School Instructional Swim Program

Learn skills that save lives!

Instructional Swim to Survive Program

As part of the "Swim to Survive" program from the Lifesaving Society, students will be taught the skills necessary to survive an unexpected fall into deep water. Students will also participate in public education components while developing healthy, positive attitudes and learning to stay safe in, on and around water.

What is Swim to Survive?

Swim to Survive is a Lifesaving Society survival training program. These are taught in a skills sequence that creates the Canadian Swim to Survive Standard:

ROLL into deep water-TREAD water (one minute)-SWIM 50m

The Lifesaving Society estimates about half of Canadian children never take traditional swimming lessons - even though "swimming" is the second most popular activity (after bicycling) in Canada among school age children between 5 and 12 years of age. The Lifesaving Society wants to ensure every child has the basic skills to survive.

During one of the lessons each child is asked to bring a set of clothes such as a t-shirt and long pants that can be worn in the water to help them feel what it would be like to fall into water unexpectedly while they are dressed.

To learn more about Swim to Survive, please visit The Lifesaving Society's Swim to Survive page.

What does the student receive?

• An essential life skill that can save their life.
• Bookmark, sticker, and Buddy the Lifeguard Dog Catcher.
• A certificate of achievement.

What does the teacher receive?

• The knowledge that you have provided an opportunity for a child to learn an essential life skill.
• A teacher resource package with classroom activities and handouts.
• Parent information letter.

What is the time commitment?

• 1 hour for a 3 week session.

Available times include:

• Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays 10 - 11 a.m.
• Wednesdays and Fridays 1 - 2 p.m.

What are the fees?

1 to 20 people - $161.25 flat rate.

The Lifesaving Society of Ontario provides annual grants to public schools and organizations for this type of program. To find out more information on how your fees for "Swim to Survive" program could be covered, please visit The Lifesaving Society's School Grant Program website.

Instructional Swim Program

As part of the instructional swim program,  you will get everything included in the Instructional Swim to Survive program, plus students will safely participate in the Canadian Red Cross innovative learn to swim continuum.

What is the time commitment?

• 1 hour for a 5 week session.

Available times include:

• Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays 10 - 11 a.m.
• Wednesdays and Fridays 1 - 2 p.m.

What are the fees?

1 to 20 people - $268.75 flat rate

Additional child, per session, maximum 20 additional children $13.50 each