Swimming Programs
The Grimsby Lions Community Pool (GLCP) offers a variety of programs for people of all ages to learn to swim, become a lifeguard, and enjoy recreational and fitness swimming. Registration for all swim programs can be done on the online registration portal.
Quick Links
Swimming Lesson Schedule
Register Online
Important Information - Changes to our Swimming Lesson Program
The Canadian Red Cross has recently announced it is winding down its Swimming & Water Safety and
Lifeguard training to focus on surging humanitarian demands in other areas. As a result, beginning this
Summer, The Town of Grimsby is shifting all swimming lessons to the Lifesaving Society’s Swim for Life
Program.
Please review the equivalency chart below to determine the appropriate lesson for registration Details about each class are also available below. If you have any questions about the appropriate class for you or your child, please contact the recreation office & 905-945-1288 or recreation@grimsby.ca.
Equivalency Chart
Swimming Lessons Descriptions
Please review the descriptions below for details on our lessons and to find the best fit for your child.
| Parent & Tot Lessons (0-3 years) |
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Spend quality time with your child while you both have fun and learn and socialize. Through structured in-water interaction between parent and child, we stress the importance of play in developing water-positive attitudes and skills.
Full Parent and Tot Program Details
| Parent and Tot 1 (4-12 months) |
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Designed for the 4 to 12-month-old to learn to enjoy the water with the parent.
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| Parent and Tot 2 (12-24 months) |
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Designed for the 12 to 24-month-old to learn to enjoy the water with the parent.
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| Parent and Tot 3 (2-3 years) |
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Designed for the 2 to 3-year-old to learn to enjoy the water with the parent.
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| Preschool Lessons (3-5 years) |
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In our basic aquatic progressions we work to ensure 3 to 5-year olds become comfortable in the water and have fun acquiring and developing a foundation of water skills. We incorporate Lifesaving Society Water Smart education in all Preschool levels.
Full Preschool Lesson Details
| Preschool 1 |
| We encourage the parent to participate until their child lets them know they can do it themselves (thank you very much). These preschoolers will have fun learning to get in and out of the water. We'll help them jump into chest deep water. They'll float and glide on their front and back and learn to get their faces wet and blow bubbles underwater. |
| Preschool 2 |
| These preschoolers learn to jump into chest-deep water by themselves, and get in and get out wearing a lifejacket. They'll submerge and exhale underwater. Wearing a lifejacket they'll glide on their front and back. |
| Preschool 3 |
| These youngsters will try both jumping and a sideways entry into deep water while wearing a lifejacket. They'll recover objects from the bottom in waist-deep water. They'll work on kicking and gliding through the water on their front and back. |
| Preschool 4 |
| Advanced preschoolers will learn to do solo jumps into deeper water and get out by themselves. They'll do sideways entries and open their eyes underwater. They'll master a short swim on their front wearing a lifejacket and gliding and kicking on their side. |
| Preschool 5 |
| These youngsters get more adventuresome with a forward roll entry wearing a lifejacket and treading water for 10 sec. They'll work on front and back crawl swims for 5 m, interval training and get a giggle out of whip kick. |
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| Swimmer Lessons (5+) |
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The Lifesaving Society's 6-level Swimmer program makes sure your children learn how to swim before they get in too deep. Swimmer progressions accommodate children 5 years and older including absolute beginners as well as swimmers who want to build on the basics.
Full Swimmer Lesson Details
| Swimmer 1 |
| These beginners will become comfortable jumping into water with and without a lifejacket. They'll learn to open their eyes, exhale and hold their breath underwater. They'll work on floats, glides and kicking through the water on their front and back. |
| Swimmer 2 |
| These advanced beginners will jump into deeper water, and learn to be comfortable falling sideways into the water wearing a lifejacket. They'll be able to support themselves at the surface without an aid, learn whip kick, swim 10 m on their front and back, and be introduced to flutter kick interval training (4 x 5 m). |
| Swimmer 3 |
| These junior swimmers will dive and do in-water front somersaults and handstands. They'll work on 15 m of front crawl, back crawl and 10 m of whip kick. Flutter kick interval training increases to 4 x 15 m. |
| Swimmer 4 |
| These intermediate swimmers will swim 5 m underwater and lengths of front, back crawl, whip kick, and breaststroke arms with breathing. Their new bag of tricks includes the completion of the Canadian Swim to Survive® Standard. They'll cap it all off with front crawl sprints over 25 m and 4 x 25 m front or back crawl interval training. |
| Swimmer 5 |
| These swimmers will master shallow dives, cannonball entries, eggbeater kicks, and in-water backward somersaults. They'll refine their front and back crawl over 50 m swims of each, and breaststroke over 25 m. Then they'll pick up the pace in 25 m sprints and two interval training bouts: 4 x 50 m front or back crawl; and 4 x 15 m breaststroke. |
| Swimmer 6 |
| These advanced swimmers will rise to the challenge of sophisticated aquatic skills including stride entries, compact jumps and lifesaving kicks like eggbeater and scissor kick. They'll develop strength and power in head-up breaststroke sprints over 25 m. They'll easily swim lengths of front crawl, back crawl, and breaststroke, and they'll complain about the 300 m workout. |
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| Adult Swimmer |
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Whether you're just starting out or just want help with your strokes, our Adult program is for the young at heart - no matter what your age. Set your own goals. Work with certified instructors to learn to swim, or improve your current swimming ability and water fitness. You won't be going to the Olympics, but you'll develop water confidence and smooth recognizable strokes good enough for lane swimming and fit enough for the beach. We incorporate Lifesaving Society Water Smart® education in all Adult levels.
Full Adult Swimmer Details
| Adult Swimmer 1 |
| You'll work towards a 10-15 m swim on your front and back. You'll do jump entries from the side and recover an object from the bottom in chest-deep water. Improve your fitness and your flutter kick with 4 x 9-12 m interval training. |
| Adult Swimmer 2 |
| Kick it up a notch working on two interval training workouts of 4 x 25 m kicking and front or back crawl. You'll be able to perform dive entries and demonstrate breaststroke arms and breathing over 10-15 m. You'll be supporting yourself at the surface for 1-2 minutes, and showing off your handstands in shallow water. |
| Adult Swimmer 3 |
| No sweat (or at least none anyone can see). You'll learn eggbeater, stride entries and compact jumps. You'll be doing a 300 m workout and sprinting 25-50 m. You'll master your front crawl, back crawl and breaststroke. Whew! |
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| Canadian Swim Patrol |
The Canadian Swim Patrol program is the on-ramp to lifeguarding. Ability is the only prerequisite.
The Swim Patrol provides enriched training for those who are ready to go beyond learn-to-swim. Swim Patrol's three levels - Rookie, Ranger, and Star - continue to develop participants' swim strokes and provide the skill foundation that prepares them for success in the Society's Bronze medal awards.
| Rookie Patrol |
| Swimmers continue stroke development with 50 m swims of front crawl, back crawl and breaststroke. Lifesaving Sport skills include a 25 m obstacle swim and 15 m object carry. First aid focuses on assessment of conscious victims, contacting EMS and treatment for bleeding. Fitness improves in 350 m workouts and 100 m timed swims. |
| Ranger Patrol |
| Swimmers develop better strokes over 75 m swims of each stroke. They tackle Lifesaving Sport skills in a lifesaving medley, timed object support and rescue with a buoyant aid. First aid focuses on assessment of unconscious victims, treatment of victims in shock and obstructed airway procedures. Skill drills develop a strong lifesaving foundation. |
| Star Patrol |
| Swimmers are challenged with 600 m workouts, 300 m timed swims and a 25 m object carry. Strokes are refined over 100 m swims. First aid focuses on treatment of bone or joint injuries and respiratory emergencies including asthma and allergic reactions. Lifesaving skills include defence methods, victim removals and rolling over and supporting a victim face up in shallow water |
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| Becoming a Lifeguard |
| Visit our becoming a lifeguard page. |
| Lifesaving Fitness Award (under 30 years or with medical approval) |
| Teaches the importance of physical fitness in lifesaving. The award is designed for participants of all ages who learn how to measure, monitor, and maintain personal physical fitness for lifesaving emergencies. |
