Lauren understand that swimming is a lifelong skill that particularly here on the west coast is a necessity. Students need to not only understand and navigate challenges of swimming, but also how to have conference in their abilities so they can enjoy time at the lake or a beach day. 

In this level, students are being introduced to the water and the aquatic environment. Student are just starting out on their own and will be doing assisted floats, bubbles, and games.

(At other pools this might be considered to be Sea Otter)

In this level student have had previous experience in the aquatic environment. Students are learning to jump into chest deep water, float and glad on their front and back and blow bubbles and get their face wet. 

(in similar and equivalent to salamander)

At this level, students are now comfortable with their face being in the water and blowing bubbles. Students will jump into the water comfortably and are able to float for 3 second on their front and back. Students are also learning about deep water and are doing assisted floats in deep water. Finally students are swimming with assistance for 5 m.

(Similar and equivalent to Sunfish and Crocodile)

Students are now jumping into the deep end and learning to float for 5 seconds on their own. Students are able to hold their breath, are learning to do unassisted floats and glides, and are swimming 5 m comfortably. Students are also being introduced to front crawl. 

(Equivalent to Whale)

Student is 5-15 years old and is just starting out. The student has no prior experience. Student would be learning to float, move through water with assistance and gain convenience with their face in the water. 

Student can float, open their eyes under water, blow bubbles and hold their breath. Student is learning to glide on their front and back and preform front crawl.

Student is learning how to do surface support for 15 second, float on their own in deep water, jump in with assistance into deep water. Student can glide, and is learning front crawl and back crawl.

Student can tread water for 30 seconds, is learning diving techniques, is learning their whip kick and is doing basic front and back crawl. Student is working towards a goal of swimming 25 m.

Student is able to tread water for one minute, swim 50 m and can swim 5 m under water. Student is learning how to do whip kick on front and back and can do front and back crawl for 10 m.

Student is able to swim 50 m in both front and back crawl, student is able to start learning breast stroke. Student is diving in a controlled manner and is treading water for 2 minutes.

Student is able to do sprints in all their strokes, they are completing a 100 m distance swim and 75 m on both their front and back. Successful completion would also include treading water for 3 minutes

Students are preforming all strokes and improving technique for Breast Stroke, Elementary Back Stroke, Front Crawl and Back Crawl. Student is learning Side Stroke. Student is able to rescue another swimmer of similar size. Student is able to swim a 150m of the pool and is treading water for 4 minutes. 

Students are able to swim 100 meters of breast stroke and Elementary Back stroke. Student are able to swim 150 meters of front crawl and back crawl. Students are preforming rescues and learning CPR. Student is able to treat water for 5 minutes or 1 minute with no hands. 

While I do not teach these courses, I do offer refresher training and can assist in preperation for the courses. Students should be able to preform the above skills with ease before doing Bronze Cross courses (Bronze Star, Bronze Medallion and Bronze Cross)