The 2008 Learn-to-Swim program is open for registration beginning Friday, February 1st online or as a walk-in registration at the Park District office at 2197 Chase Drive. 

On Thursday, June 5, 2008 we will close online registration for all classes held at the Cordova and Lincoln Village Pools.  Session 1 for those pools will be closed, while the other sessions will be open for registration at their respective pools. Registration for Rosemont High School lessons will remain open to online registration until June 16 when the pool is open. 

We have group lessons at our Cordova Community and Lincoln Village and pools, as well as at the Rosemont High School Pool.   Private lessons are also offered during some public swim hours at the Cordova and Rosemont High School pools.  To help choose the correct level, use the descriptions below the click on the link to register.  You can download the "2008 Swim Lessons" for the summer schedule of classes.

Swim Lesson Registration Information:
Registration for each session closes at 6:30 pm on the last day of the proceeding session.

February 1 – June 5    *(on line registration not available March 22-24)
On-Line or walk-in only (NO PHONE, MAIL or FAX REGISTRATIONS) *
  
March 22:  Extravaganza  Register at the pool 10 am – 12 noon

April 12: April Pools Day    Register at the Cordova Pool from 10 am - 12 noon.

June 7-August 4  Register at the Cordova, Lincoln Village or Rosemont High School pool during lessons & public swim hours only.

                Group    Private   
Session 1    $40        $85        June 9-19                M-Th, 2 weeks
                $25        $53        June 16-20               M-F, 1 week RHS pool
Session 2    $40        $85        June 23-July 3          M-Th, 2 weeks
Session 3    $40        $85        July 7-17                 M-Th, 2 weeks
Session 4    $40        $85        July 21-31               M-Th, 2 weeks
Session 5    $25        ----       August 4-8               M-F, 1 week

Tips on placing your child:
* Most children remain in the same level for 2 or more sessions.
* It is usually easier to move children up a level than it is to move them down.
* At the beginning of the season, it is a good idea to repeat the last level that was completed the summer before.
* CRPD swim lesson staff reserves the right to place children in the class most appropriate for them.
* Progress reports are handed out on the last Wednesday of each session, indicating which level the Instructor recommends next.
* If you need to transfer your child to a level different than what you registered for, you must fill out a transfer slip, found at the Cashier’s window.
* We can only guarantee transfers when they are received on or before the Thursday before the session.
* We like to keep our class sizes to a manageable number.  You can help by making your transfers as soon as possible.  This allows us to add additional Instructors/Aides when needed.


Learn-to-Swim levels:
Use the ages as a guide, then read through the descriptions to best decide which level your child is.  Because it is a safety and comfort level issue with your child, please be conservative when choosing a level.  It is always better for us to move them up as needed than to have them uncomfortable with the level and location of the class and crying on the first day.

Click on the class name to register for that level.

Starfish (ages 9 –36 mos))
Children work with their parent in the water, becoming comfortable in the pool, blowing bubbles, singing songs, playing games and practicing skills on their front & back as a preparation for swim lessons during their preschool years.


Shrimp (ages 2-5 years)
Children work with their parent on basic skills, moving on their front and back, working towards independence from the parent to working with one of our instructors in a structured class.  Many of the skills are the same as those taught in the Guppies class, but the parent helps ease the fear of being in water.  When the child is comfortable in the water without constant support of the parent, they are ready to be a Guppy.


Guppies (ages 3-6 years)
Working with our instructors and aides, children will learn the basics to swimming.  When the child can move independently for 5 yards and move from a front to a back float with some assistance, they will be on their way to becoming a Sea Horse.  This class is taught in shallow water where the children can touch.  It may take some swimmers more than 1 session to get through the skills in the Guppy level.


Sea Horse (ages 4-8)
Sea Horse classes work in the 3 1/2 - 4 foot water depth.  They become completely independent from the instructor while swimming on their front and back.  Once the child can swim 15 feet, without assistance, on their front and back, and float for 5 seconds, they will be on their way to becoming Jelly Fish.  There are a lot of basic skills in this level and it may take a few sessions for a child to master enough to move on.  The basics are important to the success in more advanced levels, so we spend a lot of time working on them.


Jelly Fish (ages 6 & up)
Now they look like swimmers!  This class is taught in 4-6 foot water depth.  The skills they refine are the front and back crawl strokes and treading water.  They start learning the butterfly stroke, self help and basic rescue skills.  After swimming 15 yards with good breathing and stroke techniques, they can move on to Sea Lions.


Sea Lions (ages 6 & up)
Taught in deep water, swimmers learn and refine the front and back crawl strokes, butterfly, breaststroke and elementary backstroke.  The scissor kick is learned along with more self help and rescue skills.  They will need to swim almost 2 laps of the pool on their front & back, using the strokes they have learned, before they can swim in the Penguin class.


Penguins (ages 8 & up)
Swimmers refine all 6 of the strokes.  They will learn how to do flip turns and they must be able to swim 2 laps, non stop, using their front and back crawl strokes, 1 lap of breaststroke and tread water for 2 minutes, in addition to completing rescue skills in order to join the Hammerhead class.


Hammerheads (ages 8 & up)
This class will continue to work on the strokes along with endurance.  There is more work on rescue skills, fitness and some springboard diving.  When they complete this level, they will be able to swim 20 laps, continuously along with other skills.

Adult
Older teens are also welcome.  We structure this class to meet individual needs.

Diving
This is a basic level diving class.  The approach and hurdle, along with basic dives are taught on the 1-meter board.

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