Swimming Lessons
The City of Thorold offers swimming lessons for all ages and abilities. There are several lesson formats including two week sessions, weekly and drop-in programs. Find a lesson that best suits your needs! Private and semi-private options are also available. Please contact community.services@thorold.ca to find out more about private lessons.
Swim Lesson Registration |
2023 Swim Lesson registration starts May 2nd for residents and May 9th for non-residents. Registration can be made online or over the phone by calling 905-227-6613 ext. 403. Staff will return your call within 1-2 business days. Payment is due upon registration. Credit card payments are accepted online or over the phone, and will be subject to a small transaction fee. |
The 2023 schedule is available! Registration will open for residents on May 2nd and May 9th for non residents.
The City of Thorold offers four two-week sessions throughout the summer. Participants will attend 10 classes over two weeks, at the same time each day Monday through Friday.
The 2023 schedule is available! Registration will open for residents on May 2nd and May 9th for non residents.
The City of Thorold offers weekly swim lessons for participants to join throughout the summer. Each class will take place at the same time each week for nine weeks.
Program Descriptions:
Registration opens May 2nd for residents and May 9th for non-residents.

Cost: $48.00
Parent and Tot is offered for infants and toddlers ages 4 months to 3 years old. This is a great introduction to water. Participants will enjoy splashing, singing, and playing while learning introductory swimming skills.
Level 1 |
Designed for the 4 to 12-month-old to learn to enjoy the water with the parent. |
Level 2 |
Designed for the 12 to 24-month-old to learn to enjoy the water with the parent. |
Level 3 |
Designed for the 2 to 3-year-old to learn to enjoy the water with the parent. |

Cost: $48.00
Preschool lessons are available to children ages 3 to 5 years old. These young swimmers will learn basic swimming skills and basic water safety.
Level 1 |
We encourage the parent to participate until their child lets them know they can do it themselves (thank you very much). These preschoolers will have fun learning to get in and out of the water. We'll help them jump into chest deep water. They'll float and glide on their front and back and learn to get their faces wet and blow bubbles underwater. |
Level 2 |
These preschoolers learn to jump into chest-deep water by themselves, and get in and get out wearing a lifejacket. They'll submerge and exhale underwater. Wearing a lifejacket they'll glide on their front and back. |
Level 3 |
These youngsters will try both jumping and a sideways entry into deep water while wearing a lifejacket. They'll recover objects from the bottom in waist-deep water. They'll work on kicking and gliding through the water on their front and back. |
Level 4 |
Advanced preschoolers will learn to do solo jumps into deeper water and get out by themselves. They'll do sideways entries and open their eyes underwater. They'll master a short swim on their front wearing a lifejacket and gliding and kicking on their side. |
Level 5 |
These youngsters get more adventuresome with a forward roll entry wearing a lifejacket and treading water for 10 sec. They'll work on front and back crawl swims for 5 m, interval training and get a giggle out of whip kick. |

Cost: $50.00 (Swimmer 1/2), $55.00 (Swimmer 3/4/5/6)
Swimmer 1 through 6 are available for children and youth ages 5-12. These levels progress from basic to more advanced swimming skills.
Level 1 |
These beginners will become comfortable jumping into water with and without a lifejacket. They'll learn to open their eyes, exhale and hold their breath underwater. They'll work on floats, glides and kicking through the water on their front and back. |
Level 2 |
These advanced beginners will jump into deeper water, and learn to be comfortable falling sideways into the water wearing a lifejacket. They'll be able to support themselves at the surface without an aid, learn whip kick, swim 10 m on their front and back, and be introduced to flutter kick interval training (4 x 5 m). |
Level 3 |
These junior swimmers will dive and do in-water front somersaults and handstands. They'll work on 15 m of front crawl, back crawl and 10 m of whip kick. Flutter kick interval training increases to 4 x 15 m. |
Level 4 |
These intermediate swimmers will swim 5 m underwater and lengths of front, back crawl, whip kick, and breaststroke arms with breathing. Their new bag of tricks includes the completion of the Canadian Swim to Survive® Standard. They'll cap it all off with front crawl sprints over 25 m and 4 x 25 m front or back crawl interval training. |
Level 5 |
These swimmers will master shallow dives, cannonball entries, eggbeater kicks, and in-water backward somersaults. They'll refine their front and back crawl over 50 m swims of each, and breaststroke over 25 m. Then they'll pick up the pace in 25 m sprints and two interval training bouts: 4 x 50 m front or back crawl; and 4 x 15 m breaststroke. |
Level 6 |
These advanced swimmers will rise to the challenge of sophisticated aquatic skills including stride entries, compact jumps and lifesaving kicks like eggbeater and scissor kick. They'll develop strength and power in head-up breaststroke sprints over 25 m. They'll easily swim lengths of front crawl, back crawl, and breaststroke, and they'll complain about the 300 m workout. |

Cost: $65.00
The Swim Patrol provides enriched training for those who are ready to go beyond l Swimmer 1-6. Swim Patrol's three levels - Rookie, Ranger, and Star - continue to develop participants' swim strokes and provide the skill foundation that prepares them for success in the Society's Bronze medal awards.
Rookie |
Swimmers continue stroke development with 50 m swims of front crawl, back crawl and breaststroke. Lifesaving Sport skills include a 25 m obstacle swim and 15 m object carry. First aid focuses on assessment of conscious victims, contacting EMS and treatment for bleeding. Fitness improves in 350 m workouts and 100 m timed swims. |
Ranger |
Swimmers develop better strokes over 75 m swims of each stroke. They tackle Lifesaving Sport skills in a lifesaving medley, timed object support and rescue with a buoyant aid. First aid focuses on assessment of unconscious victims, treatment of victims in shock and obstructed airway procedures. Skill drills develop a strong lifesaving foundation. |
Star |
Swimmers are challenged with 600 m workouts, 300 m timed swims and a 25 m object carry. Strokes are refined over 100 m swims. First aid focuses on treatment of bone or joint injuries and respiratory emergencies including asthma and allergic reactions. Lifesaving skills include defence methods, victim removals and rolling over and supporting a victim face up in shallow water. |

Private Lesson: $20.00/ class
Semi-Private Lesson: $12.00/ class per person
Private and semi-private lessons can be accommodated upon request. These lessons are available for individuals who may require additional one on one support. Private lessons are available to all levels and abilities.
Private |
Thirty minute lessons are available to all abilities. Register for one class to brush up on skills or choose multiple weeks for long term progress. |
Semi-private |
Thirty minute semi-private lessons can be schedule for two individuals of similar ability. Participants are responsible for finding a second person prior to registration. |

Cost: $4.80/ class
Summer is a busy time. Our drop-in swim programs offer flexibility to individuals and families who are unable to commit to a full swim session.
Parent & Tot |
Parent and tot is available to parents with children ages 4 months to 3 years old. This is a great option for busy families or infants who are just getting started. |
Adult |
Adult lessons are available to individuals 18+. Everyone is welcome, whether you are looking for stroke correction or just learning to swim. |
Jr Swim Club |
Jr swim club is available for youth ages 6 to 14. This program is meant to inspire a lifelong love of aquatic fitness. Youth will continue stroke development, practice entries, and participate in mock races. Participants must have the ability to swim 25 m of uninterrupted front crawl. |
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