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Knowing how to swim can save your life -- or even someone else's. Taught by certified YMCA instructors, our swimming lessons will give you lifelong skills to help you be safe in and around the water. And you just might develop a lifelong passion for swimming!
There's more to YMCA swim lessons than just learning to swim. Our swimming lessons build self-confidence and show children they can achieve their goals with a little hard work and support from others. We've taught tens of thousands of children to swim through our nationally-accredited YMCA swim programs since we offered the very first YMCA swimming lesson in Canada over 100 years ago.
(3 months to 5 years)
The purpose of the L'il Dippers preschool program is to introduce preschoolers to a wide range of water activities in a safe, fun atmosphere.
(6 to 12 years)
The YMCA Learn to Swim program is a four-level instructional program that introduces your beginner swimmer to foundational aquatic activities. They will improve their body awareness and motor skills as they submerge, kick, roll, and jump in the water. They will be competent swimmers on their front and back when they complete the entire program.
(Completion of the Learn to Swim program or equivalent)
The YMCA Star Program introduces your continuing swimmer to elementary backstroke, breaststroke, side stroke, and increases their swimming distance to 350m by the end of Star 4. The optional items give your child opportunities to explore competitive swimming, synchronized swimming, water polo, and aquatic fitness.
(Completion of the YMCA Star program or equivalent)
The YMCA Star Leadership Program allows your competent and confident swimmer to build on their strong aquatic skills to learn to safely help others who are in trouble in the water, basic first aid skills, and to improve their physical fitness. Each level has a component of learning how to teach others, and optional items include advanced swim skills, competitive swimming, synchronized swimming, water polo, and aquatic fitness.
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Learn to Swim Conversion Chart |
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Age Groups |
City of Waterloo |
City of Kitchener |
Red Cross Program |
Lifesaving Society Program |
YMCA Program |
0-2 years old |
Parent & Tot 1 |
Waterbabies |
Starfish |
Parent and Tot 1 |
Splashers |
accompanied by |
Parent & Tot 2 |
Adult & Tot |
Duck |
Parent and Tot 2 |
Bubblers |
parent |
Parent & Tot 3 |
Adult & Tot |
Sea Turtle |
Parent and Tot 3 |
Bubblers |
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3-5 years old |
Waterloo Splash 1 |
Tots/B |
Sea Turtle |
Preschool 1 |
Bobbers |
accompanied |
Waterloo Splash 1 |
Tots/C |
Salamander |
Preschool 2 |
Floaters |
by a parent |
Waterloo Splash 1 |
SuperTots/D |
Sunfish |
Preschool 3 |
Gliders |
or on their |
WaterlooSplash 2 |
SuperTots/E |
Crocodile |
Preschool 4 |
Divers |
own |
Waterloo Splash 3 |
Whale |
Preschool 5 |
Surfers |
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6-12 years old |
Waterloo Swim 1 |
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Swim Kids 1 |
Swimmer 1 |
Otter |
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Waterloo Swim 2 |
I/C Swim Kids 2 |
I/C Swimmer 2 |
Seal |
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Waterloo Swim 3 |
E+ |
Swim Kids 2 |
Swimmer 2 |
Seal |
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Waterloo Swim 4 |
F |
Swim Kids 2/3 |
I/C Swimmer 3 |
Dolphin |
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Waterloo Swim 5 |
G |
Swim Kids 4/5 |
Swimmer 3 |
Swimmer |
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Waterloo Swim 6 |
H |
Swim Kids 6 |
Swimmer 4 |
Star 1 |
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Waterloo Swim 7 |
I/J |
Swim Kids 7 |
Swimmer 5 |
Star 2 |
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Waterloo Swim 9 |
K |
Swim Kids 8 |
Swimmer 6 |
Star 3 |
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Rookie Patrol |
Rookie Patrol |
Swim Kids 9 |
Rookie Patrol |
Star 4 |
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Ranger Patrol |
Ranger Patrol |
Swim Kids 10 |
Ranger Patrol |
Star 5 |
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Star Patrol |
Star Patrol |
Swim Kids 10 |
Star Patrol |
Star 6 |
Star 7 |
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Bronze Star |
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Bronze Star |
Bronze Star |
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