Lessons and Programs

Corby Sovie
Programs & Facilities Booking Co-ordinator
600 Tomlinson Drive, PO Box 820
Port Elgin ON N0H 2C0
Phone 519-832-2008 x131
Toll Free 1-866-832-2008 x131
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Registration dates

Winter swimming lessons and aquatic programs are now open for viewing online or download the program schedule. Register online beginning at 6am and in-person beginning at 8:30am

December 8: January private lessons
December 15: all other winter lessons and programs

Visit online registration portal

Session dates

Lifesaving Sport fundamental programs: January 10 to April 2
Private lessons: Session 1, January 9 to 13 and Session 2, January 16 to 20
Winter swimming lessons: February 6 to April 6
No Lessons: February 20 (Family Day) and March 13 to 19 (March Break)

Download the winter aquatic program schedule

Private lessons

We are piloting a different format for private lessons in January between sessions. Private lessons will run daily for 5 days, from Monday to Friday, at the same time each day. Participants will receive a report card at the end of the session.

Download the private lesson schedule

Sessions 1 and 2 open for registration on Thursday, December 8 online at 6am and in-person at 8:30am. If both sessions are filled, additional sessions may be added.

Who should register for a private lesson?

Private lessons are best suited for swimmers that need extra support on 1 or 2 specific skills to move onto the next level. Preschoolers that are struggling with fear of swimming by themselves or putting their faces in the water and being comfortable, privates are an option to work on those fears and tailor the class to overcoming those obstacles and not focusing on all the skills to complete to the next level but improving comfort in the water, so they are ready to join a group class.

Swimming lessons

Winter swimming lessons and aquatic programs open for registration on Thursday, December 15 online at 6am and in-person at 8:30am.

Programs are now open for viewing online
Register online beginning December 15 at 6am and in-person at 8:30am
Lessons begin the week of February 6

Download the winter aquatic program schedule

Contact us

Registration questions: Corby by phone at 519-832-2008 ext 131 or email
Swimming lessons or aquatic programs: Michael by phone at 519-832-2627 or email

Swim levels and descriptions

We follow the Lifesaving Society's swim levels. View the level descriptions to choose the right swim level for your child.

Tot levels: 4 months to 3 years
Preschool levels: 3 to 5 years
Swimmer levels 1 to 7: 6 years and older
Swimmer levels 8 to 10: 8 years and older

A personal flotation device is described as a PFD in the descriptions.

Tot and preschool levels

Parent and Tot 1 (4 to 12 months): With a caregiver the child will explore the water through buoyancy, movement skills, PFDs and entries. Learn how to help your child play in the water with comfort and confidence.

Parent and Tot 2 (12 to 24 months): With a caregiver the child will perform assisted front and back floats, learn how to travel at the surface by kicking and introduce entries with a PFD. This level teaches children how to get their face wet and blow bubbles.

Tots 3 (2 to 3 years): With a caregiver, for up to 5 classes, the child will have fun jumping into the water with assistance. They learn to hold their breath and open their eyes under water. Kicking on front and back provides the building blocks for orientation and stroke development.

Preschool A: Jump into chest-deep water assisted, float on their front and back, glide with assistance for 3 seconds, move in the shallow water wearing a PFD. Unassisted swim, 1 to 2 metres.

Preschool B: Jump into chest-deep water, climb in and out wearing a PFD, submerge and exhale underwater, glide on front and back 3 metres and flutter kick on back with a buoyant aid for 5 metres. Unassisted swim, 2 to 4 metres.

Preschool C: Jump and side roll into deep water wearing a PFD, recover objects from the bottom in waist-deep water, work on kicking and gliding in the water on front and back unassisted. Unassisted swim, 5 to 7 metres.

Preschool D: Jump into deep water, recover objects from the bottom in chest-deep water and are introduced to front crawl for 2 to 3 metres. Unassisted swim, 7 to 9 metres.

Preschool E: Demonstrate a forward roll entry into deep water with PFD, practice holding breath underwater for up to 10 seconds and are introduced to interval training and whip kick. Unassisted swim, 10 to 12 metres.

Swimmer levels

Swimmer 1: Beginners become comfortable jumping into water with and without a PFD, open their eyes, exhale and hold their breath underwater and work on floats, glides and kicking. Length of swim, 5 to 7 metres.

Swimmer 2: Jump into deeper water and become comfortable falling sideways wearing a PFD, support themselves at the surface without an aid and recover an object in chest-deep water. Length of swim, 10 to 15 metres.

Swimmer 3: Develop front and back crawl strokes and explore whip kick in a vertical position, tread water for up to 30 seconds, and learn to transition from front to back flutter kick. Length of swim, 20 to 25 metres.

Swimmer 4: Work on stride and standing dives into deep water, improve front crawl, back crawl and whip kick and are introduced to a 3 metre underwater swim. Length of swim, 50 metres.

Swimmer 5: Shallow dive into deep water and perform in-water back somersaults, roll into deep water, tread for 1 minute and swim 50 metres. Improve front and back crawl and learn breaststroke skills. Length of swim, 100 metres.

Swimmer 6: Increase efficiency of front and back crawl including sprints for endurance, work on breaststroke skills and learn stride entries, scissor kick and vertical dolphin kick. Length of swim, 150 metres.

Swimmer 7: Master dolphin kick, diving off blocks and the eggbeater. Introduced to sculling and maximize efficiency in front crawl, back crawl and breaststroke. Length of swim, 300 metres.

Swimmer 8: Head and foot first surface dives, length swims and 25 metre obstacle swim, and first aid including assessment of conscious victims, contacting emergency services (EMS) and treatment for bleeding. Length of swim, 350 metres.

Swimmer 9: Continue stroke development with 75m swims, learn lifesaving skills and first aid including assessment of unconscious victims, treatment for shock and obstructed airway procedures. Length of swim, 500 metres.

Swimmer 10: Develop each stroke over 100 metres, build on lifesaving skills and first aid including treatment of bone and joint injuries and respiratory emergencies. Develops a strong lifesaving foundation. Length of swim, 600 metres.

Swim assessments

We also offer free swim assessments to help place children in the correct swim program. Contact us to book a time at 519-832-2627.

Pool schedule

Visit our pool page for the recreational pool schedule.

Mini-Breakers and Master's Swim Team

We have partnered up with the Breakers Swim Team on two great programs for youth and adults with an interest in competitive swimming. View the descriptions below.

Registration

These programs will open for registration on Thursday, December 15 at 6am online, and 8:30am in-person. Program dates and fees are available online.

Mini-Breakers: Learn to Swim like a Breaker

This weekly program provides an introduction to competitive swimming that focuses on team building, fun in the water, skill and stroke technique, and starts to build stroke endurance for stepping into competitive swimming. This program is for swimmers 7 to 10 years old and coached by the Breakers Swim Team coaches. Pre-requisite: Swimmer 3.

Master's Swim Team

The Breakers Swim Team have developed a new, competitive training focused Masters swim program. The Breakers Swim Team will deliver and coach the program using Breakers’ certified Swim Ontario coaches.

The Masters program is for adult swimmers, 18 and older, who are interested in training at a competitive swimming level either for fitness and or to participate competitively in swim meets. Each week swimmers will have two coach-led practices focusing on stroke correction, building speed, endurance, and proper training techniques.

Register by contacting the Breakers Swim Team at breakersswimming@gmail.com or visiting their website at www.breakerswimteam.com

Land-based camps and PA day programs

Visit our registration page to learn more about our land-based programs.

Advanced aquatics and upcoming courses

Saugeen Shores provides courses and training to pool professionals and the public. Advanced aquatic training courses take place throughout the year, including standard first aid and CPR courses. Whether you want to feel more comfortable with your kids or grandkids around water or you're a teen looking for a career in aquatics, we have the training for you.

Upcoming courses

Bronze Cross, activity number 22310
- December 16 (4 to 8pm), 17, and 18 (9am to 5pm both weekend days)
- Fee: $140
Bronze Medallion and Emergency First Aid, activity number 22309
- December 16 (4 to 8pm), 17, and 18 (9am to 5pm both weekend days)
- Fee: $140
Swim Instructor, 22311
- December 28, 29 and 30 (1 to 8pm)
- Fee: $150
NL-Pool (National Lifeguard), 22312
- January 2 to 6 (9am to 6pm)
- Fee: $250

Program descriptions

Bronze Star, Bronze Medallion and Bronze Cross

Bronze Star

As the say goes, you are not finished swimming lessons until you're ‘bronzed.’ This pre-bronze course will get participants ready to complete their bronze medal awards. Learning includes victim simulation, minor rescues, and CPR techniques.

Participants must be 11 years of age or older.

Bronze Medallion

This course is the second step towards the lifeguarding certification in Canada. The award is part of the Lifesaving Society's Bronze series of awards and includes water safety, rescues, resuscitation, and an introduction to spinal injury management. To participate in this program you must have the Bronze Medallion Manual and if not you can purchase one when registering.

Participants must be 13 years of age or older.

Bronze Cross

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. Includes a timed 400 m swim.

Participants must be 14 years of age or older and have Bronze Medallion and Emergency First Aid.

Lifesaving Assistant Instructors

Through classroom learning and in-water practice, this course will prepare you to assist instructors with swim lessons. This course provides an introduction to swimming instruction and will focus on key learning such as safety, swimming skills and stroke mechanics, as well as, communication and learning strategies. This course includes up to 20hrs of apprentice teaching which at this time will be dependent on Covid-19 restrictions.

Participants must have a Bronze Cross certification or higher to take this course.

Lifesaving Swim Instructors

This course prepares the instructor to teach and evaluate the swimming strokes and related skills found in the Lifesaving Society Swim for Life program. Candidates acquire proven teaching methods, planning skills, and a variety of stroke development drills and correction techniques.

Participants must be 15 years of age or older and have a valid Assistant Instructor certification. 100% attendance is required to complete this course.

NL Pool (National Lifeguard)

This intensive 40 hour course will train participants in advance water rescue, emergency care and aquatic supervision. Emphasis will be on accident prevention, leadership, teamwork and communication. NL is the standard lifeguarding certification across Canada. 100% attendance is mandatory to complete this course.

Participants must be 15 years of age or older and have a valid Standard First Aid and Bronze Cross certification.

Training path to become a Lifeguard Instructor

Follow these steps to become a Lifeguard Instructor. Students can continue to develop their skills through additional coaching, teaching and waterfront certifications.

Step 1, Bronze Star, 12 and older: We recommend starting here; laying the foundation of valuable lifesaving and first aid skills.

Step 2, Bronze Medallion 13 and older: Combined with emergency first aid training, this courses builds on the Bronze Star program and is a pre-requisite for Bronze Cross.

Step 3, Bronze Cross + Assistant Lifesaving Instructor, 14 and older: These courses are required to complete the National Lifeguard and instructor certifications. Bronze Cross is a pre-requisite to the Assistant Lifesaving Instructor course.

Step 4, Standard First Aid and CPR-C, 13 and older: A pre-requisite for National Lifeguard.

Step 5, National Lifeguard (NL) + Lifesaving Swim Instructor, 15 and older: These courses certify you to work as a lifeguard and swim instructor. Certification can be completed at 15 years and lifeguard instructors can start working as when they're 16 years.

Working and volunteering at the pool

We train youth volunteers and assist in their development as leaders. Volunteers can start when they are 13 and have their Bronze Medallion certification.

Do you have your Bronze Cross, Standard First Aid and Assistant Lifesaving Instructor certifications? We are always interested in hearing from certified lifeguards and instructors. Contact the Aquatic Supervisor.

The Town of Saugeen Shores continues to follow Ontario's current COVID-19 public health measures.