Aquatics

American Red Cross Lifeguard Course

The purpose of the American Red Cross Lifeguarding course is to provide entry-level lifeguard participants with the knowledge and skills to prevent, recognize and respond to aquatic emergencies, and to provide care for breathing and cardiac emergencies, injuries, and sudden illnesses until Emergency Medical Services (EMS) personnel take over. The course also includes training and certification in CPR for the Professional Rescuer and First Aid. Red Cross textbook, Lifeguarding, is included. Participants must attend all class sessions. Prerequisites: Participants must be at least 15 years old and pass a swimming pre-test given at the first class.
Class limit: 10.

American Red Cross Water Safety Instructor Blended Course

The purpose of the American Red Cross Water Safety Instructor course is to train instructor candidates to teach courses and presentations in the American Red Cross Swimming and Water Safety program by developing their understanding of how to use the course materials, how to conduct training sessions, and how to evaluate participants’ progress. The blended learning delivery method of the Water Safety Instructor course is intended to be organized so that instructor candidates alternate between progressing through the simulation learning content and the corresponding in-person session at the aquatic facility. Textbooks are included. Participants must attend all class sessions. Prerequisites: Participants must be 16 years or older, have mastered skills taught in the Level 6 course and pass a pre-course skills test.
Class limit: 10.

Community education aquatics is hiring water safety instructors and lifeguards for spring and summer swim lessons. If you have experience or interest in working with our swim programs, apply online today! For more information, please contact community education at 320-370-8200.

Current positions available:

• Lifeguard: Lifeguards must be 16 years of age or older, and hold current CPR-AED, Lifeguard Training and First Aid Certifications. Lifeguards are responsible for ensuring the safety of all patrons by preventing and responding to emergencies. Community education is offering certification and re-certification courses. View available sessions and register online today! 
• Water Safety Instructor: Water safety instructors must be 16 years of age and hold current CPR-AED, First Aid and Water Safety Instructor certifications. Instructors are responsible for planning, coordinating and teaching community education aquatics classes to individuals and groups of all ages.

View our open positions.

For questions, please contact community education at 320-370-8200.

Adult Classes

Adult Classes - Register today!

Baby Bobbers-Parent/Child, Toddler Time and Preschool

Swim lesson classes are 25 minutes long and meet 8 times. Only the Baby Bobbers-Parent/Child
and Toddler Time class requires an adult to get into the water with child. Baby Bobbers, Toddler Time, Preschool swim lessons cost $29. Please see descriptions below.

Baby Bobbers (ages 6 to 24 months) Designed to orient your child (accompanied by parent) to better prepare them for Baby Bobbers II swim lessons. Parents will learn safety information and techniques to help your child feel comfortable in the water. This class provides a bonding experience for parents and their children. Class limit: 15.

Toddler Time (ages 2-3) Designed to orient your toddler (accompanied by a parent) to better prepare them for preschool swim lessons. Toddlers will learn to ease the transition from parent to instructor and become more comfortable with their skills and surroundings. Skills we will start focusing on are: safety, kicking, paddle, floats and underwater exploration. Class limit: 15.|

Beginner Preschool (ages 3 to 4) Skills taught include safety topics, water adjustments, kicking, floating with support, front and back paddle, breath control and completely submerging. Parents do not need to get into the water with their child. Class limit: 5.

Advanced Preschool (ages 3 to 4) Skills taught include safety topics, front and back paddle, kicking, treading water and advanced breath control. The goal in this class is to perform each skill unassisted. Parents do not need to get into the water with their child. Class limit: 5.

Swim 1- 6

Swim 1-6 and PREP classes are 40 minutes long and meet 8 times. Swim 1-6 costs $40. Please see the descriptions below. We encourage participants to complete all swim levels to ensure learning all swimming skills and strokes.

Swim 1 (ages 5 & up) Participants become comfortable in the water, learning basic skills. Safety topics include pool rules, recognizing a lifeguard, safe water entry, being able to recall name and phone number, helping yourself in an emergency and proper use of a life jacket. Class limit: 5. Skills:

Swim 2 (ages 5 & up) Participants learn to swim without support. Safety topics include being able to recall parents/guardians' names, home address, proper use of life jackets and boat safety. Class limit: 6.

Swim 3 (ages 5 & up) Participants learn to be comfortable with new skills in deep water and learn new strokes. Safety topics include helping yourself and others in an emergency, safe weather conditions for swimming and proper use of life jackets. Class limit: 6. Skills:

Swim 4 (ages 5 & up) Participants increase endurance, improve skills learned in Swim classes 1-3, while learning new skills. Safety topics include basic first aid, reaching assist and proper use of a life jacket. Class limit: 8. Skills:

Swim 5 (ages 5 & up) Participants learn ways to improve efficiency for strokes learned in Swim classes 1-4 while learning new skills. Safety topics include first aid, throwing assist and proper use of a life jacket. Class limit: 8. Skills:

Swim 6 (ages 5 & up)
Participants have learned all strokes and will concentrate on refining their technique. Safety topics include recognizing spinal injury and proper use of a life jacket. Class limit: 8. Skills:

Private Lessons for Adults and Children

These lessons are 25 minutes long and meet 8 times. Private lessons are designed to give any participant the individualized attention necessary to improve or master swimming skills. Together, the instructor, participant(s) and/or parent, determine the goals for the session, and the curriculum is customized to meet your goals.

• Enter and exit the water
• Blowing bubbles
• Bob underwater
• Pick up an object under water
• Front/back floats
• Front/back blast-offs
• Flip flops (rolling from front to back)
• Flutter kick on the wall
• Front/back paddle
• Treading water motions
• Jump into chest-deep water and return to the edge of the pool
• Bob underwater and hold breath
• Front/back float
• Front/back blast off
• Flip flops (rolling from front to back and back to front)
• Flutter kick with kick board
• Treading water
• Front/back crawl
• Breaststroke kick
• Jump into deep water and return to the wall
• Swim underwater and pick up an object
• Front/back float in the deep end
• Flutter kick on front/back with kick board
• Treading water in the deep end
• Front crawl with rhythmic breathing
• Back crawl
• Elementary backstroke
• Breaststroke kick
• Breaststroke arm motion
• Feet-first surface dive in the deep end
• Somersault
• Open turn: Front crawl
• Open turn: Back crawl
• Treading water
• Flutter kick on front/back with kick board
• Breaststroke kick with kick board
• Front/back crawl
• Elementary backstroke
• Breaststroke
• Dolphin kick
• Feet-first surface dive into 7 ft. and pick up an object
• Flip turn: Front crawl
• Flip turn: Back crawl
• Treading water
• Flutter/dolphin/breaststroke kick with kick board
• Front/back crawl with flip turn
• Elementary back stroke
• Breaststroke
• Butterfly
• Sidestroke
• Feet first surface dive and pick up a brick
• Open turn breaststroke/butterfly
• Tread water, kick only
• Flutter/dolphin/breaststroke kick with kick board
• Front/back crawl with flip turn
• Elementary back stroke
• Breaststroke with open turn
• Butterfly with open turn
• Sidestroke