The Parks and Recreation Department follows the American Red Cross Learn-to-Swim Program. Lessons are for all ages. It's a progressive program with 6 levels, each with specific skill requirements.
*If your child has taken lessons with us previously, please reference their most recent Achievement Card for the appropriate level. If not, please reference the American Red Cross Swim & Water Safety Level Requirements to choose the appropriate level based on their skills. American Red Cross Swim & Water Safety Level Requirements
Due to popular demand, we are limiting registration and wait lists to one class per child per week. If your child becomes wait listed for a level and a spot becomes available, an e-mail notification from Glastonbury Parks and Recreation will be sent to you and payment must be made within 2 business days. Be sure to check your account regularly.
Once the session begins, registration for that session will no longer be available.
Please make sure your child(ren) is in their swimwear and are ready to go at the start of the lesson. Changing facilities are available to use at the pool.
Parent/Child Swim Classes
Infant/Toddler: Ages 6 months-3 years with a parent/guardian in the water.
Tots: Ages 3 and 4 years with parents; parents work with their children to learn breath control, submerging in the water, buoyancy/floating on the water; and moving through the water on their front and back.
Child-Only Swim Classes
Learn to Swim Program for Levels 1-6
This program features an inclusive approach to teaching swimming and water safety together. To enter level 1 children must be at least 5 years old. To move to the next level students must successfully complete the exit skills for each level before progressing to the next level. An Achievement Card will be given at the end of each session with level recommendations for future classes. All levels include water safety discussions and skills. To enroll for a level, your child must meet the following criteria:
Level 1: Introduction to Water Skills
At least 5 years old with little or no prior water experience.
Level 2: Fundamentals of Aquatics
Students should be comfortable in and under the water; to be able to float on front and back; and to perform elementary front and back strokes for at least 2 body lengths with or without support.
Level 3: Stroke Development
Students should be able to independently enter; to submerge and blow bubbles; to tread water 15 seconds and to move through the water using simultaneous and alternating leg and arm actions for at least 5 body lengths.
Level 4: Stroke Improvement
Students should be able to survival float; to tread water 30 seconds; to swim front crawl and elementary backstrokes for 15 yards; to perform the dolphin kick for 5 body lengths; to scissors kick for 10 yards; and to do a head first entry into the water.
Level 5: Stroke Refinement
Students should be able to swim front crawl and elementary backstroke for 25 yards each; to swim the side stroke, the breast stroke and the butterfly stroke each for 15 yards; to tread water 2 minutes; to change direction doing an open turn at the wall; to do a foot first surface dive.
Level 6: Fitness Swimming
Students should be able to swim both front crawl and elementary backstroke for 50 yards; to swim the back crawl, breaststroke, side stroke and butterfly each for 25 yards; to tread water 5 minutes; to flip turn using both front and back strokes; to dive from pool side and to do tuck and pike surface dives and to scull on the back.
Both groups will focus on stroke development as well.