The Stratford Lions Pool offers high quality swim lessons in four 2-week sessions throughout the summer. There are over 75 available times per session to choose from.
News Items
| March 31, 2022 - Summer Day Camp and Swim Lesson registration opens April 1 |
| As of noon on April 1, registration will open for Summer Day Camps and Swim Lessons. A digital version of our Recreation Activity Guide will soon follow. |
How can we direct you?
Adapted Aquatics, Swim Team, Water Fitness
Become a Lifeguard/Instructor
Poor Weather Policy
Lessons for 4 months to 6 years
Lessons for 5 years and older
Student Drop Off and Spectating Policy
Swim Lesson Programs
Our facility uses the Red Cross Learn-to-Swim program. If you or your child have taken swimming lessons in another program with another organization, (i.e.: YMCA, Lifesaving Society), see below for the course comparison by program.
| Lifesaving Society | YMCA | Red Cross Learn to Swim |
|---|---|---|
| Parent and Tot 1 | Splashers | Starfish |
| Parent and Tot 2 | Bubblers | Duck |
| Parent and Tot 3/Preschool 1 | Bobbers | Sea Turtle |
| Preschool 2 | Floaters/Gliders | Sea Otter |
| Preschool 3 | Divers | Salamander |
| Preschool 4 | Surfers | Sunfish or Crocodile |
| Preschool 5 | Dipper | Crocodile or Whale |
| Beginner Swimmer 1 | Otter | Swim Kids Level 1 |
| Swimmer 1 | Seal | Swim Kids Level 1 |
| Swimmer 2 | Dolphin | Swim Kids Level 2 |
| Swimmer 3 | Swimmer | Swim Kids Level 3 |
| Swimmer 4 | Star 1 | Swim Kids Level 4/5 |
| Swimmer 5 | Star 2 | Swim Kids Level 6 |
| Swimmer 6 | Star 3 | Swim Kids Level 7 |
| Rookie | Star 4 | Swim Kids Level 8 |
| Ranger | Star 5 | Swim Kids Level 9 |
| Star Patrol | Star 6 | Swim Kids Level 10 |
| Bronze Star | Bronze Star | Bronze Star |
Please note: You must register for a course no later than 12pm on the Sunday before the week of lessons.
| Program | Age Requirement | In this Level: | Class Length | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Parent Tot | 4 months to 3 years | Participate with parent/caregiver in-water activities. Getting wet, front, back, vertical positions in water, shallow water entry/exists, breathing and floats. Once the child is 3 years old, they can participate in Sea Otter. | 30 minutes | $84/session |
| Sea Otter | 3 to 5 years | Swimmers work on front and back floats and glides, kicking on front with a buoyant object, and will be able to swim 1 metre upon completion of this level. | 30 minutes | $84/session |
| Salamander | 3 to 5 years | Swimmers work on improving their front and back float and jumping into chest-deep water unassisted. Kicking is added to the front and back glide and swimmers will be able to swim 2 metres upon completion. | 30 minutes | $84/session |
| Sunfish | 3 to 6 years | Swimmers work on kicking and can perform glides (front and back), enter deep water safely, float in deep water, swim with a PFD, and swim 5 metres continuously. | 30 minutes | $84/session |
| Crocodile | 3 to 6 years | Swimmers further develop the front and back glide with kick, front and back swim, jump into deep water, swim with a PFD in deep water, and swim 10 metres continuously. | 30 minutes | $84/session |
| Whale | 3 to 6 years | Swimmers increase their distance on front and back glide with kick, increase distance on front and back swim, learn the sitting dive, and will be able to swim 15 metres continuously upon completion of the level. | 30 minutes | $84/session |
| Program | Age Requirement | In this Level: | Class Length | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Swim Kids 1 |
5 years plus |
Front and back float, front and back glide, flutter kick (assisted), shallow water entries and exits, swim 5m. | 30 minutes | $84/session |
| Swim Kids 2 | 5 years plus | Front and back glide with flutter kick, front swim, complete deep-water activities (assisted), swim 10m. | 30 minutes | $84/session |
| Swim Kids 3 | 5 years plus | Increase distance on front/back glide, perform flutter kick unassisted, float in deep water, swim 15m. | 30 minutes | $84/session |
| Swim Kids 4 | 5 years plus | Back swim and front crawl (10m), flutter kick on back, kneeling dive, intro sculling, swim 25m. | 30 minutes | $84/session |
| Swim Kids 5 | 5 years plus | Front and back crawl (15m), whip kick on back, treading water, head-first sculling on back, swim 50m. | 30 minutes | $84/session |
| Swim Kids 6 | 5 years plus | Front and back crawl (25m), elementary back stroke (15m), dolphin kick, front dive, swim 75m. | 45 minutes | $94/session |
| Swim Kids 7 | 5 years plus | Front and back crawl (50m), elementary back stroke (25m), front scull, stride entry, swim 150m. | 45 minutes | $94/session |
| Swim Kids 8 | 5 years plus | Front and back crawl (75m), elementary back stroke (25m), breast stroke (15m), eggbeater, swim 300m. | 45 minutes | $94/session |
| Swim Kids 9 | 5 years plus | Front and back crawl (100m), elementary back stroke (50m), breast stroke (25m), sidestroke kick, swim 400m. | 45 minutes | $94/session |
| Swim Kids 10 | 5 years plus | Front and back crawl (100m), elementary back stroke (50m), breast stroke (50m), sidestroke (25m), swim 500m. | 1 hour |
| Program | Pre-Certification Courses | General Requirements for Successful Completion: | Class Length | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bronze Star | Successful completion of Swim Kids 10 | This award delivers high-performance training for skilled pre-teens. It provides excellent preparation for success in Bronze Medallion. Bronze Star is a prerequisite for the Bronze Medallion award if participants want to take Bronze Medallion before they are 13 years old. Completion of Bronze Star includes CPR-A. | 1 hour | $100/session |
| Bronze Medallion | Successful completion of Bronze Star or 13 years | This award teaches understanding of lifesaving principles including judgment, knowledge, skill and fitness. Lifesavers learn to respond to increasingly complex situations with varying degrees of risk. Bronze Medallion is a pre-requisite for the Bronze Cross Award. Completion of Bronze Medallion includes CPR-B. | 3 hours | $220 plus book |
| Bronze Cross | Successful completion of Bronze Medallion | This award is designed for lifesavers desiring advance training, including an introduction to safe supervision in aquatic facilities. Teamwork is emphasized, and lifesavers learn how to rescue a spinal-injured victim. Bronze Cross is a pre-requisite for all advanced training programs in lifesaving, lifeguarding and leadership. | 3 hours | $220 plus book |
| Program | Requirements | In this Program: | Class Length | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adapted Aquatics | Special Needs | Emphasis is placed on successful experiences in a positive, safe, reinforcing environment stressing individualized aquatic programming. | 30 minutes | $84/session |
| Swim Team | 6 to 18 years old | This program delivers quality stroke correction, swim endurance, and pre-competitive training for all abilities. It is our goal to offer age-specific training for all of our swimmers. Practices are Monday through Friday from 8 - 9am. Swimmers are expected to attend a minimum of three practices a week, and participate in at least one swim meet before finals in August. It's typical for our team to have four Saturday swim meets throughout the summer. For practices, it is recommended that swimmers wear a swim cap, goggles, apply sunscreen, and bring a water bottle to stay fully hydrated. | Monday to Friday, 1 hour | $160/season |
| Water Fitness | 16 years plus | A shallow water fitness workout in chest deep water. Participants should be comfortable in chest deep water. No pre-registration required. | 45 minutes | $5/session |
Become a Lifeguard/Instructor
The Stratford Lions Pool program runs from June until the end of August each season. Although it varies from one year to the next, we may have to recruit new staff into available positions. Should this be the case, our recruitment process would typically begin in the spring through our Human Resources Department. Please note, we do not accept unsolicited resumes.
| Program | Pre-Certification Courses | General Requirements for Successful Completion: | Class Length | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bronze Star | Successful completion of Swim Kids 10 | This award delivers high-performance training for skilled pre-teens. It provides excellent preparation for success in Bronze Medallion. Bronze Star is a prerequisite for the Bronze Medallion award if participants want to take Bronze Medallion before they are 13 years old. Completion of Bronze Star includes CPR-A. |
1 hour |
$100/session |
| Bronze Medallion | Successful completion of Bronze Star or 13 years | This award teaches understanding of lifesaving principles including judgment, knowledge, skill and fitness. Lifesavers learn to respond to increasingly complex situations with varying degrees of risk. Bronze Medallion is a pre-requisite for the Bronze Cross Award. Completion of Bronze Medallion includes CPR-B. |
3 hours |
|
| Bronze Cross | Successful completion of Bronze Medallion | This award is designed for lifesavers desiring advance training, including an introduction to safe supervision in aquatic facilities. Teamwork is emphasized, and lifesavers learn how to rescue a spinal-injured victim. Bronze Cross is a pre-requisite for all advanced training programs in lifesaving, lifeguarding and leadership. | 3 hours | $220 plus book |
| Red Cross Water Safety Instructor | 15 years plus | Through classroom learning and in-water practice, this course prepares candidates to help certified instructors. Participants are introduced to key principles of learning and teaching, and mastery of basic progressions. | varies | varies |
| Lifesaving Instructor | 16 years plus | The Lifesaving Instructor course prepares individuals to organize, plan, teach and evaluate lifesaving and first aid skills and resuscitation techniques in the Society's lifesaving and first aid awards being Canadian Swim Patrol Program, Bronze Star, Bronze Medallion, Bronze Cross, Wading Pool Attendant, Lifesaving Fitness/Distinction. | varies | varies |
| National Lifeguard Service | 16 years plus | This award builds on the fundamental skills, knowledge, and values taught in earlier lifesaving awards, including the practical skills and knowledge required by lifeguards. This course deals with lifeguarding principles and techniques found in the pool environment. | varies | varies |
Student Drop Off/Pick Up and Spectating Policy
Lesson students can be dropped off and picked up on the pool deck, closest to the main office. Please ensure your child is in the hands of an instructor before leaving them on the deck.
In the interest of student and public safety, we require that parents/guardians attending swimming lessons watch their child from outside the facility fence.
Inclement Weather Policy (Poor Weather)
The Pool will remain open on rainy days, unless: thunder and/or lightning is evident; or, the downpour is so heavy, that the black dot on the bottom of the pool is not visible.
If either of the above two points are present, the pool must be closed immediately. It may re-open after an interval void of these two conditions, or upon the discretion of the Supervisor on Duty.
Should students have to leave the pool, as described above, dry-land lessons/activities will be offered until the swim lesson can resume or the session time is over.