American Red Cross Learn-to-Swim courses offer something for everyone. Through a progressive, six-level instructional approach, participants learn a variety of strokes, includign the front crawl, back crawl, elementary backstroke, breastroke, sidestroke and butterfly. They are also introduced to a wide range of personal safety sills and diving techniques. Courses are fun and interactive with hands-on training. More advanced-level students refine their skills, learn the basics of springboard diving and how to incorporate swimming into a lifetime fitness plan.

Contact your local aquatics facility to enroll in any of the American Red Cross Learn-to-Swim courses, including:

Parent and Child Aquatics

Designed for children 6 months to 5 years of age, the program builds swimming readiness by emphasizing fun in the water. Parents and children participate in several guided sessions that help children learn elementary skills, including water entry, bubble blowing, front kicking, back floating, underwater exploration and more.

Level 1: Introduction to Water Skills

This introductory session helps participants feel comfortable in and around the water.

Level 2: Fundamental Aquatic Skills

Participants gain fundamental safety skills and an introduction to beginning swimming strokes.

Level 3: Stroke Development

The purpose of Level 3 is to build on the safety skills in Level 2 and adds additional deep water strokes.

Level 4: Stroke Improvement

Participants develop confidence in their deep water skills as well as work on coordination of learned strokes.

Level 5: Stroke Refinement

Level 5 builds endurance and fine tunes participants' strokes.

Level 6: Swimming and Skill Proficiency

This level is designed with options that may focus on preparing participants to join swim teams or enroll in more advanced courses, such as Water Safety Instructor and Lifeguard Training.