will run for 55 minutes. Every level runs 8 classes, unless otherwise indicated.
| Rookie Patrol (Swimmer 7) |
|
Rookie Patrol (Swimmer 7) is for participants that are between the ages of 8-14 years old. Participants who completed the Red Cross Swim Kids 8 level or Swimmer 6 should register into the Rookie Patrol of the Lifesaving Society's Canadian Swim Patrol program. Rookie Patrol lays the foundation of the Swim Patrol program. It includes 4 main components: stroke refinement, fitness, first aid, and lifesaving. Stroke refinement is focused on front crawl, back crawl, and breaststroke. Fitness components include a 350-meter workout and 100-meter timed swim. Swimmers will learn about assessing conscious victims, contacting EMS, and treatment for bleeding. Rookie Patrol is rounded off with an introduction to lifesaving skills, including self-rescue techniques, victim recognition, and using throwing assists. Upcoming Sessions
Cost Location Contact |
| Ranger Patrol (Swimmer 8) |
|
Ranger Patrol (Swimmer 8) is for participants that are between the ages of 8-14 years old. Participants who completed the Red Cross Swim Kids 9 level or Rookie Patrol should register into the Ranger Patrol of the Lifesaving Society's Canadian Swim Patrol program. Stroke refinement and underwater proficiency continues to be a focus in Ranger Patrol as it is critical for supporting swimmer fitness. Swimmers can expect their fitness levels to increase as they work towards a 200-meter timed swim. First aid at the Ranger Patrol level includes assessment of unconscious victims, treating for shock, and procedure for obstructed airways. Lifesaving skills are expanded to include object support and non-contact rescues with a buoyant aid. Upcoming Sessions
Cost Location Contact |
| Star Patrol (Swimmer 9) |
|
Star Patrol (Swimmer 9) is for participants that are between the ages of 8-14 years old. Participants who completed the Red Cross Swim Kids 10 level or Ranger Patrol should register into the Star Patrol of the Lifesaving Society's Canadian Swim Patrol program. Star Patrol will prepare swimmers for the Bronze Star Award. Strokes will continue to be refined through completion of 100-meter swims. It demands good physical conditioning as swimmers will be challenged with a 600-meter workout, 300-meter timed swim, and a 25-meter object carry. First aid at this level focuses on treatment of bone and joint injuries, and respiratory emergencies like asthma and allergic reactions. Lifesaving skills include in water defense methods, rolling over and supporting victims in shallow water, and removing victims from shallow water. Swimmers that complete Star Patrol will be well on their way to becoming bona fide Lifesavers. Upcoming Sessions
Cost Location Contact |
Advanced Courses
| Lifesaving Society Bronze Medallion & CPR-C |
|
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 Bronze Cross. The following prerequisites must be complete prior to registering for this course:
Upcoming Sessions
Cost
Location Contact |
| Lifesaving Society Standard First Aid and Oxygen Administration |
|
Lifesaving Society Standard First Aid and Oxygen Administration provides comprehensive training which covers all aspects of First Aid and CPR. Participants must be a minimum of 8 years of age. Upcoming Sessions
Cost Location Contact |
| Lifesaving Society Bronze Cross |
|
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. The following prerequisites must be complete prior to registering for this course:
Upcoming Sessions
Cost
Location Contact |
| Lifesaving Society National Lifeguard |
|
National Lifeguard (NL) builds on the fundamental skills, knowledge and values taught in the lifesaving awards of the Lifesaving Society to develop the practical skills and knowledge required by lifeguards. Designed to prepare lifeguards to fulfill this role as professional facilitators of safe, enjoyable aquatics. Please note, there is a timed swim that is required to meet in order to complete this award. The following prerequisites must be complete prior to registering for this course:
Upcoming Sessions
Cost Location Contact |
| Adult and Teen Programs |
|
The Adult program is for individuals 14 years and older. This program is for beginners who may be just starting out or swimmers who want help with their strokes. Participants will set their own goals to develop water confidence and smooth, recognizable strokes, as well as learn about Water Smart education messages. Classes are adapted to accommodate the learners and provides the flexibility to help achieve personal swimming goals. Adult 1 focuses on learning stroke fundaments such as floats, rolls, glides and kicks. Participants will work towards swimming short distances on their front and back. Adult 2 focuses on building strength and endurance while improving the participant’s front crawl, back crawl, whip kick, with an introduction to treading water and breaststroke. Adult 3 focuses on mastering front crawl, back crawl, and breaststroke, alongside developing lifesaving kicks and fitness swims. Adult and Teen will run for 55 minutes. Every level runs 8 classes, unless otherwise indicated. Upcoming Sessions
Cost Location Contact |
Private Lessons
Private lessons are available for swimmers needing one-on-one instruction and assistance to either complete a Swim for Life Swimmer level, to help boost confidence, or improve their swimming endurance. These classes can be modified to a semi-private (max 2 participants) lesson for swimmers working on the same skills. These lessons are available for youth ages 8 and up.
| 4 Lesson Sessions |
Upcoming Sessions
Cost
Location Contact |
Contact Us
Christine McCord
Manager of Aquatics
Aquatic Centre
5600 - 44 Avenue
Camrose, AB T4V 5K5
P. 780.672.9909
F. 780.672.4915
Email the Manager of Aquatics
View this location on a map.