Aquatics

Parent & Tot Program Overview

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. We provide Lifesaving Society Water Smart® tips on keeping your child safe in any aquatic setting. Certified instructors provide guidance and answers to your questions. Because activities and progressions are based on child development, you register in the level appropriate for your child’s age.

• Parent & Tot 1 (4-12 months): With a caregiver the child will explore the water through buoyancy, movement skills, introduction to PFD’s and entries. Learn how to help your child play in water with comfort
  and confidence.
• Parent & Tot 2 (12-24 months): With a caregiver the child will perform assisted front and back floats, learn how to travel at the surface by kicking and introduction to entries with a PFD. This level teaches children to get their face wet and blow bubbles.
• Parent & Tot 3 (24-36 months): With a caregiver the child will have fun jumping into the water with assistance. They learn how to hold their breath and open their eyes under water. Kicking on front and back
  provide the building blocks for orientation and stroke development

Preschool Program Overview

Give your child a head start on learning to swim. The Lifesaving Society Preschool program develops an appreciation and healthy respect for the water before these kids get in too deep. 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.

• Preschool A (ages 3-5): 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 use floats and glide on their front and back, and learn to get their face wet and blow bubbles underwater. Caregiver optional.
• Preschool B (ages 3-5): 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. While wearing a lifejacket they’ll glide on their front and back.
• Preschool C (ages 3-5): 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

Swimmer Program Overview

The 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. We stress lots of in-water practice to develop solid swimming strokes and skills. We incorporate Lifesaving Society Water Smart® education in all Swimmer levels.

• Beginner (ages 6-8): This is an introductory class for children ages 6 to 8 with little or no experience in the water. Participants will learn head and face submersion: front/back and side swim (assisted). The swim instructor works to ensure that the participants become comfortable in the water and have fun developing a basic foundation of water skills.
• Swimmer 1 (6 years+): Swimmers become comfortable jumping into water with and without a PFD. They open their eyes, exhale and hold their breath underwater. They work on floats, glides and kicking on front and back.
• Swimmer 2 (6 years+): Advance beginners jump into deeper water and become comfortable falling sideways into the water wearing a PFD. Swimmers support themselves at the surface without an aid, recover an object in chest-deep water. Fitness swim in 10-15m. 
• Swimmer 3 (6 years+): Swimmers develop front and back crawl strokes, and explore whip kick in a vertical position. Swimmers tread water for up to 30 seconds and learn to transition from front to back flutter kick. Fitness swim in 20-15m.
• Swimmer 4 (6 years+): Swimmers work towards stride dives and standing dives into deep water. They improve the front crawl, backcrawl and whip kick. Swimmers are introduced to a 3m underwater swim. Fitness swim is 50m.
• Swimmer 5 (6 years+): Junior swimmers shallow dive into deep water and perform in-water back somersaults. They achieve the Canadian Swim to Survive Standard: roll into deep water, tread 1 minute and swim 50m. Swimmers continue to develop front and back crawl while breaststroke skills are introduced. Fitness swim is 100m.
• Swimmer 6 (6 years+): Intermediate swimmers increase efficiency in front crawl, back crawl, and work to develop breaststroke skills. They are introduced to stride entries, scissor kick and vertical dolphin kick. They also develop strength and power by performing front and back crawl sprints. Fitness swim is 150m.
• Swimmer 7 (6 years+): Intermediate swimmers master dolphin kick, diving and eggbeater. They are introduced to sculling and continue to maximize efficiency in front crawl, back crawl and breaststroke. Fitness Swim is 300m.
• Swimmer 8 (8 years+) Swimmers rise to the challenge of advanced aquatic skills including head and foot first surface dives and a 25m obstacle swim. First aid focuses on assessment of conscious victims, contacting EMS and treatment for bleeding. They swim lengths of front crawl, back crawl and breaststroke. Fitness swim is 350m.
• Swimmer 9 (8 years+): Swimmers continue stroke development with 75m swims of front crawl, back crawl and breaststroke. Lifesaving skills include a rescue with a buoyant aid. First aid focuses on assessment of unconscious victims, treatment of victims in shock and obstructed airway procedures. Fitness swim is 500m.
• Swimmer 10 (8 years+) Advanced swimmers develop each stroke over 100m. They also learn lifesaving skills such as entries with aids and removal of unconscious victims. First aid focuses on treatment of victim with bone and joint injuries and respiratory emergencies. Swimming drills develop a strong lifesaving foundation. Fitness swim is 600m.

Traditional Classes 

Semi-Private and Private Swimming Lessons

In the event that there is rain/thunderstorms during swimming lessons we will provide an alternative to in-water instruction.

For the younger levels, Instructors will go over water-smart messages (sun-smart, boat-smart, etc.) as well as activities that reinforce the water-smart messages. For older levels, Instructors will introduce some first-aid and CPR skills.

Cancellation and Refund Policy

• Refunds submitted after course/program has started will only be issued for medical reasons.
• No refunds will be granted after a course/program has been completed.
• A $10.00 administration fee will be charged on all refund applications, except those cancelled by the Recreation Department.
• Refunds/make-ups will not be issued for course/programs cancelled due to inclement weather.
• Cancellations made 31+: days prior to the course/program start-date will receive a full refund, less an administration fee of $10.00.
• Cancellations made within one month (30 days): prior to the course/program start-date will receive a 50% refund, less an administration fee of $10.00.
• Cancellations made within one week (7 days): prior to the course/program start-date will not be eligible to receive a refund.
• Medical related cancellations: A prorated refund will be issued for any remaining course/program, less an administration fee of $10.00, provided no more than 75% of the course/program is complete. A physician’s verification will be required in writing. The request must be made within five (5) working days of the situation.
• A full refund will be issued for a course/program cancelled by the Recreation Department. No administration fee will apply.

Note: Course/program status is decided 7 days prior to program start date. Your withdrawal may put the class below the minimum number required to operate.

Phone: 519.848.3620 x 4335
Email: recreation@wellington-north.com
Mailing: 7490 Sideroad 7W Kenilworth ON N0G2E0

Children under the age of 10 who are non-swimmers must be accompanied by a parent or guardian who is at least 12 years of age and responsible for their direct supervision (i.e. within arms reach at all times). Caregivers age 12-17 are only allowed to supervise up to 2 children at a time. An adult aged 18+ may supervise a maximum of 4 bathers, of which only 2 can be under the age of 6.

Children between the ages of 7-9 who are swimmers (able to demonstrate comfort in the pool and can pass the facility swim test) may be admitted to the swimming pool unaccompanied. Lifeguards may use their professional judgement to determine whether a child’s swimming ability is deemed as adequate for a “swimmer” or not.

Children 7-9 years of age may attempt the swim test to determine if they may swim unaccompanied in the water. A caregiver must be present for the swim test. Once a swimmer passes the swim test, they may swim unaccompanied. Non-swimmers MUST remain in arm’s reach of their guardians at all times. Unsuccessful swimmer’s must wait until the following day to make another attempt to pass the swim test.

*Swim test criteria: Front swim with face in water as much as possible one length, pull self out of pool, jump back in and tread for 1 minute *

Location: 158 Domville Street, Arthur

The Arthur Optimist Splash Pad was officially opened in 2017. 
Open daily June 1 - September 30, 10:00am - 8:00pm.

Location: 326 Wellington Street, Mount Forest

The Mount Forest Lions Splash Pad was officially opened in 2019.
Open daily June 1 - September 30, 10:00am - 8:00pm.