Swim Lessons

Learn to swim with Swim for Life. An accessible, flexible, and success-orientated program with a focus on fun! Certified instructors ensure swimmers get lots of in-water practice in every lesson. Swim for Life is a comprehensive swim program with streams for swimmers at every stage of life. 

Click here to view the Red Cross Swim to Lifesaving Society Transfer Chart!

If you're unsure which level to register for, you can reach out to the aquatics staff at aquatics@blackfalds.ca or 403.885.4039.

Swim evaluations are available to help determine the appropriate level for your child. These evaluations take 5–10 minutes. Simply pay for public swim admission, then notify a lifeguard that you would like an evaluation. After the evaluation, the parent will be advised on the suitable level for their child. Families are welcome to stay and enjoy public swim afterward. Evaluations are recommended during times when attendance is under 300 people.

Private Swim Lessons | $25 | 30-minute lesson 

Check swim lesson schedule for available times

Great for people of all ages who want to develop their swim skills, require one-on-one attention, or youth who have one or two items left in their swim level. The instructor will work directly with you to achieve your swimming goals. 

In cases of extreme weather, private swim lessons will be rescheduled.

PARENT & TOT | $50

Parent & Tot classes provide an opportunity for parents and children to enjoy in-water interaction in a fun and social setting. Focusing on the importance of play and developing water positive attitudes and skills, children gain valuable exposure to being in and around the water. 

Parents will learn to be Water Smart to keep themselves and their child safe in any aquatic setting. Activities and progressions in Parent & Tot are based on developmental stages. Register at the appropriate level based on the age of the child. 

PRESCHOOL | 3-5 YEARS | $50

Preschool gives children an early start on learning to swim. Children 3-5 years old will have fun while gaining foundational water skills and become comfortable in the water. Water Smart education is incorporated into all Preschool levels to support children in learning how to keep themselves safe in and around the water. 

SWIMMER | 6 - 12 YEARS | $55 
Swimmer is a 6-level, success-oriented learn-to-swim program for children 6 - 12 years old. 

There is a prominent focus on in-water swimming practice as swimmers learn fundamental strokes and skills, mastering them as they progress through the program. Swimmers also learn how to be safe in, on, and around the water through Water Smart education incorporated into every level. 

CANADIAN SWIM PATROL | $60

The Canadian Swim Patrol program provides enriched training for those who are ready to go beyond learn-to-swim. Swim Patrol has three levels: Rookie, Ranger, and Star. These programs continue to develop participants’ swim strokes and provide the skill foundation that prepares them for success in the Society’s Bronze Medal awards. Each level of the Canadian Swim Patrol program has three modules: Water Proficiency, First Aid, and Recognition & Rescue. 

Prerequisite to register: Babies are able to hold their head up. 

Parents and babies will explore the water together under the watchful eyes of their instructor. They will learn how to safely enter and exit the water and work on getting ready to discover the water safely. Parents will learn how to safely support their child while they play. 

Successful completion criteria: Participant-based with no formal evaluation


Prerequisite to register: Age is the only condition for entering this level. 

Instructors will lead sessions to help parents with children learn basic water safety skills in a welcoming environment. Parents are taught how to support their child with assisted entries and exits into water and support them in learning to float and kick. They can celebrate together when the child can get their face wet and blow bubbles for the first time. 

Successful completion criteria: Participant-based with no formal evaluation


Prerequisite to register: Age is the only condition for entering this level.    

Parents will work towards supporting their toddlers in becoming more independent in the water. Getting in, getting out, going under, and floating, parents and toddlers will be introduced to different iterations of these fundamental skills.

Successful completion criteria: Participant-based with no formal evaluation

Prerequisite to register: Successful completion of the Parent & Tot 3 level or be 3 years of age.

Preschoolers will be assisted by their instructor when learning to enter and exit water safely, jump into chest deep water, and put their faces in the water to blow bubbles. Becoming comfortable with floats and glides and moving safely in shallow water while wearing lifejackets will help them gain confidence with their water skills. 

Successful completion criteria: Progress to Preschool 2

Prerequisite to register: Successful completion of the Preschool 1 level.

Preschoolers will work on becoming more independent with their water skills. Some of these skills include jumping into chest deep water unassisted, submerging and exhaling underwater, and floating and gliding with various buoyant aids. They will be introduced to lateral rollovers and practice their flutter kick on their backs. 

Successful completion criteria: Progress to Preschool 3

Prerequisite to register: Successful completion of the Preschool 2 level.

Preschoolers will kick and glide their way through the water on their fronts and backs. They will work on retrieving objects from the bottom in water that is waist deep, and work towards mastering their floats, rollovers, glides, and kicks. In this level they work their way into deeper water for side entries and jumping in with their lifejackets on. 

Successful completion criteria: Progress to Preschool 4

Prerequisite to register: Successful completion of the Preschool 3 level.

Preschoolers will gain some independence in deep water. They will practice jumping into deeper water (including getting out by themselves), sideways entries, and opening their eyes underwater. These swimmers in training will work on completing 5m of front crawl in their lifejackets and work on their ability to tread water. 

Successful completion criteria: Progress to Preschool 5

Prerequisite to register: Successful completion of the Preschool 4 level.

Preschoolers will work towards achieving important swimming milestones. They will work on being able to support themselves treading in deep water for 10 seconds and complete 5 m swims with front crawl and back crawl. Wearing a lifejacket, they will practice forward roll entries into deep water, learn to whip kick in a vertical position, and be introduced to interval training.

Successful completion criteria: Progress to Swimmer 1

Building the foundation of swimming skill development beginner swimmers will gain confidence in the water as they learn safe entries into various depths of water, treading water in a lifejacket, opening their eyes underwater, and breath control. Once they have learned their floats, rollovers, glides, and kicks from front to back, they will front crawl their way into the next level.

Successful completion criteria: Progress to Swimmer 2

Swimmers will gain comfort in deeper water by jumping in, learning their sideways entry, and treading water without a lifejacket. Swimmers will be challenged by the introduction of various skills including, flutter kick on their front, back, and side, vertical whip kick with an aid, and swimming front crawl and back crawl for 10 m. Swimmers will get to work on their Swim to Survive skills and be introduced to interval training.

Successful completion criteria: Progress to Swimmer 3

Swimmers will make a splash with their kneeling dives and forward roll entries. Swimmers will be challenged with the introduction to more difficult (but fun) skills such as handstands in shallow water and front somersaults (in water). Increased time and distance components are incorporated for skills learned such as flutter kick on front and back, whip kick on back, front and back crawl, and interval training.

Successful completion criteria: Progress to Swimmer 4

Swimmers will move from a beginner to intermediate swimming level. Swimmers will complete standing dives, tread water for 1 minute, and work towards being able to swim underwater for 5 m. Swimmers will achieve the Swim to Survive standard by being able to roll into deep water, tread water for 1 minute, and swim 50m. In addition to improving their front crawl, back crawl, and whip kick, swimmers will be introduced to breaststroke.

Successful completion criteria: Progress to Swimmer 5

Swimmers will be challenged with a whole new set of skills; shallow dives, tuck jumps (cannonball entries), eggbeater kick, and backward somersaults (in water). Technique and endurance will also receive greater focus as swimmers will need to complete longer distance swims and interval training sessions for all their strokes.

Successful completion criteria: Progress to Swimmer 6

As the final level in the Swimmer program, swimmers will build up their advanced skill set. Swimmers will work towards mastering stride entries, compact jumps, and lifesaving kicks. They will also refine their strokes to increase their swimming strength, power, and endurance - critical for success in the 300 m workout required to complete the level.

Successful completion criteria: Swimmer program completed

Develops individual fitness levels to meet a timed 100m swim and 350m workout. Water proficiency skills include: swims with clothes, ready position, foot-first and head-first surface dives. Demonstrating an ability to conduct a primary assessment and initiating EMS are included as first aid skills. Victim recognition and throwing assists are other key elements of the program.

Enhances capability in the water, including stride entry, underwater forward and backward somersaults, lifesaving eggbeater kick, and increased fitness levels to meet a 200m timed swim. Rescue skills involve an increased skill level in first aid basics, victim recognition, and non-contact rescues.

An excellent preparation for the Bronze Star award, Star Patrol demands good physical conditioning and lifesaving judgment. Participants develop lifesaving and first aid skills; further refine front crawl, back crawl, and breaststroke (100m each); and complete 600m workouts and 300m timed swims