Aquatics from Health and Safety Services

Count on the American Red Cross for the best training on how to be safe in, on, and around the water! The American Red Cross has been the leader in swimming and lifeguarding since 1914. Now the winning tradition continues with an exciting new collection of courses designed to make learning easier and to help you benefit from the latest research on instructional techniques. No matter what kind of training you need, we have a program to match.

The Northern Vermont Chapter joins forces with communities throughout it's chapter jurisdiction in an effort to provide quality swim lessons for area children.

The Red Cross program is designed to give students a positive learning experience. Students in Level I are oriented to the aquatic environment and gain some basic skills in each category. At later levels, students build on their basic skills to learn propulsive movements on both the front and the back. They learn different strokes at various levels and then refine them at later levels. Personal safety and rescue skills are included to help students meet safety goals. By the end of Level VI, students have all the prerequisite skills and have developed the necessary fitness level for entrance into the American Red Cross lifeguarding courses.

Click HERE for a PDF to open with the 2008 swimming schedule.

For regitration forms call Sandy at 660-9130 x100!

Learn-to-Swim Levels

The American Red Cross Swimming and Water Safety Program features six levels of learn to swim instruction to help swimmers of all ages and abilities develop their swimming and water safety skills. It is designed to give students a positive learning experience. American Red Cross Learn to Swim teaches aquatic and safety skills in a logical progression. The objective is to teach people to swim and to be safe in, on and around the water. The six learn-to-swim levels and the objectives for each level include:

Level 1 - Introduction to Water Skills. Helps students feel comfortable in the water and to enjoy the water safely.

Level 2 - Fundamental Aquatic Skills. Gives students success with fundamental skills.

Level 3 - Stroke Development. Builds on the skills in Level 2 by providing additional guided practice.

Level 4 - Stroke Improvement. Develops confidence in the strokes learned and to improve other aquatic skills.

Level 5 - Stroke Refinement. Provides further coordination and refinement of strokes.

Level 6 - Swimming and Skill Proficiency. Refines the strokes so students swim them with ease, efficiency, power and smoothness over greater distances. Level 6 is designed with "menu" options. Each of these options focus on preparing students to participate in more advance courses, such as Water Safety Instructor and Lifeguard Training. These options include:

Personal Water Safety
Lifeguard Readiness
Fundamentals of Diving
Fitness Swimming

Water Safety Instructor Course

The American Red Cross Water Safety Instructor course provides instructor candidates the training needed to teach courses in the American Red Cross Swimming and Water Safety program by developing their understanding of how to use the course materials, how to conduct training sessions and how to evaluate participants' progress. Concepts and features of the Water Safety Instructor course include:

Minimum age prerequisite of 16 years of age to enter the course
Course time of approximately 30 hours (including pre-course session)
Clearly described and applied teaching strategies, including:

Explain, demonstrate and practice;
Task setting;
Station teaching; and
Guided discovery.

Video segments that bring to life the realities of what to expect from their students throughout the levels for the brand new instructor.

Video segments that focus on effective class management and effective teaching strategies in the aquatic setting.
Various video segments show typical examples of basic skills and common progressions including breath control, swimming on the front and swimming on the back.
Video segments also show some typical performance of the strokes as they progress through the levels. This video depiction helps instructor candidates visualize the description of the strokes in the written skills performance criteria charts that they will then be able to use when evaluating their students' performance.
Supported by video, the instructor candidates work to develop their ability to observe and assess, often referred to as having a photographic eye, which will help them to identify weaknesses and determine how to intervene to move their students to the next level.

Learning activities, games and drills are built in throughout the course; some are led by the instructor trainer while others are led by instructor candidates. This helps instructor candidates improve their strokes and understand how to integrate activities, games and drills effectively into their teaching.
Multiple opportunities for instructor candidates to practice their teaching skills through formal practice teaching assignments as well as leading mini-lessons.

Water Safety Presentations

Water safety presentations provide lifesaving information on being safe in, on and around the water as well as the importance of learning to swim. By knowing the intended audience, these presentations can be customized to fit their needs. The water safety presentations include:

Water Safety Today (2 hours): teaches individuals how to recognize, prevent and respond to emergencies in, on and around water.
General Water Safety (30 minutes): provides individuals with an awareness of the importance of water safety training and key information on being safe in, on and around water. 15. Home Pool Safety (30 minutes): provides information for home pool and apartment pool owners on how to keep families, tenants and guests safe in an aquatic environment.
Parent Orientation to Swimming Lessons (30 minutes): an orientation for parents about American Red Cross swimming lessons offered at local aquatic facilities.

Longfellow's WHALE Tales

Longfellow's WHALE Tales is targeted to children ages 5 to 12 to teach safe behavior in, on and around the water. The materials in the Longfellow's WHALE Tales K-6 Educational Packet are designed to give children an awareness of being safe around the water and to help promote healthful aquatic recreation.

Swim Lessons help our children to have fun in the water safely. We're looking forward to summer, and lots of smiling faces. Don't forget your towel!

To find out if your community is one of the provider communities on our list or to find the closest community that is, contact (802) 660-9130 x100.


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How You Can Help Donating Time Funds Stuff Wish List Workplace Training Support our Supporters Chapter's Partners Sponsors Directions About Us Mission Statement Email list Fundamental Principles About this Chapter Organization National/ International History Board of Directors Annual Report Photos Counties we serve Events Fundraising Volunteer Events	Aquatics from Health and Safety Services Count on the American Red Cross for the best training on how to be safe in, on, and around the water! The American Red Cross has been the leader in swimming and lifeguarding since 1914. Now the winning tradition continues with an exciting new collection of courses designed to make learning easier and to help you benefit from the latest research on instructional techniques. No matter what kind of training you need, we have a program to match. The Northern Vermont Chapter joins forces with communities throughout it's chapter jurisdiction in an effort to provide quality swim lessons for area children. The Red Cross program is designed to give students a positive learning experience. Students in Level I are oriented to the aquatic environment and gain some basic skills in each category. At later levels, students build on their basic skills to learn propulsive movements on both the front and the back. They learn different strokes at various levels and then refine them at later levels. Personal safety and rescue skills are included to help students meet safety goals. By the end of Level VI, students have all the prerequisite skills and have developed the necessary fitness level for entrance into the American Red Cross lifeguarding courses. Click HERE for a PDF to open with the 2008 swimming schedule. For regitration forms call Sandy at 660-9130 x100! Learn-to-Swim Levels The American Red Cross Swimming and Water Safety Program features six levels of learn to swim instruction to help swimmers of all ages and abilities develop their swimming and water safety skills. It is designed to give students a positive learning experience. American Red Cross Learn to Swim teaches aquatic and safety skills in a logical progression. The objective is to teach people to swim and to be safe in, on and around the water. The six learn-to-swim levels and the objectives for each level include: Level 1 - Introduction to Water Skills. Helps students feel comfortable in the water and to enjoy the water safely. Level 2 - Fundamental Aquatic Skills. Gives students success with fundamental skills. Level 3 - Stroke Development. Builds on the skills in Level 2 by providing additional guided practice. Level 4 - Stroke Improvement. Develops confidence in the strokes learned and to improve other aquatic skills. Level 5 - Stroke Refinement. Provides further coordination and refinement of strokes. Level 6 - Swimming and Skill Proficiency. Refines the strokes so students swim them with ease, efficiency, power and smoothness over greater distances. Level 6 is designed with "menu" options. Each of these options focus on preparing students to participate in more advance courses, such as Water Safety Instructor and Lifeguard Training. These options include: Personal Water Safety Lifeguard Readiness Fundamentals of Diving Fitness Swimming Water Safety Instructor Course The American Red Cross Water Safety Instructor course provides instructor candidates the training needed to teach courses in the American Red Cross Swimming and Water Safety program by developing their understanding of how to use the course materials, how to conduct training sessions and how to evaluate participants' progress. Concepts and features of the Water Safety Instructor course include: Minimum age prerequisite of 16 years of age to enter the course Course time of approximately 30 hours (including pre-course session) Clearly described and applied teaching strategies, including: Explain, demonstrate and practice; Task setting; Station teaching; and Guided discovery. Video segments that bring to life the realities of what to expect from their students throughout the levels for the brand new instructor. Video segments that focus on effective class management and effective teaching strategies in the aquatic setting. Various video segments show typical examples of basic skills and common progressions including breath control, swimming on the front and swimming on the back. Video segments also show some typical performance of the strokes as they progress through the levels. This video depiction helps instructor candidates visualize the description of the strokes in the written skills performance criteria charts that they will then be able to use when evaluating their students' performance. Supported by video, the instructor candidates work to develop their ability to observe and assess, often referred to as having a photographic eye, which will help them to identify weaknesses and determine how to intervene to move their students to the next level. Learning activities, games and drills are built in throughout the course; some are led by the instructor trainer while others are led by instructor candidates. This helps instructor candidates improve their strokes and understand how to integrate activities, games and drills effectively into their teaching. Multiple opportunities for instructor candidates to practice their teaching skills through formal practice teaching assignments as well as leading mini-lessons. Water Safety Presentations Water safety presentations provide lifesaving information on being safe in, on and around the water as well as the importance of learning to swim. By knowing the intended audience, these presentations can be customized to fit their needs. The water safety presentations include: Water Safety Today (2 hours): teaches individuals how to recognize, prevent and respond to emergencies in, on and around water. General Water Safety (30 minutes): provides individuals with an awareness of the importance of water safety training and key information on being safe in, on and around water. 15. Home Pool Safety (30 minutes): provides information for home pool and apartment pool owners on how to keep families, tenants and guests safe in an aquatic environment. Parent Orientation to Swimming Lessons (30 minutes): an orientation for parents about American Red Cross swimming lessons offered at local aquatic facilities. Longfellow's WHALE Tales Longfellow's WHALE Tales is targeted to children ages 5 to 12 to teach safe behavior in, on and around the water. The materials in the Longfellow's WHALE Tales K-6 Educational Packet are designed to give children an awareness of being safe around the water and to help promote healthful aquatic recreation. Swim Lessons help our children to have fun in the water safely. We're looking forward to summer, and lots of smiling faces. Don't forget your towel! To find out if your community is one of the provider communities on our list or to find the closest community that is, contact (802) 660-9130 x100.
	Northern Vermont Chapter — 29 Mansfield Ave. — Burlington, VT 05401 In VT: 800-660-9130 — Outside VT: 1-802-660-9130 Fax 802-660-9136

Working to keep your family safe