Swimming & Aquatics

Recommended Ages: 4 months to 6 years

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. 

Ages and levels guide:

• L’il Tots 1 – 6 to 12 months
• L’il Tots 2 – 12 to 24 months
• L’il Tots 3 – 24 to 36 month

Recommended Ages: 3 to 5 years 

Preschool swim lessons work to ensure children ages three to five years become comfortable in the water and have fun developing a foundation of water skills. Water Smart education is incorporated into all Preschool levels to support children in learning how to keep themselves safe in and around the water. 

Preschool 1: 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.

Preschool 2: 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.

Preschool 3: 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.

Preschool 4: 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 under water. These swimmers in training will work on completing 5m of front crawl in their lifejackets and work on their ability to tread water.

Preschool 5: 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 5m 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.

Recommended Ages: 6 to 12 years 

Swimmer is a 6-level, success-oriented learn-to-swim program for children.  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 program is for swimmers who are ready to go beyond learn-to-swim. The programs focus on developing strength and proficiency while introducing swimmers to the challenging world of lifesaving. Swimmers will have fun enhancing their capability in the water, increasing their physical conditioning, and learning lifesaving judgment. Each level will continue to develop swimmers’ strokes and provide a skill foundation that will prepare 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 and Rescue.

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.

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 10m. Swimmers will get to work on their Swim to Survive skills and be introduced to interval training.

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 in 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.

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 5m. 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.

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.

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 300m workout required to complete the level.

Rookie Patrol: 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.

Recommended Ages: 13+ years

Beginners just starting out or swimmers looking to improve their strokes will find that the Adult Swimmer program will help them achieve their swimming goals. Swimmers will work with a certified instructor to gain confidence in the water, develop smooth recognizable strokes, and improve their water fitness. Water Smart education is incorporated into all levels to support the Society’s mandate of drowning prevention.

Adult 1 - Beginner: This course provides a safe and comfortable opportunity for the beginner adult swimmer to develop basic skills or build on current skills. Classes will be planned on the individual goals of each swimmer. Swimmers will work on safe entries, exits and moving through the water. When ready, they’ll do floats, glides and kicking on their front and back without assistance. They'll even explore jumping into deep water and treading water with lifejackets on. Fitness drills suitable for their skills will increase strength and endurance.

Adult 2 - Intermediate: This intermediate class is geared to those with some swimming experience (can swim at least 25 metres) and who are comfortable in deep water. These swimmers are really going to develop their confidence. Participants will explore underwater skills like handstands, and front somersaults. They'll also try their hand at standing dives, forward rolls and tuck jumps. Interval and sprint training will help them master their newly developed front crawl and back crawl skills.

Private lessons are designed to allow swimmers to work on particular skills or on a swim level one on one with an instructor.

Bronze Medallion: This program teaches an understanding of these lifesaving principles; judgment, knowledge, skills and fitness. Rescuers learn tows and carries and practice challenging rescues which involve conscious and unconscious victims. Candidates must be at least 13 years old to register or have successfully completed Bronze Star. 100% attendance is required for successful completion of the certification.

Bronze Cross: Test yourself with more complex rescues both in the water and out with the Lifesaving Society Bronze Cross. Completing Bronze Cross includes an introduction to safe supervision in aquatic facilities. Bronze Cross is a prerequisite for registering in other certifications, such as National Lifeguard (NL) and Lifesaving Instructor (LSI). Please note: Bronze Medallion and a current Intermediate First Aid with CPR C is a prerequisite for this course. 100% attendance is required for successful completion of the certification.

Lifesaving Intermediate First Aid: A 16-hour course that provides comprehensive training, covering all aspects of first aid and CPR. This course is for those who want an in-depth understanding of first aid such as: medical/legal aspects, spinal injuries, heat or cold injuries, bone and joint injuries, abdominal and chest injuries, burns, and medical emergencies. Successful candidates receive both Lifesaving Intermediate First Aid and CPR C certification. Prerequisite(s): None LIFA is approved by Alberta Workplace Health and Safety as a Standard First Aid course.

National Lifeguard Award: The National Lifeguard Award prepares candidates for a career as a lifeguard. Candidates train to keep their skills, knowledge and fitness levels sharp and must be 15 years old, hold a current Intermediate First Aid and CPR C certification and have completed the Bronze Cross course in order to register. 100% attendance is required for successful completion of the certification.

Swim and Lifesaving Instructor: The Swim and Lifesaving Instructor course prepares the candidate to teach and evaluate their skils in the swim for life program through planning, stroke development drills and correction techniques. Candidates must be 15 years of age and have completed the Bronze Cross course.

The Okotoks Recreation Centre's aquatic facility offers a variety of amenities and benefits for all ages, offers rental opportunities and is wheelchair accessible. 

• Swindells Pool is a 4 lane x 25m leisure pool with tot area and 2 pool slides (one in tot area and one in the deep end) and is accessible by all users with ramps for wheelchair access. The pool temperature is kept at a moderate 32 degrees and is suitable for all leisure and therapeutic activities.
• Riley Minue Pool is a 6 lane x 25m lap pool with 1m diving board, tarzan rope, and can accommodate inflatable toys. The temperature is kept at 28 degrees as a deeper pool it is suitable for leisure activities for competent swimmers and all aquatic fitness activities.
• 40-person, wheelchair accessible hot tub and dry sauna.
• In-pool activities including a 1m diving board, tarzan rope & inflatable toys. 
• Large change rooms and dedicated inclusive change room with coin-operated lockers. 
• Viewing areas.

All classes/courses are subject to cancellation if there are insufficient registrations.  We will notify you once a cancellation decision has been made. If the Town of Okotoks cancels a program, you are entitled to a full refund or you may transfer to another program, space permitting.

If you withdraw from a class/course more than 7 days before the start date, a 10% cancellation fee, per registration, will be applied to your refund or credit. No refund or credit will be issued if the withdraw occurs 7 days or less from the start date or after a program starts, except for medical reasons (physician’s note required).

If a program is full, express your interest by putting your name on the waitlist. New classes are added based on waitlist numbers. You will be contacted if a space becomes available or an additional class is scheduled.

Not sure what level your child belongs in for upcoming swimming programs? We offer free swimming level assessments that take about 5-10 minutes, and your kiddo will leave with a suggested level for registration!

To book your swimming level assessment, email aquatics@okotoks.ca.

KinderCare Babysitting Centre is a safe and convenient place to drop your children off while you participate in activities at the Recreation Centre. KinderCare is short-term care for children ages 3 months to 9 years and is staffed with qualified, caring individuals who provide a play-based environment with opportunities for age-appropriate activities.

Available Care Options

• Infants (3 – 18 months): 2 spots available
• Toddlers & Children (19 months – 9 years): 3 spots available
• Note: If there are vacant infant spots, call 403-938-8954 to book your older child in.

Important Information

• Pre-booked and drop-in services are available, but drop-ins are not guaranteed.
• Our cancellation policy requires 24-hour notice for a refund.
• KinderCare is a nut-free zone to ensure the safety of all children. Please be mindful when preparing snacks.
• All children must have a completed Okotoks KinderCare Program Registration Form before attending the first time. Form can be submitted online at the link below. 

Okotoks KinderCare Program Registration Form

Pre-book childminding online or contact us at 403-938-8954 for more information!