Splashers is a great way to introduce babies 3-18 months old to the water. Parents get in on the fun by participating with their children.

At this early stage, children are still learning a lot about their environment. The goal of Splashers is to make children and parents comfortable in the water together, and to learn to splash with arms and legs!

Bubblers is for children 18 months – 3 years old. We work with you to introduce your child to new movements in the water, including holding the wall, kicking feet, and blowing bubbles. Parents get in on the fun by participating with their children. Bubblers is led by a certified YMCA Swim Instructor who knows how to create a fun, stimulating environment for you and your little one, encouraging bonding and skill development in the water.

In Bobbers we introduce your child to fun activities in the water to activate the movements that will eventually lead to swimming. By the end of Bobbers, your child will be comfortable having their face in the water and will have learned basic movements and floating while being supported.

Floaters is for children 3-5 years old who have completed Bobbers or an equivalent level of lessons. In Floaters, we introduce floating and gliding unassisted and continue to practice other movements. Through structured activities and play, children will become comfortable submerging themselves under water.

Gliders is for children who are 3-5 years old and have completed Floaters or show an equivalent level of competence. In Gliders children will combine kicking with gliding to learn how to propel themselves through the water. Swimmers will be introduced to deep water skills and swimming on their front and back for five metres.

Divers is for children who are 3-5 years old and have completed Gliders or show an equivalent level of skill. In Divers, children will combine all the skills they have learned so far to swim on their front and back unaided for a distance of 10 metres. Your child will also learn to jump into and float in deep water unassisted.

Surfers is for children 3-5 years old who have completed Divers or show an equivalent level of competence. In Surfers, we’ll continue to help your child develop front and back swimming skills and build up to a distance of 15 metres. Your child will learn a variety of water safety skills as well as surface support in deep water for 30 seconds. And now that your child is comfortable jumping into the water, we’ll work on some creative, fun entries. Ker-splash!

Jumpers is the final level for children who are 3-5 years old and have completed Surfers or show an equivalent skill level. In Jumpers, we’ll introduce the front and back crawl as well as underwater swimming. Children at this level will have achieved a foundation of swimming skills and be able to front swim a distance of 25 metres. Children will also learn more deep-water skills, and be taught how to rescue others.

An introductory level for beginner swimmers aged 6-12 years old, Otter will teach your child the basics of pool safety, going underwater, and gliding on their front and back. The first of four levels in our national YMCA Learn to Swim program, Otter teaches your child how to stay safe in the water and to develop their swimming skills. During these classes, your child will also select from an optional list of skills to learn during the session.

Seal is for children 6-12 years old who have completed Otter or have equivalent skills. In this level they will further develop the skills of gliding, kicking, and submerging. The second of four levels in our national YMCA Learn to Swim program, Seal teaches your child how to stay safe in the water and to develop their swimming skills. During this these classes, children will also select from an optional list of skills to learn during the session.

Dolphin is for children 6-12 years old who have completed Seal or who demonstrate an equivalent skill set. Your child will be introduced to swimming on their front, back, and underwater.
The third of four levels in our national YMCA Learn to Swim program, Dolphin teaches kids how to stay safe in the water and to develop their swimming skills. During these classes, your child will also select from an optional list of skills to learn during the session.

Swimmer is for children 6-12 years old who have completed Dolphin or have equivalent skills. In this class, kids will learn front and back crawl, and how to tread water. The last level in our national YMCA Learn to Swim program, Swimmer teaches children how to stay safe in the water and to develop their swimming skills. Children at this level will have achieved a solid foundation of swimming skills and be able to front swim for a distance of 25 metres.

Star 1 is for children 6-12 years old who have completed the Swimmer level in our Learn to Swim program. In this class, kids will learn to use the whip kick on their back and the egg-beater motion for treading water. We will help your child continue to develop front and back crawl technique and endurance.

As the first level of our YMCA Star Program, we also introduce your child to other aspects of swimming. Kids select which new skills they would like to learn from a list that includes competitive swimming, lifesaving, synchronized swimming, aquatic fitness, and water polo.

Star 2 is for children 6-12 years old who have completed Star 1 or show an equivalent skill level. At this level we focus on the backstroke, and continue to help kids refine their stroke technique and increase their endurance.

In this second level of our YMCA Star Program, we continue to encourage your child to build on the optional skills they selected in Star 1. Your child may choose to try something new, or continue to focus on one area — the choice is theirs! Optional skills include competitive swimming, lifesaving, synchronized swimming, aquatic fitness, and water polo.

Star 3 is for children 6-12 years old who have completed Star 2 or who show an equivalent skill level. In this level your child will focus on the breaststroke and egg-beater motion for treading water, while continuing to build endurance in the pool. We will also introduce young swimmers to introductory lifesaving concepts.

Building on the optional skills learned in Star 2, kids will select from a new set of skills they would like to learn. They may choose to try something new or focus in on one area — the choice is theirs! Skills include competitive swimming, lifesaving, synchronized swimming, aquatic fitness, and water polo.

Star 4 is for children 6-12 years old who have completed Star 3 or who show an equivalent skill level. In this level we will help your child focus on the sidestroke, and we will continue to introduce lifesaving skills.

Your child will also continue to explore other interests in the pool by selecting more optional skills to learn. They may choose to try something new or focus in on one area — the choice is theirs! Options include competitive swimming, lifesaving, synchronized swimming, aquatic fitness, or water polo.

Star 5 is for children 10 years and older who have completed Star 4 or who show an equivalent skill level. We will introduce the butterfly stroke along with lifesaving and first aid elements from the Rookie and Ranger levels of the Canadian Swim Patrol program. Swimmers will also have the opportunity to continue to develop advanced aquatics skills by selecting from a range of options: advanced strokes, water polo, synchronized swimming, or aquatic fitness.

Star 6 is for children 10 years and older who have completed Star 5 or show an equivalent skill level. Swimmers will continue to develop lifesaving and first aid skills at the Ranger and Star level of the Canadian Swim Patrol program. They will also begin to learn how to teach others to swim.

Star 6 encourages your child to take responsibility for their own learning outcomes by selecting optional skills to learn, including advanced strokes, water polo, synchronized swimming, or aquatic fitness.