Program Information
Transition from Red Cross Swim Kids to Lifesaving Society's Swim for Life Program
On January 1, 2023, the City of Richmond transitioned from the Canadian Red Cross Swim Kids program to the Lifesaving Society’s Swim for Life program for winter 2023 lessons. The Swim Lesson Transition Chart outlines which level of the Swim for Life program swimmers will move into based on their current or previous Swim Kids Level.
Swim Lessons Transition Chart
Frequently Asked Questions - Swim Lessons Transition
Important Notice to Swim Parents and Adult Swimmers
Children and adults must have the required pre-requisite in order to successfully register into swim levels. Children and adults can only be registered in a class with a start date that is AFTER the last day of the class they are already registered in. Registrations that contravene this requirement will be cancelled.
Aquatic Services FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions - Aquatics Lessons
Call the Aquatic Leaders for more information:
Minoru Centre for Active Living: 604-238-8002
Watermania: 604-448-5369
3 Ways to Register
- Select a button below to browse and register
- 604-276-4300, Mon-Fri, 8:30am-5:00pm
- In-person at any community facility. Note: Debit, cheque and cash are also accepted when registering in person
Swim Lessons - Private / Semi-Private - 3+ years
Lifeguard Programs - 13+ years
Adapted Swim - Child
This program provides modified swimming techniques that accommodate the abilities of individuals with cognitive or physical limitations. These courses have a maximum of five students. In addition to the teacher, there are usually volunteers to help ensure everyone feels supported in this welcoming and inclusive environment.
Swim for Life Lesson Descriptions
Parent and Tot Programs
SWIM - PARENT AND TOT 1 - JELLYFISH - (4-12 MONTHS) - PRESCHOOLERS
Learn holds and supports to swim safely together; and introduce toddlers to blow bubbles in the water and get faces wet with the help of a parent. Parent participation required. Pre-requisite: None.
SWIM - PARENT AND TOT 2 - GOLDFISH - (12-24 MONTHS) - PRESCHOOLERS
Learn how to enter and exit the water together; play games that encourage toddlers to blow bubbles in the water and get faces wet; and start to develop floating and kicking skills. Parent participation required. Pre-requisite: None.
SWIM - PARENT AND TOT 3 - SEAHORSE - (2-3 YEARS) - PRESCHOOLERS
Learn how to safely help toddlers enter the water wearing a PFD; Starfish and pencil floats; kicking skills using songs and games; and underwater skills that include submersion and eye opening. Parent participation required. Pre-requisite: None.
Preschool Programs
SWIM - PRESCHOOL 1 - OCTOPUS - PRESCHOOLERS
Cover getting in and out of the pool; blowing bubbles and submerging faces in the water; and floating and gliding. Pre-requisite: None.
SWIM - PRESCHOOL 2 - CRAB - PRESCHOOLERS
Cover how to safely jump into chest-deep water; swimming wearing a PFD; submersion skills; and further work on floating, gliding and kicking with buoyant aid. Pre-requisite: Swim for Life Preschool 1 - Octopus - Complete; Red Cross - Sea Otter - Complete; or Red Cross - Salamander - Incomplete.
SWIM - PRESCHOOL 3 - ORCA - PRESCHOOLERS
Cover how to enter deep water safely wearing a PFD; submerging, exhaling and retrieving objects underwater; and the further development of floating, gliding and kicking skills. Pre-requisite: Swim for Life Preschool 2 - Crab - Complete; Red Cross Salamander - Complete; or Red Cross Sunfish - Incomplete.
SWIM - PRESCHOOL 4 - SEA LION - PRESCHOOLERS
Cover deep-water entries and treading water wearing a PFD; retrieving objects from the bottom of the pool in chest-deep water; performing front and side glides; and the introduction of front crawl wearing a PFD. Pre-requisite: Swim for Life Preschool 3 - Orca - Complete; Red Cross - Sunfish - Complete; or Red Cross - Crocodile Incomplete.
SWIM - PRESCHOOL 5 - NARWHAL - PRESCHOOLERS
Cover Swim to Survive® skills wearing a PFD; the introduction of front and back crawl; interval fitness training; treading water; and performing a vertical whip kick with a buoyant aid. Pre-requisite: Preschool 4 - Sea Lion - Complete; Red Cross Crocodile - Complete; or Red Cross Whale - Incomplete or Complete.
Swimmer Programs
SWIM - SWIMMER 1 - CHILDREN
Cover jumping into the water with and without a PFD; opening eyes, exhaling and holding breath underwater; and an introduction to floats, glides and kicking skills. Pre-requisite: None.
SWIM - SWIMMER 2 – CHILDREN
Cover jumping into deeper water; falling sideways into the water wearing a PFD; treading water; kicking skills; and an introduction to front and back crawl. Pre-requisite: Swim for Life Swimmer 1 - Complete; Swim for Life Preschool 5 - Narwhal - Complete; Red Cross Swim Kids 1 - Complete; or Red Cross Swim Kids 2 - Incomplete.
SWIM - SWIMMER 3 – CHILDREN
Cover diving; in-water somersaults and handstands to develop weight-transfer skills; Swim to Survive® skills; whip kick on the back; and further development of front and back crawl. Pre-requisite: Swim for Life Swimmer 2 - Complete; or Red Cross Swim Kids 3 - Incomplete or Complete.
SWIM - SWIMMER 4 – CHILDREN
Cover diving; treading water and swimming underwater; Swim to Survive® standard; development of breaststroke; and further development of front and back crawl. Pre-requisite: Swim for Life Swimmer 3 - Complete; Red Cross Swim Kids 4 - Incomplete or Complete; or Red Cross Swim Kids 5 - Incomplete.
SWIM - SWIMMER 5 - CHILDREN
Cover mastering dives and swimming in deep water; Swim to Survive® skills; eggbeater kick development; further development of breaststroke and front and back crawl; and interval training and sprinting drills to continue to challenge swimmers. Pre-requisites: Swim for Life Swimmer 4 - Complete; Red Cross Swim Kids 5 - Complete; or Red Cross Swim Kids 6 - Incomplete.
SWIM - SWIMMER 6 - CHILDREN
Cover deep water skills including stride entries and compact jumps; lifesaving kicks such as eggbeater and scissor; further development of breaststroke and front and back crawl; head-up swims; interval training; and a 300m workout to develop strength and endurance. Pre-requisites: Swim for Life Swimmer 5 - Complete; Red Cross Swim Kids 6 - Complete; or Red Cross Swim Kids 7 - Incomplete.
SWIM - SWIMMER 7 - ROOKIE PATROL - CHILDREN
Cover further development of the breaststroke and front and back crawl; individual fitness to meet a timed 100m swim and 350m workout; water proficiency skills that include swimming with clothes on, ready position and feet-first/head-first surface dives; demonstrating the ability to conduct a primary assessment and calling EMS as part of First Aid skills; and victim recognition and throwing assists. Pre-requisite: Swim for Life Swimmer 6 - Complete; Red Cross Swim Kids 7 - Complete; or Red Cross Swim Kids 8 - Incomplete.
SWIM - SWIMMER 8 - RANGER PATROL
Cover lifesaving sport skills with a lifesaving stroke medley, timed object support and a non-contact rescue with a buoyant aid; eggbeater kick; increased fitness levels to meet a 200m timed swim; and First Aid focused on unconscious victims and obstructed airway procedures. Pre-requisite: Swim for Life Swimmer 7 - Complete; or Red Cross Swim Kids 8 - Complete; or Red Cross Swim Kids 9 - Incomplete.
SWIM - SWIMMER 9 - STAR PATROL
Cover completing a 300m timed swim, 600m workout and a 25m object carry; refining of strokes; lifesaving skills that include use of rescue aids, defense methods, victim removals and supporting a victim in shallow water; and First Aid that focuses on treatment of bone or joint injuries and respiratory emergencies. Pre-requisite: Swim for Life Swimmer 8 - Complete; Red Cross Swim Kids 9 - Complete; or Red Cross Swim Kids 10 - Incomplete.
SWIM - TEEN 1 - YOUTH
Cover working towards a 10-15m swim on the front and back while learning safe entries into shallow and deep water; skills development while wearing a PFD; breath control and underwater skills; an introduction to floats, glides, flutter kick and vertical whip kick; improving fitness through interval training; and learning front and back crawl.
SWIM - TEEN 2 - YOUTH
Cover the development of fitness by working on two interval training workouts, sprints and front and back crawl; Swim to Survive®; and the further development of deep water entries/skills while wearing a PFD; the further development of the whip kick; and an introduction to breaststroke. Pre-requisite: Teen 1.
SWIM - TEEN 3 - YOUTH
Cover mastering breaststroke and front and back crawl; fitness training with a 300m workout, sprint challenges and interval training; eggbeater, diving and compact jumps; and the further development of treading water and underwater skills. Pre-requisite: Teen 2.
SWIM - TEEN FITNESS SWIMMER - YOUTH
Work to improve overall physical fitness in the water in this structured approach based on accepted training principles including stretches, interval training, sprints and distance swims.
SWIM - ADULT FITNESS SWIMMER - ADULTS
Work to improve overall physical fitness in the water in this structured approach based on accepted training principles including stretches, interval training, sprints and distance swims.
SWIM - ADULT 1 - ADULTS
Cover working towards a 10-15m swim on the front and back while learning safe entries into shallow and deep water; skills development while wearing a PFD; breath control and underwater skills; an introduction to floats, glides, flutter kick and vertical whip kick; improving fitness through interval training; and learning front and back crawl. Pre-requisite: None.
SWIM - ADULT 2 - ADULTS
Cover the development of fitness by working on two interval training workouts, sprints and front and back crawl; Swim to Survive®; and the further development of deep water entries/skills while wearing a PFD; the further development of the whip kick; and an introduction to breaststroke. Pre-requisite: Swim - Adult 1.
SWIM - ADULT 3 - ADULTS
Cover mastering breaststroke and front and back crawl; fitness training with a 300m workout, sprint challenges and interval training; eggbeater, diving and compact jumps; and the further development of treading water and underwater skills. Pre-requisite: Swim - Adult 2.