Aquatics

Parent-Child Swim Lessons

Ages 6 months-3 years

Age Description: American Red Cross Parent and Child Aquatics is designed for children ages 6 months and approximately 3 years and their parents. The purpose of the course is to familiarize children with the water and teach swimming readiness skills. In addition, Red Cross Parent and Child Aquatics provides safety information for parents and teaches them techniques to help orient their children to the water.

This class introduces basic skills to parents and children. Parents learn how to safely work with their child in the water, including how to support and hold them in the water appropriately and how to prepare and encourage them to participate fully and try the skills. Children are introduced to basic skills that lay a foundation for learning to swim. In addition, parents are introduced to several water safety topics.

Preschool Swim Lessons

Ages 2.5-5

Age Description: American Red Cross Preschool is designed for children approximately 2.5 to 5 years of age. The purpose of the course is to facilitate developmentally appropriate learning of fundamental water safety and aquatic skills.

Preschool Level 1: Preschool Level 1 introduces basic aquatic skills, which children continue to build on as they progress through Preschool Levels 2 and 3 and then Learn-to-Swim. In addition, children start developing positive attitudes and safe practices around the water in Preschool Level 1.

Preschool Level 2: The objectives of Preschool Level 2 are to develop basic aquatic skills further. Children begin to perform these skills at a slightly more advanced level (for example, for longer lengths of time, for longer distances, or in deeper water). Many skills in Preschool Level 1 are performed with assistance. Preschool Level 2 marks the beginning of independent aquatic locomotion skills. Children continue to explore using simultaneous and alternating arm and leg actions on the front and back to gain greater proficiency in preparation for performing strokes. Preschool Level 2 also builds on the water safety topics introduced in Preschool Level 1.

Preschool Level 3: The objective of Preschool Level 3 is to increase children’s proficiency in performing previously learned skills. This is accomplished by providing additional guided practice and increasing repetitions, distances, times, or levels of refinement. The skills in Preschool Level 3 are performed independently. Children improve their coordination and control of combined simultaneous arm and leg actions and alternating arm and leg actions. New water safety topics are introduced, and previously acquired water safety knowledge and skills are reinforced. Once swimmers have passed this level, they can continue enrolling in Preschool Level 3 or Youth Level 2 or 3, depending on comfortability with deeper areas of the pool at age 5.

Youth Swim Lessons

Ages 6-12 and 5-year-olds who have passed Preschool Level 3

Age Description: The objectives of the American Red Cross Learn-to-Swim courses are to teach children and young teens to be safe in, on, and around the water and to swim well. Aquatic and personal water safety skills are taught logically through six levels. Participants in Level 1 are oriented to the aquatic environment and gain some basic skills in each category. As they progress through the levels, participants build on their basic skills to learn and refine various propulsive movements on the front, back, and side. On successful completion of Level 3, participants have achieved basic water competency in a pool environment. By the end of Level 6, participants have the prerequisite skills and have developed the necessary skill and fitness levels for entrance into advanced courses, such as Water Safety Instructor and Lifeguarding, or other aquatic activities, such as competitive swimming and diving.

Youth Level 1 Introduction to Water Skills: Level 1 introduces basic aquatic skills, which participants continue to build on as they progress through Learn-to-Swim. In addition, participants start developing positive attitudes, effective swimming habits, and safe practices in and around the water. Learn-to-Swim Level 1 skills overlap with the Preschool Level 1 and 2 skills.

Youth Level 2 Fundamental Aquatic Skills: The objective of Learn-to-Swim Level 2 is to give participants success with fundamental skills. Many of the skills taught in this level are the same as those taught in Preschool Level 3. This level marks the beginning of true locomotion skills. Participants learn to glide and float without support and recover to a vertical position. Participants further develop simultaneous and alternating arm and leg actions on the front and back, laying the foundation for future strokes. New water safety topics are introduced, and previously acquired water safety knowledge and skills are reinforced.

Youth Level 3 Stroke Development: The objectives of Learn-to-Swim Level 3 are to expand proficiency of previously learned skills by providing additional guided practice. Participants learn and practice survival floating and learn to swim front crawl and elementary backstroke at rudimentary proficiency levels. You introduce the scissors and dolphin kicks and extend the duration for treading water. Participants also learn rules for headfirst entries and begin to learn to enter the water headfirst from a seated position at the poolside. As in all levels, new and previously addressed water safety topics are included. Participants who successfully complete Level 3 have achieved basic water competency in a pool environment.

Youth Level 4 Stroke Improvement: In Learn-to-Swim Level 4, participants improve their aquatic skills and increase their endurance by swimming the strokes learned in Level 3 (i.e., front crawl, elementary backstroke) for greater distances and with more advanced proficiency. Participants add arm actions to the previously learned scissors kick and breaststroke kick to perform the rudimentary sidestroke and to learn the breaststroke. Participants also begin to learn the back crawl and butterfly and the basics of performing a simple open turn at a wall.

Youth Level 5 Stroke Refinement: In Level 5, participants refine their performance of all six strokes (i.e., front crawl, back crawl, butterfly, breaststroke, elementary backstroke, and sidestroke) and increase the distances that they swim. Participants also learn to perform flip turns on the front and back.

Youth Level 6 Swimming and Skill Proficiency: This level aims to refine strokes so participants swim them more efficiently and effectively over longer distances. Level 6 offers three options to meet specific needs and interests: Personal Water Safety, Fundamentals of Diving, and Fitness Swimmer. These options focus on preparing participants for more advanced courses, such as the Water Safety Instructor course, or other aquatic activities, such as competitive swimming or diving.

Teen Swim Lessons

Ages 13-17

Age Description: These courses are for teenagers who are not yet old enough to participate in adult classes but wish to improve their knowledge of, and skill in, the water. We offer three options to meet specific needs and interests: Learning the Basics, Improving Skills and Swimming Strokes, and Swimming for Fitness.

Adult Swim Lessons

Ages 18+

Age Description: The American Red Cross Adult Swim courses are intended for older teens and adults wishing to improve their knowledge of and skills in the water. Adult Swim offers three options to meet specific needs and interests: Learning the Basics, Improving Skills and Swimming Strokes, and Swimming for Fitness.

Adult Swim – Learning the Basics: This class is designed to help participants gain basic aquatic skills and swimming strokes, including the front crawl, breaststroke, and elementary backstroke. Participants also learn skills and concepts needed to stay safe around water, in addition to those needed to help themselves or others in an aquatic emergency.

Adult Swim – Improving Skills and Swimming Strokes: This class seeks to improve participants’ proficiency in basic aquatic skills (including rotary breathing, surface dives, and treading) and the six basic swimming strokes (i.e., front crawl, back crawl, butterfly, breaststroke, elementary backstroke, and sidestroke). (The butterfly stroke is optional.) Participants also learn skills and concepts needed to stay safe around water, in addition to those needed to help themselves or others in an aquatic emergency.

Adult Swim – Swimming for Fitness: This class focuses on refining the participant’s front crawl, back crawl, and breaststroke strokes and turns and building endurance. (The butterfly stroke and turn are optional.) Participants also learn skills and concepts needed to stay safe around water.

Swim Lessons Frequently Asked Questions

When should I register?

Classes fill extremely quickly. Plan to register for class on the third Wednesday of the month at 10 am for the next session.

What level should my child be in?

Our program is divided into age groups. Ages 0-3, enroll in parent-child. Ages 2.5-5 can enroll in Preschool Level 1, 2, or 3. Preschool Level 1 is for beginners and non-swimmers. Preschool Level 2 is for the intermediate swimmer who feels comfortable back floating, swimming, and submerging with assistance. Preschool Level 3 is for advanced swimmers who are comfortable or close to independence while back floating, swimming, and submerging. Once swimmers have passed Preschool Level 3 or are independent swimmers, they can also enroll in Youth Level 2 or 3, depending on their comfort with deeper water. Ages 6-12 will enroll in Youth Levels 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6. Level 1 is for beginners and non-swimmers. Level 2 is for swimmers who feel comfortable back floating, swimming, and submerging with assistance. Level 3 is for swimmers who can swim 5-10 yards on their front and back. Swimmers will begin to work on front crawl, breaststroke, elementary backstroke, and sidestroke. Level 4 is for swimmers who can swim with their face in the water for front crawl and swim breaststroke, elementary backstroke, and sidestroke without assistance. They begin to work on backstroke and butterfly. Level 5 is for swimmers who have mastered rotary breathing and can swim backstroke and butterfly without assistance. Level 6 has three different class options. Fitness Swimmer is intended for swimmers who are looking to increase endurance and be able to work out independently. This class works on reading a pace clock and recording heart rate. Personal Water Safety is intended for swimmers looking to learn more about safety in, on, and around the water. This class works on simple rescues and assists. Fundamentals of Diving is intended for swimmers who want to learn the basics of diving. This class works on safe entries and one and two-part take-offs.

What should my child wear to class?

Swimmers should wear a swimsuit that is comfortable for them. Goggles are recommended for all classes but are not required. Swim caps are allowed but not required.

Can parents stay to watch?

Parents and families are welcome to watch all lessons and programs but must remain in designated areas.

How long will my child be at this level?

Swimming is a progressive sport with multiple areas of focus. The skills for each level build on the fundamentals from the level prior. For this reason, it is normal for an athlete to remain at the same level for multiple sessions.

What happens if my child misses a class?

Due to ratio restrictions and full programs, we are unable to offer make-ups for missed classes. Please plan to attend all registered classes.

• Children under the age of 3 are required to wear a swim diaper and/or tight-fitting plastic pants under their swimsuits. (No regular diapers allowed in pools)
• Children ages 5 and under must be accompanied into the water by an adult (18+) within arm’s reach.
• Children 6-9 years must be appropriately supervised by an adult in the pool area. Children age 10 and older may swim without adult supervision.
• Non-swimmers of any age must be supervised by an adult.
• Children 6 and older must use gender-appropriate locker rooms.
• Portions of all pools may be closed periodically for swim lessons or special events.
• Please note that a full head and body shower must be taken before entering the pool.
• No refunds for inclement weather. Please note the weather prior to paying for daily admission.
• As a reminder, there is no open swim during swim lesson times. Non-swim lesson participants are not allowed in the water during swim lessons.

Drop-in Aqua Classes

Search for Drop-in Aqua Classes

• Aqua Combo
• Aqua Fusion
• Deep Water Boot Camp
• Wet and Wild

Fee-Based Aqua Classes

Search and Register for Fee-Based Aqua Classes

• BOGAFit

For more information, contact Tehra Porterfield at 720.898.3412 or [email protected].

The Masters Swimming Workouts Program promotes a fun, healthy, and social environment for swimmers interested in swimming for fitness, participating in triathlons, and adult competitive swimming. Participants must be 18 years of age or older and should possess intermediate to advanced swimming skills. To receive the resident discount rate, participants must be an Apex PRD residents.

Swimmers must have a Masters Swimming pass or pay the drop-in fee. No reservations are required. Check in when you arrive.

Master Swim Times

• Monday-Friday: 5:30-7 am
• Saturday: 6-7:30 am

Location

Arvada Aquatics Center

Masters Annual Pass

• Daily Drop-in: Res. $15 (non-res. $19.50)
• Masters Annual Pass: Res. $480 (non-res. $577)
• Masters Senior Pass: Res. $400 (non-res. $460)
• Masters Annual Plus: Res. $500 (non-res. $650)
• Masters 20 Punch Card: Res. $185 (non-res. $240)

Masters Annual Plus includes Master practices and open lap swimming at AAC and the summer outdoor pools.

To compete with US Masters Swimming, please register on the US Masters Swimming website. Although competing is fun, you do not have to hold a membership to swim with our team.

North Jeffco Swim Team

Visit the North Jeffco Swim Team website or call 303.887.5467.

Mile High Dive Club

Call 303.871.0754 or visit the Mile High Dive Club website.

Meadowglen Swim Club

Call 720.937.0873

The Colorado Association of Recreational Athletics (CARA) swim team is designed as a strong recreational program for non-ranked, non-sanctioned participants. Swimmers participate in two practices per week.

Swimmers who are interested in participating in the CARA swim team must be able to complete the following:

• 25 yards of front crawl and back crawl
• Basic understanding of breaststroke and butterfly

Contact Marco Borghi at 303.463.4252 or [email protected] for more information.

Aquanauts swim twice weekly, Monday and Wednesday, 6:30-7:30 pm at the Apex Center. Registration is seasonal. The October-December season is open for registration.

Register for Basic Life Support

Health and Safety Institute (HSI) Basic Life Support (BLS) is a 5-hour class designed for healthcare providers and other public safety professionals working in a wide variety of occupational settings - in and out of the hospital - and individuals enrolled in healthcare and public safety career training programs.

HSI BLS has been approved by the HSI Medical Advisory Board and reviewed by the HSI Advisory Council.

HSI BLS is an approved provider of continued education hours for Emergency Medical Services (CAPCE) and Dental Professionals (AGD/PACE).

This two-year certification covers adult, child, and infant CPR AED alone and working in a team.