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Aquatics

Swim Lessons

The Learn to Swim Program is designed to provide the aquatic and water safety skills required to function effectively and safely in, on, under or around the water.

Winter 2025

Upcoming Sessions:

10 Jan - 7 Mar (8 weeks) 

Registration dates: 

  • Regular: 20 November 2024, 0900hrs
  • Ordinary/Associate: 27 November 2024, 0900 hrs

*NEW* Rookie Swim 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.

Prerequisites:
Swimmer 6 or equivalent. Must be a strong swimmer.

Upcoming Sessions: Wednesdays, 5:00-6:00pm | 25 Sep - 20 Nov (8 sessions)

*No session on 16 Oct

Cost: 

  • Reg/Ord: $85 +HST
  • Associate: $105 +HST

Adult Swim Lessons

Within the Adult Swimmer curriculum, participants set their own goals to develop water confidence and smooth recognizable strokes. Targeted Water Smart® drowning prevention messages are delivered in all Adult Swimmer levels. Instructors will adapt these items and awards to accommodate the needs of adult learners and provide the flexibility for them to select the skills they want to learn to achieve their personal swimming goals.

This class is designed for adults who wish to improve their comfort level in the water and learn the basics of swimming. No previous swimming experience required!

Adult 1 - Beginner (Fridays, 5:00-5:30pm): In Adult 1, beginner adult swimmers will build their confidence & comfortability in the water while learning foundational swimming skills. Adults learners will become comfortable with complete submersion. Adult learners will practice floats and glides, kicking on their front/back, whip kick, and front and back crawl over 10-15m (about half the pool). Adult learners will jump into the deep end of the pool safely and tread water. These beginner adult swimmers will be introduced to interval training.

Adult 2: Intermediate (Fridays, 5:35-6:05pm): In Adult 2, intermediate adult swimmers will work to improve their endurance and basic techniques in the water. Adult learners will swim full lengths of the pool using front and back crawl, and begin learning the components of breaststroke. Adult learners will practice diving and treading water, and achieve the Canadian Swim to Survive Standard in this level. These intermediate adult swimmers will develop different aspects of physical fitness in the water through interval training and sprints.

Adult 3: Advanced (Fridays, 6:10-6:55pm): In Adult 3, advanced adult swimmers will work to improve their speed, agility, endurance and techniques. Adult learners will improve their techniques in a variety of strokes, including front crawl, back crawl, and breaststroke over longer distances. Adult learners will learn various entries, use eggbeater kick to travel in the water, and practice treading water. These advanced adult swimmers will learn drills & workout strategies (including sprints, interval training, and endurance workouts) which will help them to reach their goals.

Sessions: 10 Jan Sep - 7 Mar 2025 (8 sessions)

Cost: 

  • Reg/Ord: $75 +HST
  • Associate: $95 +HST

Family Swim to Survive Program

Everyone in Canada should know how to swim.

The Lifesaving Society has a new program for families called Family Swim to Survive. It uses the same skills and principles as Swim to Survive but is designed for adults as well as children, allowing the entire family to learn together. Swim to Survive is an important first step in water safety; its principles include educational content on water safety, rolling into deep water, treading water for 1 minute, and swimming 50 meters. The program is designed to create a comfortable learning environment for the entire family with kid-friendly activities during the classroom and water components. Non-swimmers and New Canadians are welcome.   

The program will run over the course of 3 weeks. To gain the certification, participants will need to attend all 3 sessions and display skills successfully. However, all are encouraged to come whenever possible to have fun and gain water safety skills. 

Your entire family is welcome; please ensure every participant is registered. This program is free for everyone. 

Upcoming Sessions: TBD

To gain the certification, participants will need to attend all 3 sessions and display skills successfully. However, all are encouraged to come whenever possible to have fun and gain water safety skills. 

Swim Lesson & Programs Registration FAQs

  • What do I need to register?

    To register, you will need the following: 

    • An account, which can be made through the online portal. Please ensure your membership category is accurate [see below]. 

    • To know which level is appropriate to register for. 

    • To know your membership category and when you are eligible to register. 

    • A payment card. 

  • When can I register?
    Priority registration is given to Regular members. Please see above for specific registration dates for upcoming seasons.  
  • How can I register?

    The fastest and easiest way to register is through the course catalogue online. 

    You can also register in-person at the base gym front desk. Hours of operation are Monday-Friday 0530-2200 and Saturday-Sunday 0700-1800. 

    If you wish to register over the phone, please ensure you have the following: 

    • An account created with the correct membership category 

    • You know which level you are registering for 

    • A payment card ready 

    Note: Only credit is accepted for phone and online registration. Debit accepted in-person. 

  • What level should I register for?

    For those who have participated in swim lessons at CFB Kingston in previous seasons, your/your child's report card will have guidance from the instructor as to what level you should register for next. 

    For those who have participated in swim lessons at CFB Kingston BEFORE September 2022, there has been a transition from the Red Cross structure of lessons to Lifesaving Society. A level conversion chart can be found here. 

    If you are unsure what level to register for, please review the level requirements here. If you are still unsure, you are free to visit the pool during a swim lesson session and request a swim assessment. Swim lesson sessions are Monday and Wednesday 1630-1900 and Saturday 0900-1130. 

  • Why can't I see the course I want?

    Ensure you are logged in while browsing the course catalogue. You will only be able to see the courses you are eligible to register for. 

    If you are logged in and not able to see your course, it may be full. Courses that have reached maximum registrants are automatically removed from the online course catalogue.  

    If you are still having issues, contact the Base Gym Front Desk at 613-541-5010 x6595. 

  • What membership category am I in?

    All of our users are registered under three categories, based on their association with the military: Regular, Ordinary and Associate. 

    • Regular: Serving CAF members and their immediate family; Veterans and their immediate family; Foreign fighters and their immediate family 

    • Ordinary: Department of National Defence staff and their immediate family 

    • Associate: Non-military affiliated registrants and their family 

    If you are logged in and are unable to see your course, your account may not be categorized correctly. Please contact the Base Gym Front Desk at 613-541-5010 x6595 for assistance in validating your membership category.  

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