Kids & Youth Swim

Learning to swim lasts a lifetime. Our programs encourage everyone to have fun and be comfortable in the water. Our Lifesaving Society swimming lessons develop great swimmers. All instructors are certified by the Lifesaving Society and High-Five™ trained.

A fun and safe environment for your child to gain confidence, learn water safety, and develop basic swimming skills

Learning to swim lasts a lifetime. Our programs encourage everyone to have fun and be comfortable in the water. Our Lifesaving Society swimming lessons develop great swimmers. All instructors are certified by the Lifesaving Society and High-Five™ trained.

Kids & Youth Swim Programs

Parent & Tot Classes

This program provides an introduction to the aquatic environment and to basic swimming skills for children with support from their parent or guardian. Parents will learn strategies to help their children become water ready. This will be done through skills, games and songs lead by the instructor.

Through in-water interaction between parent and child, this Lifesaving Society class stresses the importance of play in developing water-positive attitudes and skills. Since activities and progressions are based on child development, parents should register in the level appropriate for their child’s age. Targeted Water Smart® drowning prevention messages are an integrated into the program.

One caregiver per participant must always participate in the water.

Parent & Tot Level 1

Designed for children 4 to 12 months old

Together with your child, your child will learn to enter and exit the water safely, help your child feel safe in the water with your assistance. You will practice simple swim concepts with your child. Here are some examples: Floating on back, front float face out of the water, arms splashing, paddling, legs splashing and kicking all while the parent or guardian holds onto the child.

Parent & Tot Level 2

Designed for children 12 to 24 months old

Together with your child, your child will learn to enter the pool from a sitting position and to exit the water. You will practice simple swim concepts with your child. Here are some examples: Blowing bubbles, getting your face into the water, front float face in, back float, kicking and on front and back all while the parent or guardian hold onto the child.

Parent & Tot Level 3

Designed for children 2 to 3 years old

Together with your child, your child will learn to jump into the pool, enter and submerge from a seated position and exit the water unassisted. You will practice simple swim concepts. Here are some examples: Hold breath underwater, attempt to open eyes under water, attempt to get object from underwater, jump entry and float wear a lifejacket, front and back starfish and pencil floats all while parent or guardian assists the child.

Class Capacity

Group lesson (4 people per class)

Spring Lessons (April 11 to June 19, 2023)

  • Schedule: Visit our online portal to view the Spring schedule and to register online.
  • Group Lesson Fees: $162 for 9 lessons, or $180 for 10 lessons

Spring Registration is Now Open

You can register and pay online for all swim lessons and courses. If you have any questions, please contact the Recreation Supervisor at aquatics@universitysettlement.ca, or call 416‑598‑3444 ext. 228.

Preschool Program (Lessons for Ages 3 to 5)

This is the first opportunity for a child to participate in a swim program without their guardian. It may also be their first swimming experience. Students will learn skills such as floats, glides, kicks, surface support and more!

Preschool programs develop an appreciation and healthy respect for the water. In our five basic aquatic progressions we work to ensure 3 to 5 year-olds become comfortable in the water and have fun developing a foundation of water skills. Targeted Water Smart® drowning prevention messages are an integrated into the program.

Preschool Level 1

In Preschool Level 1, your child will practice swim skills to get them more familiar with the water, such as: enter and exit shallow water with assistance, jump into chest deep water with assistance, face in the water, blowing bubbles, front and back float assisted, and gliding on front and back assisted.

Preschool Level 2

In Preschool Level 2, your child will practice swim skills to get them more familiar with the water, such as: enter and exit shallow water wearing lifejacket, jump into chest deep water, submerge and exhale, float on front and back with a buoyant aid, roll front to back and back to front wearing lifejacket, glide front and back with buoyancy aid, flutter kick and back kick with buoyancy aid.

Preschool Level 3

In Preschool Level 3, your child will practice swim skills to get them more familiar with the water, such as: jump into deep water with buoyancy aid and exit, hold breath under water, submerge and exit, recover object from bottom of shallow end, back float-roll to front-swim 3 meters, float on front, glide on front and back, flutter kick back and front.

Preschool Level 4

In Preschool Level 4, your child will practice swim skills to get them more familiar with the water, such as: jump into deep water, return, and exit, tread water with lifejacket, open eyes underwater, recover object from bottom of water, sideways entry into deep water with lifejacket-tread 15 second, swim 5m, glide on side, flutter kick-front, back and side, front crawl wearing lifejacket.

Class Capacity

Group lesson (4 per class)

Spring Lessons (April 11 to June 19, 2023)

  • Schedule: Visit our online portal to view the Spring schedule and to register online
  • Group Lesson Fees: $162 for 9 lessons, or $180 for 10 lessons

Spring Registration is Now Open

You can register and pay online for all swim lessons and courses. If you have any questions, please contact the Recreation Supervisor at aquatics@universitysettlement.ca, or call 416‑598‑3444 ext. 228.

Swimmer Program (Lessons for Ages 5 to 12)

The Swimmer Program is for children who are learning to swim at a beginner level. This includes kids who are learning how to float in the water to those learning to swim 2 lengths of a pool.

The Lifesaving Society’s Swimmer program accommodates children 5 years and older including absolute beginners as well as swimmers who want to build on the basics. This 6-level program stresses lots of in-water practice to develop solid swimming strokes and skills and incorporates Water Smart® education in all levels.

Swimmer Level 1

Your child will practice skills to improve their swimming abilities and to prepare them for advancement. Examples of skills taught at this level: enter and exit shallow water, jump into chest deep water, tread water with lifejacket, 30 sec., hold breath underwater, submerge and exhale, open eyes underwater, float on front and back, glide on front, back and side, flutter kick on front and back, front crawl 5m, wearing lifejacket

Swimmer Level 2

Your child will practice skills to improve their swimming abilities and to prepare them for advancement. Examples of skills taught in this level: jump into deep water, return and exit, sideways entry wearing lifejacket, tread water 15 sec, recover objects from bottom of chest deep water, flutter kick on front, back and side 10m, whip kick in vertical position with aid, front and back crawl 10m, interval training

Swimmer Level 3

Your child will practice skills to improve their swimming abilities and to prepare them for advancement. Examples of skills taught in this level: kneeling dive into deep water, forward roll entry into deep water, tread water 30s, handstand in shallow water, front somersault in water, flutter on back and reverse and repeat, whip kick on back, front and back crawl 15m, interval training

Swimmer Level 4

Your child will practice skills to improve their swimming abilities and to prepare them for advancement. Examples of skills taught in this level: standing dive in deep water, tread water 1m, swim underwater, whip kick front, breaststroke arms drills, front and back crawl 25m, interval training, sprint front crawl 25m

Swimmer Level 5/6

Swimmer Level 5: Your child will practice skills to improve their swimming abilities and to prepare them for advancement. Examples of skills taught in this level: shallow dive into deep water, tuck jump into deep water, jump entry into deep water and tread for 2m, stationary eggbeater kick, back somersault in the water, breaststroke 25m, front and back crawl 50m each, head up front crawl 10m, interval training, sprint front and back crawl 25m.

Swimmer Level 6: Your child will practice skills to improve their swimming abilities and to prepare them for advancement. Examples of skills taught in this level: Stride entry into deep water, compact jump into deep water, legs only surface support, swim underwater 10m to recover an object, eggbeater kick on back, scissor kick, breaststroke 50m, front and back crawl 100m, head up swim 25m, interval training, sprint breaststroke.

Class Capacity

Group lesson (4 per class)

Spring Lessons (April 11 to June 19, 2023)

  • Schedule: Visit our online portal to view the Spring schedule and to register online.
  • Group Lesson Fees: $162 for 9 lessons, or $180 for 10 lessons

Spring Registration is Now Open

You can register and pay online for all swim lessons and courses. If you have any questions, please contact the Recreation Supervisor at aquatics@universitysettlement.ca, or call 416‑598‑3444 ext. 228.

Private Lessons

Private Lessons are one-on-one swim instruction with a Lifesaving Society Certified instructor. The great thing about Private lessons is that you can learn at your pace and you can communicate your personal swimming goals with the instructor.

Private lessons are available for all age groups.

Capacity

1 person

Spring Lessons (April 11 to June 19, 2023)

  • Schedule: Visit our online portal to view the Spring schedule and to register online.
  • Private Lesson Fees: $297 for 9 lessons, or $330 for 10 lessons

Spring Registration is Now Open

You can register and pay online for all swim lessons and courses. If you have any questions, please contact the Recreation Supervisor at aquatics@universitysettlement.ca, or call 416‑598‑3444 ext. 228.

Settlement Sharks (Youth Swim Team for Ages 7 to 17)

Settlement Sharks competitive swim team is for those who want to improve their swimming strokes. The entire program is focused on the competitive practice of swimming as fast as possible. This program is special compared to the Swimmer Program because of the opportunities to challenge and develop yourself along with our friendly competitors from other centres.

This program has three goals that we try to achieve at every practice and meet: stroke improvement, fun, and competition!

All swim meets are optional. Swim meets may require travel to a different pool to compete. Swimmers must be able to complete at least 2 lengths of the pool non-stop.

Capacity

16 people

Spring Schedule (April 11 to June 19, 2023)

  • Schedule: Visit our online portal to view the Spring schedule and to register online.
  • Fees: Settlement Sharks Swim Team is FREE for Spring 2023

Spring Registration is Now Open

You can register online for Settlement Sharks. If you have any questions, please contact the Recreation Supervisor at aquatics@universitysettlement.ca, or call 416‑598‑3444 ext. 228.

Agency Membership Fees: In addition to program fees, an annual Agency Membership ($25 plus HST per year) is required for all individuals participating in swim lessons and courses at University Settlement.

Free Leisure Swim (All Ages)

Come and enjoy the pool. Have fun and get comfortable in the water. Our Free Leisure Swims are open to all ages – adults, seniors, kids, and youth. Everyone in the pool!

  • Shallow and deep areas separated
  • Proper supervision ratios
  • Age restrictions for swimming alone
  • Swim tests for deep-end access apply

Capacity

30 people

Fall/Winter Schedule (September 6, 2022 to April 6, 2023)

  • Tuesday and Thursday: 10:00 am to 11:00 am
  • Friday: 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm
  • Saturday and Sunday: 2:00 pm to 3:45 pm

Fees

Included in University Settlement Agency Membership

Note: For a family booking with kids, one parent has to be an agency member & can book for a maximum of 4 family members within the same household.

Please note: This is a drop-in program on a first come, first serve basis. Spots are limited.

Family Swim

Don’t forget to check out our Family Swim programs!

Friendly Reminder: Don’t Forget to Bring your Mask, Gear, and Water

Mask wearing is not required but it is encouraged. Please wear a mask in all indoor spaces (including locker rooms). Don’t forget to bring any gear you need, including your own water bottle (filled).

High Five

Proudly HIGH FIVE™ Accredited

HIGH FIVE™ is Canada’s only comprehensive quality standard for children’s programs. Based on a holistic approach to healthy child development, it’s quality framework addresses Staff Training and Development, Program Assessments, Policies/Procedures, and Awareness.