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Swimming lessons through the City of Belleville follow the Life Saving Society's, Swim for Life® program. Lessons focus on water safety, skill development and building confidence in and around the water. Programs are available for infants, children, youth and adults.
The Life Saving Society's, Swim for Life® program teaches essential swimming and water safety skills at every stage of life. Lessons are led by certified instructors and follow nationally recognized standards. Participants earn recognition badges at the completion of each level.
You can read more about the program on the Life Saving Society's Website
You can register for swimming lessons any of the following ways:
Registration dates and availability vary by session. Space is limited.
Children should be registered based on ability, not age. If you are unsure which level is appropriate, staff can help assess your swimmer. A complimentary swim assessment may be available before registration.
Programs are available for children ages 4 months to 5 years. Parent and caregiver classes are generally based on age, while independent classes for children age 3 and older are based on completed skills.
This level is for infants 4 to12 months. A 30 minute, instructor led class.
Participants learn:
A parent or caregiver must be in the water with the child.
This level is for infants 12 to 24 months. A 30 minute, instructor led class.
Participants learn:
A parent or caregiver must be in the water with the child.
This level is for toddlers 2 to 3 years. A 30 minute, instructor led class.
Participants learn:
A parent or caregiver must be in the water with the child.
Parents and guardians are encouraged to participate until their child feels comfortable in the water. Children will develop water confidence and learn basic skills such as entering and exiting the pool, floating, gliding, getting their face wet and blowing bubbles underwater.
Children will build confidence in the water by learning to jump into chest-deep water on their own, enter and exit the pool while wearing a lifejacket, submerge and blow bubbles underwater, and practice front and back glides with a lifejacket.
Children will build confidence in deeper water while learning to jump in and enter the pool from the side while wearing a lifejacket. They will also practice retrieving objects from waist-deep water, as well as kicking and gliding on their front and back.
Children will continue building confidence and independence in the water by learning to jump into deeper water on their own, exit the pool independently, practice side entries, open their eyes underwater, swim a short distance on their front while wearing a lifejacket, and work on side glides and kicking.
Children will continue to build confidence and skills in the water by practising a forward roll entry while wearing a lifejacket, treading water for 10 seconds, swimming 5 metres using front crawl and back crawl, exploring interval training, and learning whip kick.
For children ages 5 and up, these programs offer a fun and supportive way to build swimming skills, confidence and water safety.
Children will build comfort and confidence in the water by learning to jump in with and without a lifejacket, open their eyes underwater, hold their breath and exhale underwater, and practice floats, glides and kicking on their front and back.
Children will build confidence in deeper water by practising jumps and side entries while wearing a lifejacket, learning to support themselves at the surface without an aid, developing whip kick, swimming 10 metres on their front and back, and being introduced to flutter kick interval training of 4 x 5 metres.
Children will build confidence and skill in the water by practising dives, in-water front somersaults and handstands, swimming 15 metres of front crawl and back crawl, completing 10 metres of whip kick, and increasing flutter kick interval training to 4 x 15 metres.
Children will continue developing their swimming skills by swimming 5 metres underwater, completing lengths of front crawl, back crawl, whip kick, and breaststroke arms with breathing, and achieving the Canadian Swim to Survive® Standard. They will also practise 25-metre front crawl sprints and 4 x 25-metre front or back crawl interval training.
Children will continue advancing their swimming skills by mastering shallow dives, cannonball entries, eggbeater kicks and in-water backward somersaults. In this level, they will refine 50-metre swims of front crawl and back crawl, practise 25 metres of breaststroke, complete 25-metre sprints, and take part in interval training of 4 x 50 metres front or back crawl and 4 x 15 metres breaststroke.
Children will continue developing advanced swimming and water safety skills by practising stride entries, compact jumps, and lifesaving kicks such as eggbeater and scissor kick. In this level, they will build strength and endurance through 25-metre head-up breaststroke sprints, swim lengths of front crawl, back crawl and breaststroke, and complete a 300-metre workout.
Participants will continue developing their swimming skills by completing 50-metre swims of front crawl, back crawl and breaststroke. In this level, they will also build lifesaving sport skills through a 25-metre obstacle swim and 15-metre object carry, learn first aid skills such as assessing a conscious victim, contacting EMS and treating bleeding, and improve fitness through 350-metre workouts and 100-metre timed swims.
Participants will continue improving their strokes by completing 75-metre swims of front crawl, back crawl and breaststroke. In this level, they will also develop lifesaving sport skills through a lifesaving medley, timed object support and rescue with a buoyant aid, while learning first aid skills such as assessing an unconscious victim, treating shock and responding to an obstructed airway. Skill drills help build a strong foundation in lifesaving.
Participants will build endurance and refine their swimming skills through 600-metre workouts, 300-metre timed swims and 100-metre swims of each stroke. In this level, they will also complete a 25-metre object carry, learn first aid for bone and joint injuries and respiratory emergencies such as asthma and allergic reactions, and develop lifesaving skills including defence methods, victim removals, and rolling and supporting a victim face up in shallow water.
For ages 14 and up, these swimming lessons offer a supportive way to build confidence, improve swimming skills, and develop water safety knowledge.
Participants will build confidence in the water by working toward a 10 to 15-metre swim on their front and back, practicing jump entries from the side, retrieving an object from the bottom in chest-deep water, and improving fitness through flutter kick interval training.
Participants will continue developing their swimming skills through two interval training workouts of 4 x 25 metres in kicking and front or back crawl. In this level, they will also practice dive entries, demonstrate breaststroke arms and breathing over 10 to 15 metres, support themselves at the surface for 1 to 2 minutes, and perform handstands in shallow water.
Participants will continue advancing their swimming skills by learning eggbeater, stride entries and compact jumps. In this level, they will build endurance through a 300-metre workout and 25 to 50-metre sprints, while refining front crawl, back crawl and breaststroke.
Private and semi-private swimming lessons are available for ages 3 and up. For semi-private lessons, both participants must register at the same time.
Private and semi-private swimming lessons in shallow water are available for all ages and skill levels, including adults. Lessons take place in the therapy pool; the main pool is not available for these lessons.
Private and semi-private swimming lessons are available for a range of skill levels and take place in the deep-water main pool.
The Quinte Sports and Wellness Centre is committed to offering inclusive programs. If you or your child require accommodations or additional support, please contact staff before registering so arrangements can be made.
Participants will receive a verbal progress update midway through the session and a written progress report on the final day of lessons.
Please bring a clean swimsuit, towel and lock for day-use lockers. Goggles are optional.
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