Swimming Program - Skill Levels

All campers participate in swim lessons taught by our swim staff (Lifeguard certified) for beginner through advanced levels based on the American Red Cross Swim Program. On the first day of camp, swim staff evaluate all campers and divide them into swim groups based on ability. Below you’ll find details on our Pre-K & Kindergarten – Learn To Swim, Beginner-Advanced Swim Lessons (Levels 1-6), and Teen Swim Clinics.

Pre-K & Kindergarten - Learn to Swim

This Learn to Swim program gives campers ages 4-6 a positive and safe learning experience. Lessons are age-appropriate, designed to teach young campers introductory swim skills with their camper group.

Individualized instruction both one-on-one and in small groups help campers gain confidence and basic swim skills to be water safe. Our instructors utilize a variety of games and water activities to teach basic swim skills and make swimming fun. Our goal is to get campers ready to successfully participate in our swim lesson program for beginners.

Pre-K & K Level 1: Water readiness

Helps young children feel comfortable in the water and to enjoy the water safely.

Enter and exit water using ladder, steps or side
Alternating and simultaneous arm actions on front & back
Blowing bubbles through mouth and nose
Combined arm and leg actions on front & back
Submerging mouth, nose and eyes
Open eyes under water and retrieve submerged objects
Front glide and recover to a vertical position
Back float and recover to a vertical position
Roll from front to back and back to front
Treading with arm and hand actions
Alternating and simultaneous leg actions on front & back

Safety Skills

Staying safe around aquatic environments
Too much sun is no fun
How to call for help
Recognizing an emergency
Recognizing the lifeguards

Pre-K & K Level 2: Learn to Swim

Builds on skills learned in Level 1 and gives younger children success with fundamental skills such as floating and basic locomotion.

Enter water by stepping in
Combined arm and leg actions on front and back
Exit water using ladder, steps or side
Finning arm action on back
Bobbing
Open eyes under water and retrieve submerged objects
Front and back floats and glides
Recover from a front and back float or glide to a vertical position
Roll from front to back and back to front
Tread water using arm and leg actions

Safety Skills

Too much sun is no fun
Staying safe around aquatic environments
Recognizing the lifeguards
Recognizing an emergency
How to call for help

Pre-K & K Level 3: Learn to Swim

Builds on the skills in Level 2 and improves younger children’s coordination of simultaneous arm and leg actions and alternating arm and leg actions.

Enter water by jumping in
Finning arm action on back
Fully submerging and holding breath
Bobbing
Front, jellyfish and tuck floats
Back float and glide
Recover from a front and back float or glide to a vertical position
Change direction of travel while swimming on front or back
Tread water using arm and leg actions
Combined arm and leg actions on front and back

Safety Skills

Think so you don’t sink
Look before you leap
Staying safe around aquatic environments
Recognizing an emergency
Too much sun is no fun
How to call for help

Beginner-Advanced Swim Lessons (Skill Levels 1-6)

For campers 1st-6th grades, we teach beginner through advanced swim lessons based on the American Red Cross swim program. This is a comprehensive, developmentally appropriate swimming and water safety program that teaches your child how to both swim skillfully and safely, and think and act safely in, on and around the water. Based on a six-level progression, it allows campers to practice and master the basics before moving on to more advanced skills. Instructors use a variety of games and water activities to make learning fun and a positive experience.

Level 1: Introduction to Water Skills

Campers need no prior skills or swim experience. Individualized instruction both one-on-one and in small groups help campers to gain confidence and basic swim skills to be water safe. Campers are encouraged to learn at their own pace in order to become comfortable in the water.

Skills:

Enter water using ladder or side
Exit water using ladder or side
Blowing bubbles through mouth and nose, 3 seconds
Bobbing, 3 times
Front glide, 2 body lengths
Back glide, 2 body lengths
Back float, 3 seconds
Roll from front to back
Roll from back to front
Treading using arm and hand actions (in chest-deep water)
Kicking on the wall, front and back
Combined arm and leg actions on front, with assistance
Combined arm and leg actions on back, with assistance

Safety Skills:

Staying safe around aquatic environments
Recognizing the lifeguards
How to call for help

Starfish Award: Campers who successfully complete the following earn the Starfish Award and move onto the next level:

Putting Head Underwater: The camper confidently enters the pool and fully immerses their head underwater without hesitation when instructed to do so.
Floating with Assistance: The camper demonstrates the ability to float on their front and back with assistance from a counselor, maintaining the float for at least 3 seconds.
Combined Arms and Legs: With assistance from a counselor, the camper propels themselves forward using combined arm and leg movements, covering a distance of at least two body lengths.
Wall Kicking: The camper holds onto the wall and confidently performs flutter kicks on both their front and back.

Level 2: Fundamental Aquatic Skills

Gives campers success with fundamental swim skills.

Skills:

Enter water by stepping or jumping from the side (in shoulder-deep water)
Exit water using ladder, steps or side (in chest-deep water)
Putting face underwater and holding breath, 5 seconds
Swim under water, 3-5 body lengths
Bobbing, 5 times (in chest-deep water)
Front float, 5 seconds
Jellyfish float, 5 seconds
Front glide, 2 body lengths
Back float, 15 seconds
Back glide, 2 body lengths
Roll from front to back
Roll from back to front
Change direction of travel while swimming on front or back
Treading using arm and leg actions, 15 seconds (in shoulder-deep water)
Combined arm and leg actions on front, 5 body lengths, independently
Combined arm and leg actions on back, 5 body lengths, independently

Safety Skills:

Staying safe around aquatic environments
Recognizing an emergency & lifeguards
How to call for help
Look Before You Leap

Super Seastar Award: Campers who successfully complete the following earn the Super Seastar Award and move onto the next level:

Front Glide: The camper confidently performs a front glide from the wall, traveling a distance of at least 2 body lengths.
Back Glide: The camper performs a back glide, maintaining a face-up position while gliding for at least 2 body lengths.
Underwater Swim: The camper swims underwater for a distance of 3 to 5 body lengths with strong breath control.
Treading Water: The camper demonstrates the ability to tread water independently for 15 seconds.
Combined Arm and Leg Action: The camper swims a distance of 5 body lengths, coordinating arms and legs without assistance.

Level 3: Stroke Development

Builds on the skills in Level 2 through additional guided practice in deeper waters.

Skills:

Enter water by jumping from the side (into deep water)
Headfirst entry from the side in a sitting position (in water at least 9 feet deep)
Headfirst entry from the side in a kneeling position (in water at least 9 feet deep)
Side breathing, 10 times
Independent back float, 30 seconds
Tread water, 30 seconds (in deep water)
Streamlined flutter kick, 3-5 body lengths
Streamlined dolphin kick, 3-5 body lengths
Freestyle, 15 yards
Elementary backstroke, 15 yards
Scissors kick, 10 yards

Safety Skills:

Staying safe around aquatic environments
Recognizing an emergency & lifeguards
How to call for help
Look Before You Leap

Butterfly Fish Award: Campers who successfully complete the following earn the Butterfly Fish Award and move onto the next level:

Back Float: The camper independently maintains a back float for 30 seconds, demonstrating confidence and balance.
Backstroke: The camper swims backstroke for a continuous distance of 15 yards, maintaining proper rhythm and body position.
Freestyle with Side Breathing: The camper performs freestyle for 15 yards, demonstrating consistent side breathing at least 10 strokes.
Streamlined Dolphin Kick: The camper performs a streamlined dolphin kick for a distance of 3 to 5 body lengths.

Level 4: Stroke Improvement

Develops confidence in the skills learned and improves other aquatic skills.

Skills:

Headfirst entry from the side in a compact position (in water at least 9 feet deep)
Headfirst entry from the side in a stride position (in water at least 9 feet deep)
Feet first surface dive, submerging completely
Survival swimming, 30 seconds (in deep water)
Freestyle open turn
Backstroke open turn
Tread water using 2 different kicks (modified scissors, modified breaststroke or rotary), 2 minutes
Freestyle, 25 yards
Breaststroke, 15 yards
Butterfly, 15 yards
Backstroke, 15 yards
Push off in a streamlined position on back and begin flutter kicking, 3-5 body lengths
Push off in a streamlined position on back and begin dolphin kicking, 3-5 body lengths

Safety Skills:

Staying safe around aquatic environments
Recognizing an emergency & lifeguards
How to call for help
Look Before You Leap
Reach or Throw, Don’t Go (reaching assist, throwing assist)

Yellow Tang Award: Campers who successfully complete the following earn the Yellow Tang Award and move onto the next level:

Freestyle: The camper swims freestyle for a continuous distance of 25 yards, showcasing strong arm strokes and consistent breathing.
Backstroke: The camper completes a 15-yard backstroke with proper technique and rhythm.
Butterfly: The camper swims butterfly for 15 yards, demonstrating coordination between arms, legs, and breathing.
Breaststroke: The camper performs breaststroke for 15 yards with proper timing, glide, and kick technique.
Freestyle with Open Turn: The camper completes freestyle for 25 yards, incorporating an open turn at the wall.

Level 5: Stoke Refinement

Provides further coordination and refinement of strokes.

Skills:

Tuck surface dive, completely underwater
Pike surface dive, completely underwater
Front flip turn while swimming
Backstroke flip turn while swimming
Tread water, 5 minutes
Freestyle, 50 yards
Breaststroke, 25 yards
Butterfly, 25 yards
Backstroke, 25 yards
Standard scull, 30 seconds

Safety Skills:

Staying safe around aquatic environments
Recognizing an emergency & lifeguards
How to call for help
Look Before You Leap
Reach or Throw, Don’t Go (reaching assist, throwing assist)

Barracuda Award: Campers who successfully complete the following earn the Barracuda Award and move onto the next level:

Freestyle: The camper swims freestyle for a distance of 50 yards, demonstrating closed turns, strong arm strokes, and consistent breathing.
Backstroke Flip Turn: The camper performs a backstroke flip turn, transitioning smoothly and maintaining proper rhythm.
Breaststroke: The camper completes a 25-yard breaststroke with proper timing, glide, and kick technique.
Butterfly: The camper swims butterfly for 25 yards, coordinating arms, legs, and breathing effectively.

Level 6: Advanced Swimming and Skill Proficiency

Refines the strokes so participants swim them with ease, efficiency, power and smoothness over greater distances. Level 6 is designed with options that focus on preparing campers for a lifetime of fitness & safety.

Skills:

Sunfish Award: Campers who successfully complete the following earn the Sunfish Award:

Freestyle: The camper swims freestyle for 100 yards, demonstrating strong technique, consistent side breathing, and effective closed turns.
Backstroke: The camper completes a 100-yard backstroke, incorporating closed turns and awareness of the stroke count from the flags to the wall.
Breaststroke: The camper performs breaststroke for 50 yards, maintaining proper timing, glide, kick, and turn technique.
Butterfly: The camper swims butterfly for 50 yards, showing coordination between arms, legs, breathing, and proper turn technique.

Level 6: Personal Water Safety

Skills:

HELP position, 2 minutes (in deep water)
Huddle position, 2 minutes (in deep water)
Feet first surface dive (in water at least 7-feet deep)
Tuck surface dive (in water at least 7-deep)
Pike surface dive (in water at least 7-feet deep)
Back float, 5 minutes (in deep water)
Survival float, 5 minutes (in deep water)
Survival swimming, 10 minutes
Treading water, kicking only, 2 minutes (in deep water)
Surface dive and retrieve an object from the bottom (in water at least 7-10 feet deep)

Safety Topics:

Staying safe around aquatic environments
Recognizing an emergency & lifeguards
How to call for help
Look Before You Leap
Reach or Throw, Don’t Go (reaching assist, throwing assist)

Level 6: Fundamentals of Diving

Skills:

Body alignment and control
Surface Dive
Dive from kneeling position from poolside/ diving board
Standing dive from poolside
Forward dive fall-in from diving board
Standing dive from diving board
One-part/Two-part takeoff on deck
One-part takeoff from poolside
One-part/Two-part takeoff from diving board
Tuck position
Pike position
Forward jump, pike position with one-part/two-part takeoff from diving board
Forward dive, pike position with one-part/two-part takeoff from diving board

Teen Swim Clinics

Campers 7th-10th grades participate in clinics for novice through advanced swimmers. They select 1-2 swim activities to specialize in each session, including water polo, diving, synchronized swimming, water rescue, stroke techniques, endurance building, and more. Each clinic incorporates swim fitness, endurance building and stroke techniques.

Fitness Swim Skills

Diving

Diving – Springboard

Basic diving techniques and positioning
Swan dive
Tuck dive
Racing dive
Pike Dive

Diving – High Dive

Pencil dive
Swan dive
Racing dive

Water Polo

Swimming Techniques / Endurance Building

Synchronized Swimming

Junior Lifeguard Training

Junior Lifeguard I

Stride jump entry
Feet first jump entry
Position for a rescue/tow
Rescue tube positioning
Wrist tow
Shallow water assist removal from water
HELP position, 2 minutes (in deep water)
Huddle position, 2 minutes (in deep water)
Feet first surface dive to recover a submerged victim
Treading water, kicking only, 2 minutes (in deep water)
Surface dive and retrieve an object from the bottom (in water at least 7-10 feet deep)
Backboard spinal injury (in shallow water)

Junior Lifeguard II

Underwater swimming to recover a submerged victim
Recovery of a submerged victim
Back float, 5 minutes (in deep water)
Survival float, 5 minutes (in deep water)
Survival swimming, 10 minutes
Feet first surface dive (in water at least 7-feet deep)
Tuck surface dive (in water at least 7-feet deep)
Pike surface dive (in water at least 7-feet deep)
Backboard spinal injury (in deep water)

Swimming Program - Skill Levels

Pre-K & Kindergarten - Learn to Swim

Beginner-Advanced Swim Lessons (Skill Levels 1-6)

Teen Swim Clinics

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