COVID-19 update: swimming lessons
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Current protocols
- Parents are no longer in the water for preschool classes or Swimmer 1 to 3 classes.
- For Tots 3 classes, caregivers are in the water for half the classes
- Classes that require tot docks, the entire classes will be on one dock with railings to allow better safety supervision
- Classes not on tot docks will be have swimmers spaced 1 foot apart on the wall or closer to allow better safety supervision
- Instructors will be in the water and making contact with swimmers
- Staff may choose to continue to wear a mask or face shield
- Preschool classes may have up to 5 swimmers
- Swimmer 1 to 4 classes may have up to 6 swimmers
- Swimmer 5 to 10 classes may have up to 8 swimmers
Updated May 30, 2022
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Aquatic summer camps
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Registration
- Programs are open for registration
- Register online, or call 519-832-2008 ext. 131
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Swimming lessons
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Summer lessons and aquatic programs
View program guide
Registration
- Programs are open for registration
- Register online, or call 519-832-2008 ext. 131
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
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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
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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.
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Swimmer levels
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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.
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| 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. |
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Pool schedule
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| Visit our pool page for the recreational pool schedule. |
Lifesaving Sport (Saugeen Shores Lifesaving Club)
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Lifesaving Sport programs for spring and summer are open for viewing online for registration. Refer to the aquatic program schedule for dates, times and more information. If you're new to Sport or are unsure what level to register for, contact us before registering by phone at 519-832-2627 or by email.
Program descriptions
| Competitive squad, 14 years and older |
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Athletes can register for the morning session or evening session or both if they are looking to train 2 times a day. This program is for young athletes ready to commit to training on a regular basis. Athletes will be swimming 12 to 15 km per week and focusing on getting stronger and faster in both their swimming, running and transitions.
Athletes must be 13 years of age with a Bronze Medallion. Please talk to the chat Head Coach to see if you should register in this level or the Junior squad.
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| Junior squad, ages 12 to 16 years |
| Athletes can register for the morning session or evening session or both if they are looking to train times a day. Athletes must be able to swim 300m with proper front crawl nonstop and tread water for 5 minutes. Athletes will be challenged to improve their training and improve their race results. Coaches, parents and athletes should have a conversation prior to registration. |
| Surfers, ages 9 to 13 years |
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Athletes must be able to swim 100m (4 lengths of the Centennial Pool) with proper front crawl nonstop and tread water for 2 minutes. To enter this level, athletes that are 9 and 10 years of age and parents should have a conversation with the Coaches prior to registration.
Please sign up for only 1 session at this time (July or August) to ensure everyone gets a spot. If individuals in session 1 are interested in doing both sessions, please wait until July 11th to register for session two.
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| Sea Horses, ages 8 to 12 years |
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Athletes must have passed Swimmer 6 or higher. They will be working with coaches improving their endurance in running and swimming as well as improving their boarding technique. Athletes must be comfortable swimming 50m nonstop and treading water for 30 seconds. No previous Lifesaving Sport training needed.
Please sign up for only 1 session at this time (July or August) to ensure everyone gets a spot. If individuals in session 1 are interested in doing both sessions, please wait until July 19th to register for session two.
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| Minnows, ages 7 to 10 years |
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Athletes have passed Swimmer 4 or higher.
This program is a great way to try out Lifesaving Sport and start your training with the Saugeen Shores Lifesaving Club (SSLC). Athletes will be working with coaches improving their endurance in running and swimming. Athletes must be comfortable swimming 25m nonstop and treading water for 30 seconds. No previous Lifesaving Sport training needed.
Each minnow must have a guardian 16 years or older that is comfortable in water at chest height and being in the water each class, for the duration of the class.
Please sign up for only 1 session at this time (July or August) to ensure everyone gets a spot. If individuals in session 1 are interested in doing both sessions, please wait until July 19th to register for session two.
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| Sea Monsters, ages 5 and 6 years |
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Swimmers will learn the dangers of water, staying safe around open water and becoming more comfortable playing in the lake. They'll be getting their heads wet, running through waves and playing on paddle boards.
Each sea monster must have a guardian 16 years or older that is comfortable in water at chest height and being in the water each class, for the duration of the class.
Please sign up for only 1 session at this time (July or August) to ensure everyone gets a spot. If individuals in session 1 are interested in doing both sessions, please wait until July 19th to register for session two.
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Mini-Breakers and Master's Swim Team
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We have partnered up with the Breakers Swim Team on two great programs for youth and adults with an interest in competitive swimming. Visit our online registration page for more information.
| Mini-Breakers: Learn to Swim like a Breaker |
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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.
The spring session is open for registration. View spring aquatic program schedule for information.
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| Master's swim team |
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This new competitive training focused Masters swim program is designed and coached by the Breakers Swim certified Swim Ontario coaches.
The program is for adult swimmers 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.
The spring session is open for registration. View spring aquatic program schedule for information
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Land-based camps and PA day programs
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Visit our registration page to learn more about our land-based programs.
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Advanced aquatics courses
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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
Spring and summer courses are open for registration. View the aquatic program schedules or our online registration portal for course dates, times and fees.
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.
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| Lifesaving Assistant Instructors |
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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.
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| Lifesaving Swim Instructors |
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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.
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| NL Pool (National Lifeguard) |
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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.
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Training path to become a Lifeguard Instructor
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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.
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