The Municipality of Port Hope offers swimming lessons through the Canadian Red Cross. Our swimming lessons are for ages 4 months and up. All swimming lessons run at the Jack Burger Sports Complex.
Ontario is currently in Step 3 of the Reopening Roadmap, with COVID-19 public health measures in effect for all Ontarians. Visit the COVID-19 page for details.
COVID-19 restrictions: Please note that parents of children in levels 3 and under, in both private and group lessons, are required to go in the water with their child to maintain no contact between instructor and student. You must arrive to lessons with your bathing suit on as dressing rooms will only be available after lessons. Please go straight on deck after check in for the lessons.
Fall 2 Programs Session
October 25 to November 28, 2021
Fall Programs 2 Registration: October 4, 2021 to October 20, 2021. This session is only for dryland fitness and programs. There is no aquatic registration available as the current session is running for 10 weeks.
Winter 1 Program Session
Winter 1 Aquatics Session: November 29, 2021 to February 13, 2022
Winter 1A Programs Session: November 27, 2021 to January 16, 2022
Winter 1 2021/2022 Registration: November 15, 2021 at 7:00 a.m. and ends November 24, 2021.
Red Cross preschool
Red Cross preschool lessons are for ages 4 months to 5 years. All preschool lessons are 30 minutes long. All infants and toddlers must wear swim diapers if they are not potty-trained.
Starfish/Duck |
Not available at this timeStarfish/Duck is a parented class for ages 4 to 24 months. One caregiver must take part in the water. All skills need help by the caregiver. Skills to learn include:
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Sea Turtle |
| Due to COVID-19 restrictions, parents of children are required to go in the water with their child to maintain no contact between instructor and student. Sea Turtle is a parented class for ages 24 to 36 months. One caregiver must take part in the water. All skills need help by caregiver. Skills to learn include:
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Sea Otter |
| Due to COVID-19 restrictions, parents of children are required to go in the water with their child to maintain no contact between instructor and student. Sea Otter is a class for ages 3 to 5 years. Skills to learn include:
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Salamander |
| Due to COVID-19 restrictions, parents of children are required to go in the water with their child to maintain no contact between instructor and student. Salamander a class for ages 3 to 5 years. All skills are performed. Skills to learn include:
Prerequisite: Completed Sea Otter |
Sunfish |
| Due to COVID-19 restrictions, parents of children are required to go in the water with their child to maintain no contact between instructor and student. Sunfish a class for ages 3 to 5 years. All skills are unassisted. Skills to learn include:
Prerequisite: Completed Salamander |
Crocodile |
| Due to COVID-19 restrictions, parents of children are required to go in the water with their child to maintain no contact between instructor and student. Crocodile a class for ages 3 to 5 years. All skills are unassisted. Skills to learn include:
Prerequisite: Completed Sunfish |
Whale |
| Due to COVID-19 restrictions, parents of children are required to go in the water with their child to maintain no contact between instructor and student. Whale a class for ages 3 to 5 years. All skills are unassisted. Skills to learn include:
Prerequisite: Completed Crocodile |
If you are unsure of which level to register in, please contact the Aquatics Coordinator for a swim assessment.
Red Cross Swim Kids
Red Cross Swim Kids lessons are for ages 6 to 13 years. Lesson length depends on the level. Level 1 to 4 are 30 minutes long. Level 5 to 7 are 45 minutes long. Level 8 to 10 are 1 hour long.
Level 1 |
| Due to COVID-19 restrictions, parents of children are required to go in the water with their child to maintain no contact between instructor and student. No experience required. Skills to learn include:
Prerequisites: Age 6 |
Level 2 |
| Due to COVID-19 restrictions, parents of children are required to go in the water with their child to maintain no contact between instructor and student. Skills to learn include:
Prerequisite: Completed Level 1, Sunfish (and age 6) |
Level 3 |
| Due to COVID-19 restrictions, parents of children are required to go in the water with their child to maintain no contact between instructor and student. Skills to learn include:
Prerequisite: Completed Level 2, Crocodile/Whale (and age 6) |
Level 4 |
Skills to learn include:
Prerequisite: Completed Level 3 |
Level 5 |
Skills to learn include:
Prerequisite: Completed Level 4 |
Level 6 |
Skills to learn include:
Prerequisite: Completed Level 5 |
Level 7 |
Skills to learn include:
Prerequisite: Completed Level 6 |
Level 8 |
Skills to learn include:
Prerequisite: Completed Level 7 |
Level 9 |
Skills to learn include:
Prerequisite: Completed Level 8 |
Level 10 |
Skills to learn include:
Prerequisite: Completed Level 9 |
If your child completed any of the YMCA Star levels, contact the Aquatics Coordinator for a swim assessment. If you are unsure of which level to register in, contact the Aquatics Coordinator for a swim assessment.
Private and semi-private lessons
Private and semi-private lessons are available on a first-come, first-served basis. All private and semi-private lessons are 30 minutes long.
Private Lessons |
| Due to COVID-19 restrictions, parents of children in any swim preschool level or swim kids levels 1, 2, or 3 are required to go in the water with their child to maintain no contact between instructor and student. Private lessons are 1-on-1 lessons with an instructor. Instructor requests are encouraged but are not guaranteed. Private lessons are for ages 3 years and up. |
Semi-Private Lessons |
| Due to COVID-19 restrictions, parents of children in any swim preschool level or swim kids levels 1, 2, or 3 are required to go in the water with their child to maintain no contact between instructor and student. Semi-Private are 2-on-1 lessons with an instructor. Instructor requests are encouraged but are not guaranteed. Semi-private lessons are for ages 3 years and up. For semi-private lessons, you must supply your own partner. Partner requirements:
Semi-private lessons must register over the phone or in-person. |
Adult and teen lessons
Adult and teen lessons are available for anyone ages 13 and up. All lessons are 45 minutes long. Come to the first class with your goals.
Strokes and Fitness |
| Strokes and Fitness is for all swimmers with basic skills. Bring your goals to your first class. Triathletes welcome. Prerequisite: Previous swimming abilities |
Private Lessons |
| Private lessons are available for teens, adults, and seniors. Contact the Aquatics Coordinator for availability. |
HIGH FIVE®
HIGH FIVE® is Canada's quality standard for children's programs and is an innovative approach to help us enhance program quality and provide positive experiences for children. HIGH FIVE® supports us with Training and Development, Program Assessments, Policies and Procedures and Awareness. HIGH FIVE® is a standard committed to assisting children along the path of healthy child development by:
- Ensuring that program practitioners develop a high level of knowledge and expertise in child development;
- Helping parents to make informed choices and;
- Providing practitioners with the tools for enhancing and maintaining a high level of program quality.
The Municipality of Port Hope is proud to be an Accredited HIGH FIVE® organization, maintaining the highest standard in Canada
Youth Friendly Community
The Youth Friendly Communities recognition award is a program of Play Works, an Ontario partnership for youth. The program outlines criteria for communities to support engaged youth and highlights the investments the community makes to youth play. Promising practices for youth engagement are highlighted and celebrated. The award recognition is a community collaboration and involves youth to complete the submission. The Municipality has been recognized as a Platinum Youth Friendly Community since 2008.
Age-Friendly Community
An age-friendly community (AFC) is a community where policies, services and physical spaces are designed to enable people of all ages to live in secure and accessible physical and social environments. AFCs contribute to good health and allow people to participate fully in society throughout their lifetime. The World Health Organization’s (WHO) Age-Friendly Cities project developed eight domains of AFCs. These domains outline the physical and social aspects of communities that contribute to independent and active aging.
The Municipality of Port Hope is recognized as an Age-Friendly Community through the World Health Organization, and was Awarded the Ontario Age-Friendly Recognition Award in 2018 through the Ministry of Seniors Affairs
