Learn To Swim

The focus of this American Red Cross program is to give children ages 4-12 the physical skills and safety knowledge necessary to maximize their enjoyment of the water. Class size is limited to maintain a ratio of five children per instructor. See our Parent-Tot Swim program for children 5 and under. Private Lessons are also available. For more information on swim lessons please contact: Ed Martig at e-martig@northwestern.edu.

Fee

Learn To Swim Levels

To determine which level your child should enter, see the "skills taught" portion of the description. If your child has mastered every skill, move to the next level.

Level 1 - Introduction to Water Skills
Purpose: to help students feel comfortable and safe in water. Skills taught include breath holding, front and back float, entering water independently, introduction to flutter kicking, front crawl arms. Students with water experience may move through this level quickly.

Level 2 - Fundamental Aquatic Skills
Purpose: to give students fundamental and self-propulsion skills. Skills taught include unsupported front and back glide, front crawl coordination with breathing, beginning back crawl arm action, orientation to deep water.

Level 3 - Stroke Development
Purpose: to build on and practice Level 2 skills. Skills taught include coordinating front crawl and back crawl, introduction to elementary backstroke, introduction to treading, retrieving objects, introduction to diving.

Level 4 - Stroke Improvement
Purpose: to develop confidence and endurance in the front crawl, back crawl, elementary backstroke, and existing skills. Skills taught include standing dive, deep-water skills, introduction to breast stroke, sidestroke, treading water (scissors kick, rotary kick.)

Level 5 - Stroke Refinement
Purpose: to coordinate and refine the key strokes. Skills taught include underwater swimming, diving from board, breast stroke, sidestroke, introduction to butterfly and dolphin kick, feet-first surface dive, open turns.

Level 6 - Swimming and Skill Proficiency
Purpose: to refine strokes so students may swim with ease, efficiency, and endurance. Skills taught include approach strokes, coordinating butterfly stroke and kick, introduction to breast stroke pullout, front crawl flip turn, head-first surface dives.

Registration

Spring Registration is now underway.

Summer Registration is TBA

To register please stop by or call the Membership Office at (847) 491-4303.

Class Location

Classes are held on the Evanston campus at the Norris Aquatics Center at 2311 Campus Drive, Evanston, IL. 60208. Click here for directions.

The Norris Aquatics Center features a 25 yard x 50 meter pool which is home to the Northwestern Varsity Swimming and Diving teams. Water temperature is kept at a cool 80 degrees. Water depth ranges from 4 feet to 15 feet. Instructors utilize platforms which allow children to stand in 2 feet of water in the shallow end.

All non-NU students and gym members will need to bring an access card to every class in order to gain entrance to the facility. If you have not received your access card, please contact the Membership Office at 847.491.4303.

Instructors

The majority of our instructors are Northwestern students who are American Red Cross certified instructors, have experience teaching swim lessons, or are accomplished swimmers themselves. Instructors follow the American Red Cross Water Safety Instructor guidelines and are certified in CPR and AED.

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Fitness and Recreation  2311 Campus Drive  Evanston, IL 60208-4230
Phone: 847-491-4300  Fax: 847-467-1405  E-mail: FitRec@northwestern.edu
Last updated 04/10/2009   World Wide Web Disclaimer and University Policy Statements  © 2005 Northwestern University