Swimming Lessons and Programs

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, please register in the level appropriate for your child's age: 4-12 months, 12-24 months, or two to three-years old.

Parent and Tot 1

Designed for the 4 to 12-month-old to learn to enjoy the water with the parent.

Parent and Tot 2

Designed for the 12 to 24-month-old to learn to enjoy the water with the parent.

Parent and Tot 3

Designed for the 2 to 3-year-old to learn to enjoy the water with the parent.

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 three to five-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

These preschoolers will have fun learning to get in and out of the water. We will help them jump into chest deep water. They will float and glide on their front and back and learn to get their faces wet and blow bubbles underwater. 

Preschool B

These preschoolers learn to jump into chest-deep water by themselves and get in and get out wearing a lifejacket. They will submerge and exhale underwater. Wearing a lifejacket, they will glide on their front and back. 

Preschool C

These youngsters will try both jumping and a sideways entry into deep water while wearing a lifejacket. They will recover objects from the bottom in waist-deep water. They will work on kicking and gliding through the water on their front and back. 

Preschool D

Advanced preschoolers will learn to do solo jumps into deeper water and get out by themselves. They will do sideways entries and open their eyes underwater. They will master a short swim on their front wearing a lifejacket and gliding and kicking on their side.

Preschool E

These youngsters get more adventuresome with a forward roll entry wearing a lifejacket and treading water for 10 seconds. They will work on front and back crawl swims for 5 m, interval training and get a giggle out of whip kick. 

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 five 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.

Swimmer 1

These beginners will become comfortable jumping into water with and without a lifejacket. They will learn to open their eyes, exhale and hold their breath underwater. They will 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 will 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 will 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 will 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 will refine their front and back crawl over 50 m swims of each, and breaststroke over 25 m. Then they will 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 or scissor kick. They will develop strength and power in head-up breaststroke sprints over 25 m. They will easily swim lengths of front crawl, back crawl, and breaststroke, and they will be proud to complete the 300m workout.

The Lifesaving Society’s 3-level Canadian Swim Patrol program (swimmer 7, 8, 9) provides enriched training for those who want to develop swim strokes and skills. Swim Patrol develops swimming strength and efficiency with emphasis on Water Smart® behaviour. Skill drills enhance capability in the water, good physical conditioning and lifesaving judgment. 

Swimmer 7 (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. 

Swimmer 8 (Ranger Patrol)

Swimmers develop better strokes over 75m 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. 

Swimmer 9 (Star Patrol)

Swimmers are challenged with 600m workouts, 300m timed swims and a 25m object carry. Strokes are refined over 100m 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

If you are between 12 - 18 years of age and looking to take swimming lessons, the teen program is for you! Whether you have difficulty putting your face in water, swimming in deep water, or are simply looking for stroke correction, our Teen Swim Lessons will give you the confidence to enjoy being in and around the water.

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.

The Woodstock Summer Swim team is a great way to build your swimming skills and have fun. Get ready to do stroke drills and corrections, as well as practice and learn flip turns and starting dives.

This year the Woodstock Summer Swim team will be operating in the same format as last year. Swimmers will register for individual 40 minute sessions and can also register for multiple sessions per week. In order to join the team, we ask that you to be able to comfortably swim 30m.

Looking for some fitness motivation? This program is led by a swim coach who will help guide you through a swim workout each week. The coach will also work on your strokes and endurance, provide feedback and tips, and provide practices to do on your own throughout the week. Note: Must be able to swim at least 100m.

Before visiting the City of Woodstock's Progress Report page please ensure you have your child's Swimmer ID. The Swimmer ID can be found on the online registration portal under your child's name in the My Family Members section as their account number.

To view the progress report please visit the City of Woodstock's Progress Report page and enter your child's Swimmer ID. Once you are logged in you will be able to choose the progress report you'd like to see.

If you are not set up online or are having any issues, please contact Southside Aquatic Centre at 519-539-2382 ext. 2701 for assistance.

When are progress reports posted?

Progress reports will be posted for you to access after the last day of your child's swim lessons. This ensures that your child has every opportunity to complete all required swim items for their registered swim level.

All of our swim lessons are grouped to offer more options and times for our participants to choose from. During the registration process you will be asked to designate the appropriate level your child will be working on. You can create an account to register online for all levels.

Absolutely! Family and friends are permitted to watch lessons from the pool deck viewing area.

Parents/guardians are only required to be in the water with their child for the Parent and Tot swimming level.

If notification is received before the third lesson, you can receive a refund/credit on your account or make a transfer into another program.

• Please note that full refunds are administered via cheque and a $25 administration fee will be charged.
• Credits will be pro-rated after the first lesson.

If notification is received after the third lesson, no credit or refund will be provided unless a medical note from a professional medical practitioner is received. 

If notification is received up to 5 business days prior to the start of the program, you can receive a refund/credit on your account or make a transfer into another program.

• Please note that full refunds are administered via cheque and a $25 administration fee will be charged.

If notification is received less than 5 business days prior to the start of the program, no refund or credit will be provided unless a medical note from a professional medical practitioner is received.