Modified Swim Lesson Program
Winter Swim lessons
Registration for January swim lessons has been suspended until the end of lockdown. Registration is online only.
How will it work?
We will be offering private swim lessons for up to 3 participants, as well as limited enrollment group classes for Parent and Tot 1 – 3, Swimmer 3 – 6, and Swim Patrol.
Preschool, Swimmer 1 – 2 and adult swim lessons are only available as private lessons at this time.
For Private Lessons:
- the participants must be from the same family or household. Due to provincial guidelines, all swim lessons must be in line with physical distancing measures.
- Only household members can assist swimmers with physical contact therefore a parent or guardian (at least 16 years of age) must actively participate in the water for the entirety of the lesson for all preschoolers (5 years and under) and school aged children in Swimmer 1 and 2. It must be the same parent who participates or accompanies the child for all five lessons.
- To register more than one child: If you have one child taking a private lesson on their own, register under the child’s name, taking one lesson spot. A parent/ guardian accompanies the child in the pool for the lesson if the child is a preschooler or Swimmer 1 or 2.
- If you have up to 3 children in the same family sharing a private lesson, register under one of the children’s names, taking one lesson spot for your small group. The instructor will note the other children’s names when you come to the class. A parent/ guardian accompanies the children in the pool for the lesson if the children are preschoolers or Swimmer 1 or 2.
For Limited Enrollment lessons:
- Small group swim lessons with a maximum of three participants for Parent & Tot and Swimmers 3 – 6; Swim Patrol will have a maximum of 4 students
- Due to provincial guidelines, all swim lessons will observe physical distancing.
Important program info
Drop off and Pick up locations:
- Participants should enter the building from the parking lot doors
- All swimmers should arrive in their swimsuits. Participants may use the changerooms after their lesson, but not before. Lockers will not be available.
- If the parent is not participating in the lesson, the same parent must bring the participant(s) each lesson and will have a designated spot to watch the lesson on the pool deck (physically distanced from others).
- People watching the lessons must wear masks (children under 2 do not need to wear masks).
- Masks must be worn by lesson participants while waiting for lessons and after exiting the pool (but not in the pool).
Health & Safety:
- Participants and staff will be screened prior to arriving on site. The completion of an online questionnaire is required at the time of registration and another one may be requested prior to the program start.
- Those who have indicated that they or a member of the same household has travelled outside the country in the past 14 days will not be permitted into the program.
- Participants or staff who are exhibiting symptoms of illness may not be permitted into the facility. Those who exhibit signs or symptoms of illness during the program will be and sent home immediately. Others in the timeslot will be notified immediately.
Program Details:
- All lessons will run 30 minutes except Swim Patrol which is 60 minutes, with a 15-minute cleaning period in between lessons.
- Each family will be met by their instructors on the pool deck; if you have registered each child for their own separate private lesson, the child and accompanying parent/ guardian will be met by their individual instructor
- Participants must exit the pool deck immediately after their lesson; the next lesson participants will not be permitted onto the pool deck until the previous participants have all left the pool deck.
- There will be a maximum of six lessons at any given time.
- The pool will be divided into zones, one lesson per zone at any given time.
- Any program equipment used will be disinfected between uses.
- Swim Instructors will be wearing a face covering while on the pool deck.
- Swim Instructors will only enter the pool, for demonstration and will ask participants to exit the pool during the demonstration.
- Change rooms will be available after the lesson, but not before. All swimmers should arrive in their swimsuits
Registration dates
- Registration for winter lessons has been suspended until the end of lockdown.
Registration Details:
Before registration, please note:
- Registration will be available online only. Please ensure you have a complete and accurate family account.
- If your family members are sharing the private lesson spot, register just one, and bring up to 2 more. At the first lesson, the instructor will note their names. If registering multiple children for their own individual lessons, please note a parent/ adult/ guardian will be required to be in the water for each child, depending on age/ level (preschoolers or swimmer 1 & 2)
- Here’s an example:
- If you have one child taking a private lesson on their own, register under the child’s name, taking one lesson spot. A parent/ guardian accompanies the child in the pool for the lesson if the child is a preschooler or Swimmer 1 or 2.
- If you have up to 3 children in the same family sharing a private lesson, register under one of the children’s names, taking one lesson spot. The instructor will note the other children’s names when you come to the class. A parent/ guardian accompanies the children in the pool for the lesson if the children are Swimmer 1 or 2 or a preschooler.
- For this unusual and limited swim lesson program, we are temporarily suspending all of our regular discounts such as Military Families, neighbours, sponsors, and staff and volunteers.
- Please note that swim lessons cannot be rescheduled.
Register for a Program
Why take swimming lessons at Dovercourt?
Dovercourt Recreation Centre takes swimming very seriously.
In addition to being an essential life skill, swimming is also an enormous life asset – from both a physical and mental health perspective. Bottom line, those who learn how to swim will have an enormous advantage in life.
Dovercourt strongly believes everyone should have that advantage, and with this, has built a unique and reputable swimming program based on 4 key pillars:
Quality of curriculum and instruction
The Dovercourt swimming program is based on the Lifesaving Society’s Swim for Life® model – a comprehensive approach that focuses on three fundamental strokes. Learning Swim to Survive® and achieving the Lifesaving Society’s Swim to Survive® Standard are key foundations of the Swim for Life® program.
While Swim for Life® forms the foundation of our swimming program, it is our highly-skilled instructors who ultimately make it the success that it is. Dovercourt swim staff undergo regular, extensive training on safety, current standards and teaching techniques.
In addition to their consummate level of instruction, our staff also put a strong emphasis on fun, patience and kindness. Allaying fears and instilling confidence in budding swimmers is a top priority.
And we’re proud to say that many of our instructors were once students of Dovercourt’s swimming program themselves!
Comfort and functionality of facilities
Dovercourt is conveniently located in central west Ottawa. With plenty of parking, an extensive playground, and close proximity to the shops and restaurants of Westboro, Dovercourt offers convenience and ease for families both coming and going.
Read more about our pool here.
Access and inclusion
Access and inclusion quite simply means that everyone is welcome at Dovercourt. Regardless of age, income, race, physical ability, religious beliefs, sexual orientation or gender identity — our swimming program is open to all.
Dovercourt has offered low or no-cost classes to new Canadians, and our Last Minute Club provides free spots in swim classes that have failed to sell out at the start of the program.
And for anyone who wishes to register for swimming at Dovercourt but finds that the expense is cost-prohibitive, you can request a financial assistance form to see if you qualify for a subsidy.
Swimming influences the development of the whole child
Some have said that swimming is a metaphor for life – we battle waves, go with the flow, try to keep our head above water – and of course, the proverbial sink or swim.
The comparison is apt when you examine the benefits of swimming on the development of the whole child. According to the German Sports College Cologne, learning to swim at a young age can contribute significantly to left and right brain development, healthy self-esteem, strong self-discipline, and even academic success.
Read more about this here:
https://goldfishswimschool.com/blog/top-7-benefits-year-round-swimming-scientifically-speaking/
Our Swim Instructors
Dovercourt’s highly-skilled instructors are able to teach children proper technique efficiently and effectively, in accordance with the high standards of the Lifesaving Society. Our staff undergo extensive training and regular updates on safety, rescue situations, changes to current standards, as well as techniques for teaching. Many of our senior aquatics staff are instructor and lifeguard trainers and are a valuable resource for our aquatics team.
The people who teach swimming at Dovercourt are pretty special. Not only are they exceptionally gifted in the water – they’re also warm, funny and kind – and they each have their own story of how they came to be a swim instructor.
