Learn to Love to Swim:
About Our Swim Lesson Program

“Safety, Fun and Learning”

Register online
Register by phone: 952-431-8777
Print a registration form to register by mail or fax
Register by mail: Falcon Ridge Middle School, Community Education Aquatics Program, 12900 Johnny Cake Ridge Road, Apple Valley, MN 55124
Register by fax: 952-431-8769

Community Education offers the American Red Cross Learn to Swim Program, which is nationally recognized for its high-quality curriculum and comprehensive staff training.

Our objective is for students to enjoy the water as they learn key skills in a safe environment. Our Red Cross certified instructors maintain effective class organization and conduct classes in a safe environment. Learning is our end goal and cannot be achieved without safety and fun.

Key elements of learning include:

• Effective lesson planning
• Teaching techniques appropriate to students’ abilities including explanations, demonstrations, and skill practice
• Balanced group and individual practice time
• Individual attention to students with positive and constructive feedback

American Red Cross Water Safety Instructors and Aides are trained in:

• Principles of water safety
• Sciences of hydrodynamics and exercise physiology
• Principles of motor learning
• Proper techniques for swimming and diving
• Effective skill progressions to teach swimming and diving
• Class management and teaching techniques

American Red Cross well-rounded curriculum includes:

• Basic skills for water adjustment
• Four competitive strokes: Front Crawl (Freestyle), Back Crawl (Backstroke), Breaststroke and Butterfly
• Two resting strokes: Elementary Backstroke and Sidestroke
• Other skills including: Safety skills, treading water, surface dives, underwater swimming, diving, and competitive starts and turns

What level should my child sign up for?

Sign up for lessons according to age and ability:

Parent and Tot Aquatics for ages 6 to 36 months
Parent and Tot lessons build basic water safety skills for both parents and children, helping infants and young children become comfortable in the water so they are willing and ready to learn to swim.

CLICK HERE for the Parent/Tot and Parent/Chld Newsletter

Parent and Child Aquatics for ages 3 to 5
Parent and Child lessons develop the skills taught in Preschool Level 1 while providing the familiar comfort of the parent accompanying the child in the water.

Preschool Aquatics for ages 3 to 5
Preschool lessons give young children a positive, developmentally appropriate aquatic learning experience that emphasizes water safety, survival and foundational swimming concepts. Skills are age-appropriate, helping participants achieve success on a regular basis while in a class environment with their peers.
Comparisons of levels in Red Cross lessons to other swim lesson programs

• Preschool Level 1 / CLICK HERE for the Preschool 1 Parent Newsletter
• Preschool Level 2 / CLICK HERE for the Preschool 2 Parent Newsletter
• Preschool Level 3 / CLICK HERE for the Preschool 3 Parent Newsletter

Learn-to-Swim Levels 1-6 for ages 5 and up
Learn-to Swim levels are based on a logical, six-level progression that helps swimmers develop their water safety, survival and swimming skills. It is designed to give participants a positive learning experience.
Comparisons of levels in Red Cross lessons to other swim lesson programs

• Level 1 / CLICK HERE for the Level 1 Parent Newsletter
• Level 2 / CLICK HERE for the Level 2 Parent Newsletter
• Level 3 / CLICK HERE for the Level 3 Parent Newsletter
• Level 4-Part 1 / CLICK HERE for the Level 4-Part 1 Parent Newsletter
• Level 4-Part 2 / CLICK HERE for the Level 4-Part 2 Parent Newsletter
• Level 5 / CLICK HERE for the Level 5 Parent Newsletter
• Level 6 / CLICK HERE for the Level 6 Parent Newsletter

Adapted Swim Lessons are offered for students with special needs.

Teen and Adult Swim Lessons are customized to the needs of the individual and are offered in a group format. Call 952-431-8777 to request semi-private or private lessons.

Adult Lessons for Women-Only provide 30 minutes of instruction plus additional practice time

REVolution Swimming offers competitive swimming in an in-house format for school-age youth. The program now includes an opportunity for adults who are training for triathlons or those that just want to improve technique and endurance may join our competitive swimming program for a variety of workouts under the direction of our competitive swimming coaches.

Frequently Asked Questions

Swim Lesson Schedules

Key elements of learning include:

• Effective lesson planning
• Teaching techniques appropriate to students’ abilities including explanations, demonstrations, and skill practice
• Balanced group and individual practice time
• Individual attention to students with positive and constructive feedback

American Red Cross Water Safety Instructors and Aides are trained in:

• Principles of water safety
• Sciences of hydrodynamics and exercise physiology
• Principles of motor learning
• Proper techniques for swimming and diving
• Effective skill progressions to teach swimming and diving
• Class management and teaching techniques

American Red Cross well-rounded curriculum includes:

• Aquatic safety concepts and skills
• Basic skills for water adjustment
• Four competitive strokes: Front Crawl (Freestyle), Back Crawl (Backstroke), Breaststroke and Butterfly
• Two resting strokes: Elementary Backstroke and Sidestroke
• Other skills including: Safety skills, treading water, surface dives, underwater swimming, diving, and competitive starts and turns

Parent and Tot (ages 6-36 months with parent or guardian)

Enjoy swimming with your child while building swimming readiness by emphasizing fun in the water for children ages 6 to 36 months old accompanied by a parent or guardian. Sorry, no early bird discount.
Registration tip: Children, at the age of 3, may register for Preschool Level 1 to be in a class without a parent or Parent and Child if the parent would like to accompany the child in the class.
Class format: Classes run 30 minutes with 10 parent/child pairs per instructor
For schedule and fee information CLICK HERE

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Parent and Child: (ages 3 to 5 with parent or guardian)
Preschoolers learn to enjoy water safely and perform basic Preschool Level 1 skills with the comfort of a parent in the water. Safety topics include recognizing the role of the lifeguard, basic water safety rules, the use of lifejackets, sun safety, recognizing an emergency and how to call for help. Sorry, no early bird discount.
Participants learn to perform the following skills with support:

• Enter and exit the water safely
• Submerge and explore underwater
• Glide and recover on front and back
• Float on back
• Swim on front and back, 2 body lengths

Registration tip: Upon completion of required skills, children ages 3 to 5 should register for Preschool Level 2. Children ages 5 and up should register for Level 2 in the Learn To Swim program.
Class format: Classes run 30 minutes with 10 parent/child pairs per instructor
For schedule and fee information CLICK HERE

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Preschool Level 1
Preschoolers learn to enjoy water safely and perform basic Preschool Level 1 skills with the comfort of a parent in the water. Safety topics include recognizing the role of the lifeguard, basic water safety rules, the use of lifejackets, sun safety, recognizing an emergency and how to call for help. Sorry, no early bird discount.
Participants learn to perform the following skills with support:

• Enter and exit the water safely
• Submerge and explore underwater
• Glide and recover on front and back
• Float on back
• Swim on front and back, 2 body lengths

Registration tip: Upon completion of required skills, children ages 3 to 5 should register for Preschool Level 2. Children ages 5 and up should register for Level 2 in the Learn To Swim program.
Class format: Classes run 30 minutes with four students per instructor
For schedule and fee information CLICK HERE
Comparisons to other swim lesson programs

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Preschool Level 2
Preschoolers experience success with fundamental skills without a parent in the class. Skills learned in Preschool Level 1 are now performed independently. Safety topics include recognizing the role of the lifeguard, basic water safety rules, the use of lifejackets, sun safety, recognizing an emergency and how to call for help. Sorry, no early bird discount.
Participants learn to perform the following skills with assistance:

• Jump into chest-deep water
• Submerge and explore underwater
• Float and glide on front and back
• Roll over front to back, back to front
• Tread water, 5 seconds
• Swim on front and back, 3 body lengths each

Prerequisite: Students must have completed Preschool Level 1 or have equivalent skills.
Registration tip: Upon completion of required skills, children ages 3 to 5 should register for Preschool Level 3. Children, ages 5 and up should register for Level 2 in the Learn To Swim program.
Course format: Classes run 30 minutes with four students per instructor
For schedule and fee information CLICK HERE
Comparisons to other swim lesson programs

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Preschool Level 3
Preschoolers build on the skills learned in Level 2. Safety topics include recognizing the role of the lifeguard, basic water safety rules, the use of lifejackets, sun safety, safe water entry, reaching and throwing assists, recognizing an emergency and how to call for help. Sorry, no early bird discount.
Participants learn to:

• Jump into chest-deep water
• Submerge and explore underwater
• Float on front
• Float and glide on back
• Tread water, 15 seconds
• Change direction while swimming
• Swim on front and back, 5 body lengths each

Prerequisite: Children must have completed Preschool Level 2 or have equivalent skills.
Registration tip: Children, ages 5 and up that complete Preschool Level 3, should register for Level 3 in the Learn to Swim program.
Course format: Classes run 30 minutes with four students per instructor
For schedule and fee information CLICK HERE
Comparisons to other swim lesson programs

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Learn To Swim Level 1: Introduction to Water Skills
Learn to feel comfortable in the water. Safety topics include recognizing the role of the lifeguard, basic water safety rules, the use of lifejackets, sun safety, recognizing an emergency and how to call for help. Sorry, no early bird discount.
Participants learn to perform the following skills with support:

• Enter and exit the water safely
• Submerge and explore underwater
• Glide on front and back
• Float on back
• Roll over front to back, back to front
• Tread water, 5 seconds
• Swim on front and back, 2 body lengths each

Prerequisite: Students must be at least 5 years old.
For schedule and fee information CLICK HERE
Comparisons to other swim lesson programs

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Learn To Swim Level 2: Fundamental Aquatic Skills
Students experience success with fundamental skills. Skills that were performed with support in Level 1 are now performed independently. Safety topics include recognizing the role of the lifeguard, basic water safety rules, the use of lifejackets, sun safety, safe water entry, reaching and throwing assists, recognizing an emergency and how to call for help. Sorry, no early bird discount.
Participants learn to:

• Jump into chest-deep water
• Float and glide on front and back
• Roll over front to back, back to front
• Change direction while swimming
• Tread water, 15 seconds
• Swim on front and back, 5 body lengths each

Prerequisite: Completion of either Preschool Level 1, Preschool Level 2 or Learn To Swim Level 1 or have equivalent skills.
For schedule and fee information CLICK HERE
Comparisons to other swim lesson programs

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Learn to Swim Level 3: Stroke Development
Build on the skills learned in Level 2. Safety topics include swimming with a buddy, sun safety, safe water entry, and safety around cold water including the HELP and Huddle positions with lifejackets. Sorry, no early bird discount.
Participants learn to:

• Jump into deep water
• Dive from a kneeling position
• Bob while moving to safety
• Perform rotary breathing
• Submerge and retrieve an object
• Tread water, survival float, back float, 30 seconds each
• Level off from vertical to horizontal in deep water
• Kick using flutter, dolphin, scissors kicks
• Swim front crawl, elementary backstroke, 15 yards each

Prerequisite: Completion of Preschool Level 3 or Learn To Swim Level 2 or have equivalent skills.
For schedule and fee information CLICK HERE
Comparisons to other swim lesson programs

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Learn to Swim Level 4 - Part 1: Stroke Improvement
Continue to improve skills worked on in Level 3 as well as learn the kicks for elementary backstroke, breaststroke, and sidestroke. Safety topics include safe diving rules, sun safety, jumping from a height wearing a lifejacket, throwing assists, prevention of recreational water illnesses and safe swimming at waterparks.Sorry, no early bird discount.
Participants in Level 4-Part 1 learn to:

• Dive from compact or stride position
• Swim underwater
• Perform a feet-first surface dive
• Survival swim
• Perform open turns
• Tread water, 2 minutes
• Kick using breaststroke, dolphin, scissors kicks
• Swim front crawl, elementary backstroke, 25 yards each
• Swim back crawl, 15 yards

Prerequisite: Completion of Learn To Swim Level 3 or have equivalent skills.
For schedule and fee information CLICK HERE
Comparisons to other swim lesson programs

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Learn to Swim Level 4 - Part 2: Stroke Improvement
Continue to develop swimming strokes worked on in Level 4 - Part 1. Safety topics include safe diving rules, sun safety, jumping from a height wearing a lifejacket, throwing assists, prevention of recreational water illnesses and safe swimming at waterparks. Sorry, no early bird discount.
Participants learn to:

• Swim front crawl, elementary backstroke, 25 yards each
• Swim back crawl, breaststroke, sidestroke, butterfly, 15 yards each

Prerequisite: Completion of Level 4 - Part 1 or have equivalent skills.
For schedule and fee information CLICK HERE
Comparisons to other swim lesson programs

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Learn To Swim Level 5: Stroke Refinement
Develop coordination and refinement of strokes. Safety topics include safe swimming at waterparks, calling for help, prevention of recreational water illnesses, safe boating, and reaching and throwing assists. Sorry, no early bird discount.
Participants learn to:

• Perform a long, shallow dive
• Perform tuck and pike head-first surface dives
• Perform flip turns
• Tread water, 5 minutes
• Scull, 30 seconds
• Swim front crawl, back craw, 50 yards each
• Swim butterfly, breaststroke, elementary backstroke, sidestroke, 25 yards each

Prerequisite: Completion of Level 4 - Part 2 or have equivalent skills.
For schedule and fee information CLICK HERE
Comparisons to other swim lesson programs

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Learn To Swim Level 6: Swimming and Skill Proficiency - Personal Water Safety
Improve stroke efficiency and endurance so students swim them with ease, efficiency, power and smoothness over greater distances. Safety topics include reaching and throwing assists, boating safety and swimming in open water, swimming while wearing clothes, how to call for help, safe swimming at waterparks. Sorry, no early bird discount.
Participants learn to:

• Perform open and competitive turns
• Perform surface dives
• Survival swim, 10 minutes
• Tread water, kick only for 2 minutes
• Survival float, back float, 5 minutes each
• Survival swim 50 yards while clothed
• Survival float while clothed
• Swim front crawl, elementary backstroke, 100 yards each
• Swim back crawl, breaststroke, butterfly, sidestroke, 50 yards each

Prerequisite: Completion of Level 5 or have equivalent skills
For schedule and fee information CLICK HERE
Comparisons to other swim lesson programs

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Comparison to Other Swim Lesson Programs

Although the content of the swim lesson programs are not identical the following comparisons will provide the best transition to the Red Cross Learn to Swim program.

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