northernalberta.ymca.ca/onlineSummer Session – July 5 - August 29

Fall Registration begins August 17, 2021

Fall Session 1 – September 13 - October 31Fall Session 2 – November 1 - December 19

Register Online

Strong Swimmers.Confident Kids.

YMCA Swim Lessons2021 Information

At the YMCA...There is nothing more important than the health and safety of our members, participants, staff, and volunteers. To help keep our members, program participants, staff and volunteers healthy and safe, we encourage you to stay home if you’re unwell or experiencing any symptom of COVID-19. Thanks for helping us keep our community safe!

Dippers

Surfers

Divers

Bobbers

Gliders

Floaters

All swim options must be booked in advance. Bookings are available in 50-minute time blocks. Please book all swimmers individually.Member Swim – A recreational opportunity for members of all ages to enjoy a leisurely swim in our pool.Lane Swim & Aqua Jog – Members only, 50-minute lane swim and aqua jog lane bookings.

Otter

Seal

Dolphin

Develop skills based on personal bests in swimming, lifesaving, fitness, knowledge, leadership and teamwork. This program provides high-activity challenges in an energetic environment both on the deck and in the pool, plus an introduction to competitive lifesaving challenges. Prerequisites: Star 2 or equivalent and 8+yrs. Assessments may be required.

Take your swim skill to the next level with the YMCA Swim Club. This club experience will help swimmers build self-esteem, confidence, sportsmanship and a strong sense of team. Our coaches will work on improving endurance while improving swim skill. With a focus on teamwork and healthy competition, our program will offer the opportunity to participate in fun, friendly competitions with other swimmers.Prerequisites: Star 2 or equivalent and 8+yrs. Assessments may be required.

We will be giving out report cards during the last week of each session. If you would like to access online you can view swim lesson progress reports at: northernalberta.ymca.ca/ProgressReports.

Progress ReportsSwim level progressionWhile in swim lessons, your child will learn the skills listed below.

Ages 3–5yrs | Lil’ Dippers

Hold wall, kick and blow bubbles, front and back glide assisted, water hazards.

Bobs unassisted, 3m front and back glide with kick, how and when to wear

a personal floatation device.

45 second surface support, 25m front and back swim, introduction to

throwing assists.

Kneeling dive, 15m front and back swim, ice safety.

Surface support 10 sec, 10m front and back swim, boating safety.

Deep water skills, 5m front and back swim, accessing EMS.

• If the lesson you’d like is full, you can register for a waitlist.

• When space becomes available, the YMCA will contact you via email*. Please ensure your phone number and email on your account are always up-to-date. *email links are active for24 hours before we move on to the next person on the list

Waitlists

Member Family Swim

Ages 6–12yrs | Learn to Swim

Going under water and gliding on top of water. Putting face in the water.

Using flutter kicks and rolling the body from side to side for streamlined

movement through water.

Coordinating arms, legs and breathing for smooth propulsion during front

and back crawl.

Junior Lifeguard Club

YMCA Swim Club

Where to get your progress report sign-in number• On the back of your child’s membership card• From your online account under your account profile

Star 6

Star 7

Star 5

Star 1

Star 2

Star 3

Star 4

Swimmer

Ages 6–12yrs (continued)

Star Program

Breaststroke, sidestroke and 350m endurance swim.

First aid, teach someone a skill using effective feedback, and 400m-in-12

minutes endurance swim.

Elementary backstroke, dolphin kick and 200m endurance swim.

Improve front and back strokes, endurance and treading-water skills.

First aid, towing someone to safety,demonstrate how to teach a skill.

Whip kick on their front, eggbeater as surface support and 100m

endurance swim.

Butterfly, throwing a buoyant aid to aswimmer, create and teach a water game and 500m endurance swim.

Whip kick on their back and75m endurance swim.

Certification CoursesRegister for lifeguard or swim instructor courses at northernalberta.ymca.ca/aquatics

Steps to becoming a...

Swim Instructor Lifeguard

Bronze MedallionBronze Medallion teaches an understanding of the lifesaving principles embodied in the 4 components of water-rescue education — judgement, knowledge, skill and fitness. Rescuers learn tows, carries, defense methods and releases in preparation for challenging rescues of increased risk involving conscious and unconscious victims of various types.Prerequisite: 13 years of age

Bronze CrossBronze cross is designed for lifesavers who want the challenge of more advanced training, including an introduction to safe supervision in aquatic facilities. Bronze Cross is a prerequisite for all advanced training programs, including National Lifeguard and Instructor certification.Prerequisite: Bronze Medallion + Emergency First Aid certifications

National Lifeguard National Lifeguard is Canada’s only nationally recognized lifeguard certification program, and is a legal certificate for lifeguarding throughout the country. It is the only lifeguard certificate recognized by the province of Ontario for lifeguarding public swimming pools. National Lifeguard guards are always in training to keep their skills, knowledge and fitness sharp.Prerequisite: 16 years of age + Bronze Cross + Standard First Aid certifications

Standard First AidStandard First Aid provides comprehensivetraining covering all aspects of First Aid and CPR.Prerequisites: 13+yrs.

YMCA Swim Instructor CourseThe YMCA Swim Instructor Course certifiesparticipants to teach the YMCA swim program.Both classroom and pool sessions are includedin the course to help develop candidates intocompetent swim instructors. Note: Upon completion of classroom work, a 20- to 40-hour practicum is required before candidates are evaluated for certification.Prerequisites: Bronze Cross, StandardFirst Aid or AEC, and 16+yrs.

Recreational Swimming Supervision Guidelines

• A Caregiver (14 years of age or older) must be in the water, within arms’ reach, at all times. They can be responsible for a maximum of 3 children under 8 years.

• Everyone under the age of 8 years old must be accompanied in the water by a guardian 14+years.• Overexposure may cause fainting. 10 minutes may be excessive for some individuals.• Hot tub availability varies by location.• Individuals may be asked to leave after 10 minutes if there is a lineup.

Hot tubs

Individuals with serious medical conditions

• These individuals are at greater risk while swimming and should be accompanied by another individual knowledgeable about their condition(s) and responsible for their supervision.• Please report any serious medical conditions to the lifeguard on duty.• Please inform the lifeguard or duty manager if you require use of a water suitable wheel chair.

Healthy Swimming for Everyone

• Children at this age may be in the aquatics facility without supervision.

• All children wishing to enter deep water will be subject to a swim test. If children pass the swim test, they will receive a green wristband. If they do not pass, they will be asked to wear a lifejacket in deep water and wear a red wristband.

*Swim test: 25 meters with face in and using arm circles.

The YMCA reaches out to support children, teens and families who are unable to afford the full cost of participation in a YMCA program or activity. Invest in thriving kids today! Make your gift at northernalberta.ymca.ca/give.

Help us make sure everyone enjoys uninterrupted swimming.Please remember…

• Avoid swimming after eating• Do not swim for 7 days if you have had the flu or diarrhea• Visit the washroom prior to a swim• Shower before you enter the pool and after visiting the washroom• Leave the pool if you are feeling ill

Health regulations stipulate that pools follow very strict guidelinesto ensure the most effective sanitization of the water in the event ofa pool fouling. A pool will be closed following any fouling for 30 minutes–24 hours. If your child is not feeling well, please leave the swim for another day.

Parented Swim Lessons

Splashers (3 to 18 months with parent) and Bubblers (18 to 36 months with parent): Registration required; membership required for either parent or child.

Children & Youth Swim LessonsAges 3–12, registration required

YMCA swim lessons are designed with your childs’ natural growth and development in mind and accommodate multiple levels at the same time.YMCA swim lessons are 30 minutes in length and are included with all child and youth memberships.

Adult & Youth Swim Lessons Ages 13 years+, registration required

The YMCA offers registered swim lessons for adults and youth of all abilities. Whether you are working on becoming comfortable in the water, building on your current skills or looking to improve your strokes, you arewelcome to attend! Instructors will design the swimlessons based on participant attendance.

Private Lessons & Semi-Private LessonsAll sessions are 30 minutes in length. Book your lesson

Children ages0–8 years:

Children ages8+ years:

Entering deep water

Since 1931, the YMCA has been a leader in aquatics in Canada. That year, the YMCA developed the first nationally recognized aquatics program and has continued to train aquatic leaders ever since.

Facts About Swimming

• Comfort in the water opens doors to a wide range of skills, opportunities and activities such as canoeing in Canada’s beautiful lakes, water slides with friends, snorkeling on a tropical reef, fishing on a sunny afternoon or becoming a lifeguard or swim instructor to teach others.

• Swimming is an essential safety skill. Drowning is the second leading cause of preventable deaths.

Why Swim at the YMCA

• YMCA lessons are designed for busy families, with your child’s progress in mind. Once you have registered for a lesson time, it’s yours as your little ones progress. If you would like to change your time slot or your child is aging out of the age group, please change your registration with our YMCA Experience staff team.

• At the YMCA we focus on helping people develop. Each swimmer is challenged to grow and improve, while the levels are a tool to help parents understand progress. Children will be continually challenged and not limited to completing a level before being introduced to new skills.

• YMCA staff not only teach swim skills but also help children understand and live the YMCA Core Values —Caring, Honesty, Respect, Responsibility, Diversity and Social Inclusion.

Aquatics at the YMCA Take a Deeper Look

SWIM EQUIVALENCY CHART

Age YMCA Red Cross Lifesaving Society

Parented 3–18 months

Splashers/Bubblers

StarfishDuck/Sea Turtle

Parent and Tot 1Parent and Tot 2 & 3

Lil’ Dippers 3–5 years Bobbers Sea Otter Preschool 1

Floaters Salamander Preschool 1

Gliders Salamander Preschool 2

Divers Sunfish Preschool 3

Surfers Crocodile Preschool 4

Dippers Whale Preschool 5

Learn to Swim6–12 years Otter Swim Kids 1 Swimmer 1

Seal Swim Kids 2 Swimmer 2

Dolphin Swim Kids 2 & 3 Swimmer 3

Swimmer Swim Kids 4,5 & 6 Swimmer 4 & 5

Star Programs6–12 years Star 1 & 2 Swim Kids 7 & 8

Swimmer 6 & CSP Rookie

Star 3 & 4 Swim Kids 8 & 9CSP Rookie & CSP Ranger

Star 5,6 & 7 (45 mins)

Swim Kids 10CSP Star & Bronze Star

William Lutsky Family YMCA (780) 439-9622 Don Wheaton Family YMCA (780) 452-9622 Castle Downs Family YMCA (780) 476-9622 Jamie Platz Family YMCA (780) 481-9622northernalberta.ymca.ca