Red Cross Swimming Lessons

One of my recurring summer jobs was a position as a swimming instructor. As each summer wore on, there was always a constant flow of children all at different levels of experience. However, there was one class every summer that was consistently full to overflowing--the adult class. I was constantly amazed at the amount of adults who had never learned to swim and from that experience I learned to fully appreciate my time at summer camp.

Swimming Programs

My parents taught me to enjoy being in the water from a very young age but it was at summer camp that I learned advanced skills, strokes and safety. The camps I attended employed certified American Red Cross instructors who ensured that each member of their swimming classes mastered basic techniques, from the crawl to the butterfly. Summer camps are the perfect place to teach these techniques, as well as safety around water, since most camps have waterfronts or swimming pools.

The Red Cross programs are designed to help each student to have a positive experience in and around the water. The program has six levels and advancement to a higher level means that the student has mastered all of the skills in the lower level. For instance, level two is where students learn beginning strokes--how to use one's arms and legs to propel forward, swimming on the stomach, and on the back. Once the student moves to level three, the focus begins to be on how to execute specific strokes such as the crawl or the breaststroke.

Each level also has an element of water safety, including basic skill for water emergencies like how to safely throw a lifesaving device, for example. Students at advanced levels can choose to learn the fundamentals of being a lifeguard, diving techniques, or swimming for maximum fitness. Camps that employ Red Cross instructors will be able to accommodate all levels of water proficiency and will ensure that their waterfronts are safe and enjoyable.