Aquatics

The American Red Cross offers the best training and tips on how to be safe in, on, and around the water. They have been the leader in swimming instruction since 1914. Now the winning tradition continues with an exciting collection of courses designed to make learning easier and to help you benefit from the latest research on instructional techniques. 

Stillwater Community Education is proud to be an authorized provider of American Red Cross swim lessons.

Register online

Not sure which level your child should be in? See the Red Cross Learn-to-Swim descriptions for each level listed below.

Level 1 - Water Exploration (Ages 5-12)

• Prerequisite: NONE. The objective of Level 1 is to help students feel comfortable in the water and enjoy the water safely.  
• Skills Taught:  Elementary aquatic skills; development of good attitudes and safe practices around water; safety rules; buddy system; demonstration of buoyancy; and willingness to try new things and overcome fears.

Level 2 - Fundamental Aquatic Skills (Ages 5-12)

• Prerequisite: Enter water unassisted, move forward 5 yards, bob 5 times. Front float with support with face in water for 5 seconds, roll onto back and back float with support. 
• Skills Taught:  Success with fundamental skills; simultaneous and alternating arm and leg action on the front and back; begin rotary breathing; fundamenals of treading water; and self-help and basic rescue skills and floats.

Level 3 - Stroke Development (Ages 5-15)

• Requirements: Enter chest deep water, front float 5 seconds, roll over to back float 5 seconds and stand up. Swim front crawl for 15 feet.  
• Skills Taught: Coordinate the front crawl and back crawl; introduction to elements of butterfly, breaststroke and elementary backstroke; efficiency with of treading water; rules and skills for headfirst entry; and additional safety skills. 

Level 4 - Stroke Improvement (Ages 5-15)

• Prerequisite: Jump into water, swim front crawl 15 yards, tread water 30 seconds and then swim back crawl for 15 yards.  
• Skills Taught: Developing confidence in the strokes learned in previous levels; improve front and back crawl skills and increase endurance; build on butterfly; breaststroke and elementary backstroke; introduce sidestroke; and basics of turning at walls.  

Level 5 - Stroke Refinement (Ages 8-16)

• Prerequisite: Jump into water, swim front crawl 25 yards, back float for 1 minute, and swim elementary backstroke 15 yards. Swim breaststroke 15 yards, tread water 1 minute back crawl 25 yards.  
• Skills Taught: Coordination and refinement of strokes, front crawl, back crawl, butterfly, breaststroke, elementary backstroke, sidestroke; increase distances; increase treading water time and efficiency; and flip turns.

Level 6 - Swimming & Skill Proficiency (Ages 8-16)

• Prerequisite: Shallow dive, swim front crawl for 25 yards, back float for 1 minute, swim elementary backstroke 15 yards. Swim breaststroke 25 yards, tread water for 2 minutes, swim back crawl 50 yards.  
• Skills Taught:  Refine strokes-ease, efficiency, power smoothness of greater distances; introduction to other aquatic activities; surface dives, survival swimming. Areas of Focus: personal safety and fitness swimming.

Stillwater Community Education offers a variety of American Red Cross aquatics certification courses including life guarding and water safety instructor. The American Red Cross is the most trusted training provider in the nation for aquatics courses.

Stillwater Community Education is proud to be an authorized provider of American Red Cross swim lessons.

View and register for a certification course 

Water Safety Instructor (Ages 16+)

If you are at least 16 years old and a proficient swimmer, you can become an American Red Cross Water Safety Instructor. The purpose of this course is to train instructor candidates to teach Parent and Child Aquatics, Preschool Aquatics and Learn-to-Swim courses and presentations. It will help you teach skills that may save a life, gain terrific work experience as an aquatics professional, earn money or join a volunteer team while you help people learn valuable skills.  

Lifeguard Training (Ages 15+)
This course trains students in surveillance skills to help them recognize and prevent injuries, rescue skills in the water and on land, first aid training and CPR for the professional rescuer, as well as professional lifeguarding responsibilities. 

Lifeguard Review
The purpose of this course is to help participants achieve recertification in Lifeguard Training without having to take the full content course. This review course includes First Aid and CPR for the Professional Rescuer.

Water Safety Aide (Ages 12+)
This is a great place to start for those interested in teaching lessons. Students learn the skills and techniques to aid in the instruction of quality lessons. Participants work as an aide with an experienced instructor during our lesson program.

Basic Water Rescue (Ages 12+)
Provides individuals with the knowledge and skills necessary to prevent, recognize and respond to many types of aquatic emergencies. This course also prepares individuals for aquatic emergencies by teaching them how to protect themselves while assisting others. The Basic Water Rescue course does not provide participants with all the knowledge and skills needed to be certified as a lifeguard.