Child and youth swimming lessons
Child & youth swimming lessons
Swimming lessons designed for a wide range of abilities and experience. Both for individuals who are new to swimming and for those who want to develop their skills, endurance and strokes.
Benefits of child & youth lessons
- Learn water safety.
- Reduce the risk of drowning.
- Low-impact strength and fitness.
- Improves strength and coordination.
- Build confidence.
- Make new friends.
Winter registration dates
- 6 a.m. — Online (virtual waiting room opens at 5:30 a.m.)
- 8:30 a.m. — By calling the Customer Service Centre at 403-268-3800 (option 1)
- During business hours — At any City-operated Aquatic & Recreation or Arts facility
Types of child & youth lessons
You can register online, in person at our Recreation facilities, or by calling 403-268-3800 (option 1).
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Kids and teens will be introduced to the foundational skills needed for swimming in this lesson. They will learn safe entries into the water, treading water, breath control, opening their eyes underwater, front and back crawl and floats and glides.
Age: 6 - 17 years
Prerequisite: None
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Kids and teens will continue to increase their confidence in and around the water in this beginner swimming lesson. They will learn sideways entries into the pool, interval training, whip kicks in a vertical position, distance swims and front and back crawl.
Ages: 6 - 17 years
Prerequisite: Swimmer 1 or Preschool 5
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Kids and teens will continue to expand their foundational swimming skills. In this combined Swimmer 1 and Swimmer 2 lesson, they will learn different types of entries and exits, underwater skills, skills needed to survive a fall into the water and movement skills.
Age: 6 - 17 years
Prerequisite: None
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Intermediate swimmers will be introduced to new skills that will increase their swimming ability. They will work on kneeling dives and forward rolls, front and back crawl, whip kick on their back and interval training.
Age: 6 - 17 years
Prerequisite: Swimmer 2
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This swimming lesson for intermediate swimmers will introduce new skills that will increase their swimming ability and knowledge. They will work on standing dives into deep water, swimming underwater for five metres, whip kicks on their front and Swim to Survive® skills.
Ages: 6 - 17 years
Prerequisite: Swimmer 3
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Advanced swimmers will work on new skills and master skills from previous levels in this swim lesson. They will continue to work on and learn shallow dives and tuck jumps, back somersaults, stationary eggbeater kick, front crawl and breaststroke with their head out of the water and interval training and sprints.
Ages: 6 - 17 years
Prerequisite: Swimmer 4
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Kids and teens will continue to improve their Swimmer 5 skills and also be introduced to Swimmer 6 skills in this combined swim lesson. They will work on and learn different types of entries and exits, surface support and underwater skills, Swim to Survive® skills and movement in the water.
Ages: 6 - 17 years
Prerequisite: Swimmer 4
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Advanced swimmers will learn new skills that will prepare them for the Canadian Swim Patrol classes in this swimming lesson. They will work on deep water stride entry and compact jumps, treading water with only their legs, using lifesaving eggbeater and scissor kicks and accomplish a 300 metre workout.
Ages: 6 - 17 years
Prerequisite: Swimmer 5
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This smaller class size swimming lesson is designed to help swimmers who have not completed the stroke requirements for Swimmer 4. Swimmers can graduate to Swimmer 5 if they pass their missing strokes.
Age: 6 – 17 years
Prerequisite: Swimmer 4
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Kids and teens who have not completed the stroke requirements for Swimmer 5 or Swimmer 6 can practice and improve them in this small class size lesson.
Age: 6 – 17 years
Prerequisite: Swimmer 5 or Swimmer 6
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Kids and teens will begin to feel more comfortable in the water by learning basic swimming skills. An instructor will help them reach the goals they define, which can include strokes, floats and glides.
Ages: 12 - 17 years
Prerequisite: None
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Kids and teens can learn to swim and be more comfortable in the water, or work on refining their current swimming skills in this flexible lesson. Based on their individual goals, an instructor will help them be achieved.
Ages: 12 - 17 years
Prerequisite: None
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Kids and teens who are beginner swimmers or want to improve their current skills will work with an instructor to meet their individual swimming goals.
Ages: 12 - 17 years
Prerequisite: None
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Intermediate swimmers will continue to focus on stroke refinement. An instructor will help you reach the goals you define, such as increasing swimming distance and different types of strokes.
Ages: 12 - 17 years
Prerequisite: Youth 2: Swim for Life®
About our swim instructors
Our instructors have Bronze Cross or higher certification. They are qualified to teach and evaluate Swim for Life® programs, Canadian Swim Patrol, Bronze Star, Bronze Medallion and Bronze Cross.
What are lessons like?
Early child/youth classes focus on foundational skills like breath control and a variety of swim strokes. As levels progress the focus shifts to strength for distance swimming, rolls and dives, underwater skills and survival techniques. Classes involve group exercises as well as one-on-one teaching where needed.
Swimmer 1 and 2 have up to eight swimmers per class. Swimmer 3, 4, 5 or 6 have up to 10 swimmers per class. Our swimming lessons typically contain five to eight classes, depending on scheduling. The length of each class varies depending on scheduling requirements and the typical age of the swimmers participating in each lesson level.
Come prepared
Child/youth must wear swim wear and bring a towel. Swim goggles are optional. All other required equipment and lifejackets are provided. Lifeguard on duty on pool deck.
Note: If a child/youth requires a support staff/aide, they will also require this support in the water.
Non-Traditional Bathing Wear Policy
The City of Calgary Recreation is committed to providing an aquatic environment where individuals from all ethnic and religious backgrounds are comfortable participating in activities in and around the water. We want all customers to feel safe and welcome at our facilities, and have therefore adopted a non-traditional bathing wear policy as outlined below.
In addition to conventional swim wear, participants may wear:
- Long-sleeved pants and shirts, tee-shirts and shorts with undergarments or a swim suit worn underneath.
- Traditional ethnic clothing (e.g. saris and hijabs) with a swim suit or undergarments worn underneath. For safety reasons, patrons wearing traditional garments such as saris are asked to remain in the shallow end of the pool and to refrain from using the dive tank.
In order to ensure that our aquatic environments are safe and free from any external contaminants, all participants are required to:
- Wear clothing that is different from the clothing worn to the facility
- Take a complete and cleansing shower (while clothed in the swim attire that will be worn in the water) before entering the pool
Through this policy, Recreation affirms its commitment to recognizing and valuing the diversity of our customers.
Frequently asked questions
How do I decide which lesson level to register my swimmer in?
Swimming lesson levels are based on the skill level of the swimmer. Proof of previous level completion is not required as long as the swimmer's skills meet the description of the lesson level.
A complimentary swim assessment can be booked by contacting Recreation.
Why is it important that my swimmer is registered in the correct lesson level?
Registering a swimmer in the correct lesson level ensures the safety of all participants. It also helps swimmers better improve their skills and feel more confident in their abilities.
Once lessons have started, what if it becomes apparent that my swimmer does not meet the skill level required for a lesson level?
Swimmers who do not meet the skill level required may have a difficult time excelling in their learning and progression. When space allows, swimmers may be transferred to another class.
Should I be concerned if my swimmer is required to take the same lesson level multiple times?
It is completely normal for some swimmers to take the same lesson level more than once. Swimmers progress at different paces and this not reflective of individual effort or competence. Swimming during times outside of lessons is an essential way to ensure swimmers practice their skills and progress in their ability.
What are combined-level swimming lessons?
Combined-level classes teach skills from two lesson levels and can be great for swimmers who are unsure which lesson level matches their skill level. Combined-level classes are limited in offering based on enrollment.
Combined-level classes aren't offered for all levels. Skills in some levels align better than others. For instance, the skills taught in Swimmer 3 and 4 align more closely than those in Swimmer 2 and 3.
How much do swimming lessons cost?
Swimming lesson prices vary based on number of classes in a course, the total number of instruction hours and the number of swimmers in each class. Group lessons range from $5.75 to $10 per class. Private lessons cost $47.50 per class.
Are there any additional costs for lessons?
No. Swimming lessons do not have any additional costs.
Lifesaving and swim certification courses may have some material costs and certification fees which are paid to the Lifesaving Society.
Can I register a swimmer for multiple lessons in a single season?
We recommend each swimmer only take one lesson per season. This allows a full assessment of a swimmer’s ability before choosing an appropriate subsequent lesson.
My swimmer has not yet completed their current set of swimming lessons. Which lesson level do I register them for next?
We recommend waiting until lessons are complete and you’ve received a report card before registering a swimmer in more lessons. If this is not possible, we recommend registering in a combined-level lesson or waiting until the following season to register.
Does my swimmer need to practice swimming in addition to lessons?
Absolutely. Lessons teach core skills, but practicing will help swimmers progress at a much faster rate and is essential to becoming a better swimmer. Find public swim times at our locations at calgary.ca/pools.
More swimming lessons
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Parent & Tot programs that focus on structured in-water interactions stressing the importance of play in developing water-positive attitudes and skills.
Ages: over 6 months + adult
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Preschoolers learn to enter and exit shallow water safely and gain comfort with floats and back glides while wearing lifejackets.
Ages: 3 - 5 years
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Swim programs for beginners who want to gain confidence in the water or improve their technique and endurance while learning to swim.
Ages: 13 + years
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A customized, one-on-one swim program designed to focus on specific goals and for individuals who require additional support.
Ages: 3+ years.
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Become a lifeguard or swim instructor by taking Bronze Medallion, Bronze Cross, National Lifeguard, Lifesaving/Swim for Life® Instructor and Standard First Aid courses.
Ages: 8+ years