Red Cross Learn to Swim

We provide instruction in the Canadian Red Cross's learn to swim program for children between the ages of 4 months and 14 years. The program emphasizes water safety and how to respond in emergency situations. All instructors have at least 60 hours of training and practical teaching experience.

This program is temporarily unavailable due to COVID-19 health and safety regulations. Please subscribe to this page and watch our news and notices for updates.

Red Cross Swim Preschool levels

Red Cross Swim Preschool allows children from 4-months-old to 6-years-old participate in various swimming skill level courses based on their age and abilities. Please contact us for an accessible version of each level's activities and drills.

Program descriptions

Starfish

Ages: 4- to 18-months-old, accompanied by a parent or caregiver

Babies are introduced to being in the pool through buoyancy, movement, songs and play. To participate, babies must be able to hold their heads up.

Duck

Ages: 16- to 30-months-old, accompanied by a parent or caregiver

Toddlers build confidence through games, songs and active play in an aquatic environment.

Sea Turtle

Ages: 2- to 4-years-old, accompanied by a parent or caregiver

Preschoolers develop skills in swimming, gliding and floating. They will improve awareness of deep water and safe entries.

Sea Otter

Ages: 3- to 6-years-old

This level allows preschoolers to develop skills in swimming, glides and floating. They will improve awareness of deep water and safe entries, and attend classes without their parent or caregiver.

Salamander

Ages: 3- to 6-years-old

Preschoolers learn new swimming skills, such as independent floats and glides through games and songs. They will learn how to jump into chest deep water.

Sunfish

Ages: 3- to 6-years-old

Preschoolers develop stroke and skill progressions, and attempt entries and floats in deep water. Using good judgment is emphasized in and around the water.

Crocodile

Ages: 3- to 6-years-old

Preschoolers swim independently and build endurance through increasing distance for front and back swim skills. Swimmers learn about personal flotation devices (PFDs) and surface support.

Whale

Ages: 3- to 6-years-old

Preschoolers swim independently, continuing to build endurance and distance for their front and back swim skills. Swimmers also learn about basic water rescue.

Swim Preschool to Swim Kids level conversion

Once your child turns 7 they will enter the Swim Kids stream of the Red Cross Learn to Swim Programs. We will place your child into the Swim Kid level that corresponds with their previous experience:

If your child has incomplete or complete Sea Otter, incomplete or complete Salamander, or incomplete Sunfish, they will enter Swim Kids Level 1.
If your child has complete Sunfish or incomplete Crocodile, they will enter Swim Kids 2.
If your child has complete crocodile, incomplete or complete Whale, they will enter Swim Kids 3.

Red Cross Swim Kids levels

Red Cross Swim Kids teaches children swimming and safety skills with a focus on staying active in the water. Swimming strokes build through the levels with a focus on drills and distance.

All levels are open to children from 7-years-old to 14-years-old.

Program descriptions

Swim Kids 1

This entry-level program provides an orientation to the water and pool area. Swimmers are introduced to floats and glides with kicks. They build endurance by increasing their swimming distance.

Swim Kids 2

Swimmers build front and back swim skills. They learn how to properly use a PFD. They build endurance through flutter kicking and by using swimming aids.

Swim Kids 3

Swimmers are introduced to front crawl and how to make wise choices about when and where to swim. Swimmers work on floats and changing direction. They achieve endurance by building strength in flutter kick and a 15-metre swim.

Swim Kids 4

Swimmers develop front crawl and back glide skills. They also develop the shoulder roll for back crawl. They learn kneeling dives, surface support and how to understand their own limits. They build endurance through a 25-metre swim.

Swim Kids 5

Swimmers are introduced to the back crawl, coupled with sculling skills and whip kick on the back. They learn stride dives and safe boating skills. Swimmers build endurance through a 50-metre swim.

Swim Kids 6

Swimmers refine the front and back crawl and are introduced to the elementary backstroke, safety on the ice, elementary rescue with throwing assists, treading water and the front dive. They build endurance through a 75-metre swim.

Swim Kids 7

Swimmers build skills and endurance through the front crawl, back crawl and elementary backstroke. They learn how to demonstrate the whip kick on the front. Swimmers learn about airway and breathing obstructions, treading water and perform a 150-metre swim.

Swim Kids 8

Swimmers learn the breaststroke, foot-first surface dives and rescue entries. The program focuses on the dangers of open water, hypothermia and how to perform rescue breathing. Swimmers build endurance through a 300-metre swim.

Swim Kids 9

Swimmers refine front crawl, back crawl, elementary backstroke and breaststroke skills. They are encouraged to combine different strokes and kicks for fitness. They practice head-first surface dives and standing dives. They learn about wise choices, peer influences and self-rescue from the ice. Swimmers build endurance through a 400-metre swim.

Swim Kids 10

Swimmers learn how to further refine their strokes and skills. They practice sun safety, rescuing others from ice and headfirst and foot-first surface dives. Swimmers build endurance through dolphin kick and a 500-metre swim.