Learn-to-Swim classes are the most comprehensive and effective classes of its kind available anywhere. Contact your local Red Cross chapter for information about classes in your area!

The new American Red Cross Learn-to-Swim classes provide instruction to help swimmers of all ages and abilities develop their swimming and water safety skills. It is designed to give students a positive learning experience.

Learn-to-Swim teaches aquatic and safety skills in a logical progression. The objective is to teach people to swim and to be safe in, on and around the water.

Skills are categorized in the following way:

• Water Entry and Exit
• Breath Control and Underwater Swimming
• Buoyancy
• Changing Direction and Position
• Treading
• Swimming on Front, Back and Side
• General and Personal Water Safety
• Helping Others

The six learn-to-swim levels and the objectives for each level include:

Level 1
Introduction to Water Skills: helps students feel comfortable in the water and to enjoy the water safely.

Level 2
Fundamental Aquatic Skills: gives students success with fundamental skills.

Level 3
Stroke Development: builds on the skills in Level 2 by providing additional guided practice.

Level 4
Stroke Improvement: develops confidence in the strokes learned and to improve other aquatic skills.

Level 5
Stroke Refinement: provides further coordination and refinement of strokes.

Level 6
Swimming and Skill Proficiency: refines the strokes so students swim them with ease, efficiency, power and smoothness over greater distances. Level 6 is designed with "menu" options. Each of these options focus on preparing students to participate in more advance courses, such as Water Safety Instructor and Lifeguard Training. These options include:

• Personal Water Safety
• Lifeguard Readiness
• Fundamentals of Diving
• Fitness Swimming