Swim Lesson Program
2024 registration info will be posted soon. We hope to open registrations around 5/1/24. We are in the process of completing summer hiring to ensure we have sufficient staff to run this program.
Tentative 2024 dates are listed below
Location: Mendon Town Beach, 45 Taft Ave.
Price: $80 per session for Mendon Residents, Add $15 for Non-Residents ($95).
When:
Level 4* & 6* @ 8:20 – 8:50 AM
Level 3 & 5*@ 9:00 – 9:30 AM
Level 2 @ 9:40 – 10:10 AM
Level 1 @ 10:20 – 10:50 AM
*times for levels 4-6 are subject to change within the 8:20-11am time block pending enrollment numbers
General Lesson Policies
If your child is attending the Kids 'N' Us Summer Rec Program they may also participate in the lesson program. Please note that they may miss lessons on the Wednesdays when field trips are scheduled.
A Parent or Guardian MUST remain on-site during lessons (unless child is part of the rec program)
Classes are held rain or shine and will only be canceled in the case of severe inclement weather. Make-up days will only be used in the case of cancellations due to inclement weather, notice of cancellation will be emailed as well as posted to our social media pages.
There is no free-swim allowed during lessons, only those actively participating in lessons are allowed int eh water. The beach opens to the public at 11am.
2024 Lesson Dates
Course Descriptions
Level 1: Water Exploration
Minimum age for Level 1: 4 years old
(Child must be able to follow instructions and enter/ exit the water independently)
Suggested age range: 4-7
Purpose: To help students feel comfortable in the water
and to enjoy water safely.
Topics Covered:
Understand the basic water safety rules
Know how to get help
Enter and exit water independently
Fully submerge face for 3 seconds
Blow bubbles through the mouth and nose
Bounce in chest-deep water (bob) to chin level 10 times
Walk 5 yards in chest-deep water, maintaining balance
Float, while supported, on front & back
Kick, while supported, on front & back
Practice basic alternating arm action
Final Assessment:
Enter independently, using either the ladder, steps, or side, travel at least 5 yards, bob 3 times then safely exit the water. (Participants can walk or “swim.”)
Glide on front at least 2 body lengths, roll to a back float for 3 seconds and recover to a vertical position. (This part of the assessment can be performed with support.)
Level 2: Fundamental Aquatic Skills
Suggested age range: 5-8
Purpose: Expand on fundamental aquatic locomotion and safety skills.
Topics Covered:
Enter the water by jumping into shoulder deep water
Hold breath and fully submerge head for 5 seconds
Explore deep water, with floatation support
Submerge to retrieve object in chest-deep water
Float or glide on front, unsupported, for 5 seconds
Float or glide on back, unsupported, for 15 seconds
Perform flutter kick on front & back (support optional)
Turn over from front to back and back to front
Float on back while finning with hands
Practice back crawl arm action
Perform combined (kick & arms) stroke front, 5 yards
Perform combined (kick & arms) stroke back, 5 yards)
Review water safety topics
Final Assessment:
Step from side into chest-deep water, move into a front float for 5 seconds, roll to back, float for 5 seconds then return to a vertical position.
Move into a back float for 5 seconds, roll to front then recover to a vertical position.
Push off and swim using combined arm and leg actions on front for 5 body lengths, roll to back, float for 15 seconds, roll to the front then continue swimming for 5 body lengths. (You can assist the participant when taking a breath.)
Level 3: Stroke Development
Suggested age range: 7-14
Purpose: Increase swimming skill competency
by building on skills from Level
Topics Covered:
Enter water by jumping into deep water
Practice entering water headfirst (in water at least 9 ft deep)
Bob in water slightly over head to travel to safe area
Perform 15 bobs in chest-deep water
Do Front Crawl, 15 yards
Do back crawl, 10 yards
Do elementary backstroke kick, 15 yards
Tread water for 30 seconds
Reverse direction while swimming on back
Coordinate arm stroke for front crawl while breathing to the front or side, 10 yards
Perform front glide with push-off, 2 body lengths
Perform back glide with push-off, 2 body lengths
Reverse direction while swimming on front
Final Assessment:
Jump into deep water from the dock, swim front crawl for 15 yards, maintain position by treading or floating for 30 seconds and swim elementary backstroke for 15 yards.
Level 4: Stroke Improvement
Suggested age range: 7-16
Purpose: Develop confidence and competency in strokes and improve skills learned; introduce breaststroke and sidestroke.
Topics Covered:
Both headfirst and feet first diving off of the far dock (9+ ft. deep)
Swim underwater 3-5 body lengths
Practice deep water bobbing
Experiment with buoyancy and floating position
Practice treading water with a modified scissors, modified breaststroke and/or rotary kicks (2 minutes)
Front crawl, 25 yards with rotary breathing
Back crawl, 15 yards
Elementary backstroke, 25 yards
Sidestroke 15 yards
Breaststroke, 15 yards
Butterfly 15 yards
Final Assessment:
Perform a feet first entry into deep water, swim front crawl for 25 yards, change direction and position as necessary and swim elementary backstroke for 25 yards.
Swim breaststroke for 15 yards, change direction and position as necessary and swim back crawl for 15 yards.
Level 5: Stroke Refinement
Suggested age range: 9-16
Purpose: Continue stroke refinement; introduce butterfly
Topics Covered:
Shallow angle dive, glide 2 body lengths and begin any stroke
Surface dives
Continue refinement of front crawl, back crawl, elementary backstroke, breaststroke and sidestroke
Swim under water 3 body lengths
Tread water 2 minutes with 2 different kicks
Front crawl, 50 yards
Elementary Backstroke, 50 yards
Back crawl, 25 yards
Sidestroke, 25 yards
Breaststroke, 25 yards
Butterfly, 25 yards
Final Assessment:
Perform a shallow-angle dive into deep water, swim front crawl for 50 yards, change direction and position of travel as necessary and swim elementary backstroke for 50 yards.
Swim breaststroke for 25 yards, change direction and position of travel as necessary and swim back crawl for 25 yards.
Level 6: Swimming and Skill Proficiency
Suggested age range: 11-18
Purpose: Develop maximum efficiency and endurance for strokes.
Topics Covered:
Front Crawl, 100 yards
Back Crawl, 50 yards
Elementary Backstroke, 100 yards
Breaststroke, 50 yards
Sidestroke, 50 yards
Butterfly, 50 yards
Turns while swimming
Surface Dives and retrieving objects 7-10 feet deep
Back float, 5 minutes
Tread water for 3 minutes, 1 minute without hands, 2 minutes with hands
Final Assessment:
Swim 500 yards continuously using any 3 strokes, swimming at least 50 yards of each stroke.
Jump into deep water, perform a survival float for 5 minutes, roll onto back and perform a back float for 5 minutes.
Perform a feet first surface dive, retrieve an object from the bottom of the pool at a depth of 7–10 feet, and return to starting point.
Swim out to the island and back