Aqua Tots

(Ages 6 months to 5 years with parent or guardian)

Enjoy swimming with your child while building swimming readiness by emphasizing fun in the water for children ages 6 to 36 months old accompanied by a parent or guardian. Parents learn to help their child adjust to the water and develop safety awareness. Participants become comfortable in the water learning basic swimming skills with assistance from a parent or guardian. Safety topics include basic water safety, healthy swimming, safe water entry, helping yourself and others in an emergency, use of lifejackets, safe weather conditions for swimming, and waterpark safety. *Each child must be accompanied by a parent/guardian in the water during class.

Skills (may be performed with flotation or assistance):

• Enter the water
• Submerge head
• Bob underwater and blow bubbles, 3 times
• Front float, face in or out of water, 3 sec.
• Front glide, face in or out of water
• Back float, ears in or out of water, 3 sec.
• Back glide, ears in or out of water
• Roll over: front to back/back to front
• Paddle stroke on front, face in or out of water, 5 yd.
• Finning stroke on back (back crawl arms or Monkey, Tree, Soldier arms), ears in water, 5 yd.

Register here

Aqua Kids 1

Without parent, ages 3 to 5

Participants become comfortable in the water learning basic swimming skills without a parent or guardian in the water with them. Safety topics include basic water safety, healthy swimming, safe water entry, helping yourself and others in an emergency, use of lifejackets, safe weather conditions for swimming, and waterpark safety.

Skills (may be performed with flotation or assistance):

• Enter the water independently
• Submerge head
• Bob underwater and blow bubbles, 3 times
• Front float, face in or out of water
• Front glide, face in or out of water
• Back float, ears in or out of water
• Back glide, ears in or out of water
• Roll over: front to back/back to front
• Paddle stroke on front, face in or out of water, 5 yd.
• Monkey, Tree, Soldier arms on back, ears in or out of water, 5 yd.

Register Here

Aqua Kids 2

Ages 3 to 5

Participants continue to develop swimming skills and endurance to swim longer distances with floatation. Safety topics include basic water safety, healthy swimming, safe water entry, helping yourself and others in an emergency, use of lifejackets, safe weather conditions for swimming, and waterpark safety. Skills (may be performed with flotation):

• Jump into chest-deep water and return to the edge of pool
• Bob underwater, blowing bubbles, 5 times
• Front float, face in water, 10 sec.
• Front glide, turn and swim back to the wall, face in water
• Back float, ears in water, 10 sec.
• Back glide, roll over, turn and swim back to the wall, ears in water
• Paddle stroke on front, face in/out of water, 5 yd.
• Monkey, Tree, Soldier arms, on back, ears in water, 5 yd.

Prerequisite: Completion of Aqua Kids 1 or have equivalent skills.

Register here

Beginner 1

(Ages 5 and up)

Participants become comfortable in the water learning basic swimming skills and building endurance to swim longer distances more independently. Safety topics include basic water safety, healthy swimming, safe water entry, helping yourself and others in an emergency, use of lifejackets, safe weather conditions for swimming, and waterpark safety.

Skills:

• Jump into chest-deep water
• Bob underwater, blowing bubbles, 3 times
• Front float, face in water, 3 sec.
• Front glide, face in water
• Back float, ears in water, 3 sec.
• Back glide, ears in water
• Roll over: Front to back/Back to front
• Paddle stroke on front, face in water, 5 yd.
• Monkey, Tree, Soldier arms, ears in water, 5 yd.
• Back crawl arms, ears in water, 5 yd. (with assistance)

Prerequisite: Completion of Aqua Kids 2 or have equivalent skills.

register here

Beginner 2

(Ages 5 and up)

Participants learn to swim without flotation or assistance for longer distances. Safety topics include basic water safety, healthy swimming, safe water entry, helping yourself and others in an emergency, use of lifejackets, safe weather conditions for swimming, and waterpark safety.

Skills:

• Jump into chest-deep water and return to the edge of pool
• Bob underwater, blowing bubbles, 5 times
• Front float, 10 sec.
• Front glide, turn and swim back to the wall
• Back float, 10 sec.
• Back glide, roll over, turn and swim back to the wall
• Tread water, 10 sec.
• Paddle stroke on front, 15 yd.
• Elementary backstroke arms, 10 yd
• Back crawl, 5 yd.

Prerequisite: Completion of Beginner 1 or have equivalent skills.

register here

Intermediate 1

(ages 5 and up)

Participants learn to be comfortable with new skills in deep water and learn front crawl, back crawl and elementary backstroke to basic standards of competency. Safety topics include basic water safety, healthy swimming, safe water entry, helping yourself and others in an emergency, use of lifejackets, safe weather conditions for swimming, and waterpark safety.

Skills:

• Jump into deep water
• Kneeling dive
• Survival float, 20 sec.
• Back float, 20 sec.
• Tread water, 20 sec.
• Front crawl, 15 yd.
• Back crawl, 15 yd.
• Elementary backstroke, 15 yd.
• Breaststroke kick, 15 yd.

Prerequisite: Completion of or Beginner 2 or have equivalent skills.

register here

Intermediate 2

(Ages 5 and up)

Participants increase endurance, improve competency for strokes learned in Intermediate 1 and learn breaststroke to basic standards of competency. Safety topics include basic water safety, healthy swimming, safe water entry, helping yourself and others in an emergency, use of lifejackets, safe weather conditions for swimming, and waterpark safety.

Skills:

• Standing dive
• Swim under water, 5 yd., retrieve object
• Feet-first surface dive
• Somersault
• Open turn: Front crawl
• Open turn: Back crawl
• Tread water, 1 min.
• Front crawl, 25 yd.
• Elementary backstroke, 25 yd.
• Back crawl, 25 yd.
• Breaststroke, 15 yd.
• Dolphin kick, 15 yd.

Prerequisite: Completion of Intermediate 1 or have equivalent skills.

register here

Advanced

(Ages 5 and up)

Participants learn advanced skills used in competitive swimming and lifeguarding, improve competency for strokes learned in Intermediate 2 and learn butterfly and sidestroke to basic standards of competency. Safety topics include basic water safety, healthy swimming, safe water entry, helping yourself and others in an emergency, use of lifejackets, safe weather conditions for swimming, and waterpark safety.

Skills:

• Shallow dive
• Head-first surface dive to 7 ft. and retrieve object
• Flip turn: Front crawl
• Flip turn: Back crawl
• Tread water, 2 min. using different kicks
• Front crawl, 50 yd.
• Back crawl, 50 yd.
• Breaststroke, 50 yd.
• Butterfly, 25 yd.
• Sidestroke, 25 yd.

Prerequisite: Completion of Intermediate 2 or have equivalent skills.

register here

Private/Semi-Private Lessons

This class is designed to aid those who need extra help passing a level or working on a specific skill. More individualized attention will be given to specific areas of need. Additional times beyond those listed below will be determined by pool and instructor availability. All lessons are private lessons unless two registrations are submitted together and indicate a semi-private preference.

*We also offer 4 day sessions of private, semi-private or adapted lessons only during the summer sessions.

Ratios: Private = 1:1, Semi-Private = 1:2

register here

Adaptive Lessons

This class is for children with mild disabilities who may need one to one instruction. Students will follow the curriculum from one of our swim lessons levels with modifications to strokes and skills as necessary, in a safe environment. Additional times beyond those listed in our catalog or online will be determined by pool and instructor availability. Ratio = 1:1

*We also offer 4 day sessions of private, semi-private or adapted lessons only during the summer sessions.

register here

All current swim lessons and levels, including adult, adapted, private, and semi-private lessons can be found at the links below.

Swim Class Levels & Descriptions

View Spring Aquatics Schedules HERE. Registration is open now!

View Summer Aquatics Schedules HERE. This includes 4 day private swim lessons for private, semi-private or adapted swim lessons, Summer Adventures lessons, group daytime and evening lessons.

We don’t just teach your students swimming skills at each lesson, we also provide safety training as well!  These safety lessons are included in all classes including basic water safety, healthy swimming, safe water entry, helping yourself and others in an emergency, use of life jackets, safe weather conditions for swimming and water park safety.

Pre-requisites for each level is the mastery of skills from the preceding level or equivalent. 

New students: If you have taken a class with another swim lesson program, check out this comparison chart to find the best transition to Community Education Swim Lessons.

New and continuing students: Each child is provided with a skill assessment within the first two classes to determine the appropriate lesson level.

You can register right from the lesson descriptions below, or you can view all of our aquatics courses here.  Many classes fill quickly so don’t wait to register.

Pool Rules

• Do not enter the pool area unless lifeguards are on duty.

• Shower and use the restroom before entering the pool area.

• Please enter pool area through the balcony doors or the locker rooms.

• No food or glass in the balcony or on the pool deck.

• Please do not wear street shoes or sandals on the pool deck.  Shower sandals, aqua socks, or similar footwear that has not been worn outside is recommended.

• Children who are not potty trained must use appropriate disposable swim diapers that do not leak.

• Appropriate swim attire (swimsuits) must be worn at all times. No cut-off shorts or undergarments.

• NEVER run on the pool deck.

• Non-swimmers may use U.S. Coast Guard approved lifejackets that fit properly.  No inflatable flotation devices are allowed, including water wings, swimsuits with inflatable inserts, and inner tubes.

• Only U.S. Coast Guard approved lifejackets, balls and dive rings can be used during open swim.  Swim lesson equipment including kickboards, flippers, pull buoys, noodles and kids toys cannot be used during open swim.

• No rough play.

• Only dive in approved areas of diving well.  No diving allowed off the blue block during open swim.

• Exit the pool area if the weather sirens are going off.

• Listen to the lifeguard at all times they have the right to remove anyone not able or willing to comply with these rules.

Diving Board Rules

• One person on the board at a time.

• No running on the board.

• One bounce on the board.

• Do not change the bounce setting.

• No flips, twists, back or reverse dives.

• Jump or dive straight out from the end of the board.

• Wait until the last person to jump gets to the wall before you jump.

• Swim to the side immediately after jumping in the pool.

• Do not attempt to catch someone jumping off the board.

• No goggles while jumping/diving off the board.

• Listen to the lifeguard, they have the discretion to say something is not allowed.

Basketball Rules

• Do not hang on rim.

• Only shoot from in the water.

Lifeguard Whistles/Signals

• 1 short blast = Attention swimmer! You’re breaking a rule!

• 2 short blasts = Attention guard(s)!

• 2 long blasts = 5 minutes left of class (during swim lessons only)

• 1 long blast = Clear the pool! (or end of class during swim lessons)

Pool Rules Document

Where is the pool at McGuire Middle School?

Please park in the back parking lot at the school and enter the building through the back doors.  The locker rooms are ahead and down the hallway on the right and the balcony is the 3rd door on the right.

I am not sure what level to register my child for, where can I find more info?

Check out our Comparison to other Swim Lesson Programs grid.

Class descriptions and levels can be found here.  If your child(ren) have taken lessons at another facility in the past, please click on Comparison to other Swim Lesson Programs.  If your child has never taken swim lessons and you need additional guidance on what level to register them for, please contact our Aquatics Coordinator, Katey Radant at 952-232-2169, or via email katey.radant@isd194.org.

Where do we go and what do we do when we get to the pool?

Please change into your swim suit and wait up in the balcony until a staff member calls you down on deck.  On the first day of the session the on-site pool supervisor will give a brief overview of our program and introduce our staff.

We are going to miss one day of the session, can we do a make up?

We do not allow make-ups for classes missed because of illness, travel, etc.  If we have to close the pool for an unforeseen circumstance, we will either schedule a make-up date or issue vouchers.

What is the pool water temperature?

The pool temperature at McGuire Middle School is typically kept between 84-88 degrees.  The pool temperature at Kenwood Trail Middle School is 81 degrees.  Lakeville is home to one of the largest swim clubs in the state of MN and their swimmers utilize both of our pools throughout the year. The average pool temperature for a competitive swim team is 80-82 degrees.

Do we need to bring anything to swim lessons with us?

Bring your swim suit and a towel.  If your child is not potty trained please make sure they are wearing a disposable swim diaper, Pampers Splashers or Huggies Little Swimmers work great. No flotation devices are needed as we provide kickboards and noodles during the swim lessons. Life jackets are not used during swim lessons, please leave them at home. Goggles are optional if your child would like to bring them to use during their swim lesson.

Do you have lifejackets available for open swim?

Yes, we have a variety of sizes of lifejackets available to use during open swim.

Do you have goggles available to use?

We occasionally have a basket of lost and found goggles that patrons can borrow during swim lessons and open swim.

I lost or left my goggles at the pool, where would they be?

All goggles left at the pool are put in the lost and found basket.  Check with the lifeguard the next time you are at the pool to see if they are in the goggle basket.

Can I bring my child’s arm floaties to open swim?

No inflatables are allowed at the pool.  Only coast guard approved lifejackets/floatation devices may be used, and you can bring those in during open swim.

What equipment or toys can we use during open swim?

We have a variety of balls and lifejackets available to use during open swim.  Kickboards, noodles, rings, and flippers are not allowed during open swim as those are for swim lessons.

I want to give feedback, how can I do that?

We will email an evaluation to each participant at the end of the session.  If you have a concern or question you would like addressed immediately, please see the on-site supervisor, or contact the Aquatic Coordinator, Katey Radant at 952-232-2169 or via email: katey.radant@isd194.org.

I have a child with a disability that cannot be in the locker room alone, do you have family locker rooms?

Unfortunately, since our pool is in a school, we do not have family locker rooms.  If you have a child of the opposite sex, over the age of 6 that cannot be in the locker room alone, please notify the on-site supervisor and we will try to accommodate this.

If the locker room needs attention, who do I talk to?

We share the locker rooms with other community groups, and with the phy ed students during the school year, so it can get messy.  Please notify the on-site aquatics supervisor if the locker rooms need attention.  Our staff will notify the building custodians.

PLEASE NOTE:

• We reserve the right to place children in the level that best fits with their abilities regardless of class registration. Skills will be assessed on the first day of class and your child may be moved.  If you have questions, please see the on-site pool supervisor.

• Group lesson classes with only 1 or 2 participants enrolled will be 30 minutes for the following levels: Aqua Kids 1 & 2, Beginner 1 & 2, Intermediate 1 & 2, and Advanced 1 & 2.

• If you have questions for your child’s swim lesson instructor, please talk to them before or after class.  Always feel free to stop down on deck at any time to ask the on-site supervisor any questions you have.

• The locker room temperatures are often chilly, so we recommend bringing a towel down on deck with you, especially for the Aqua Tots and Aqua Kids classes.

• Patron safety is the number one responsibility of the staff at ISD #194.  Please follow the pool rules and listen to the lifeguards.  The head lifeguard has the right and responsibility to remove any patron not able or willing to comply with these rules.

• If you have any additional questions or concerns regarding the ISD #194 Aquatics program, please contact our Aquatics Coordinator, Katey Radant at 952-232-2169 or via email: katey.radant@isd194.org.

SEE YOU AT THE POOL!!

Aquatics FAQs for Families