In the last article we talked about the importance of the Red Cross Learn to Swim lessons at the Battlefords Co-op Aquatic Centre and how many pupils take part each year.
In this item we will look at some of the other lessons that are offered at the pool - lessons that may appeal to those who do not have regular access to the lessons, who have completed the levels, or who perhaps do not find the Learn to Swim program appealing. There are other programs and options to meet some of the needs and more options can be explored with clients if the client sees something missing from our programs.
There is a supplementary program to these after school lessons that uses the same Red Cross program. The School Swim program runs during the weekdays at the Aquatic Centre throughout the fall, winter and spring months. The students are bussed in from local schools and from the towns in the surrounding areas such as Medstead, Hafford, Maymont, Turtleford and Edam, as well as the reserve schools such as Sweetgrass, Red Pheasant, Mosquito, Moosomin and Saulteaux. This past season, approximately 1,800 students took advantage of this opportunity to learn to swim.
Separate from the afterschool and school lessons are the adult swim and stroke improvement lessons. These are a less formal arrangement wherein the instructors work on those skills and knowledge the student chooses. Usually no awards are involved in these lessons, although they are not precluded if the student fulfils all the requirements. People come to conquer their fear of the water, to improve their comfort level in the water or to improve and/or strengthen their swimming strokes. Some of the swimmers are grandparents who have ensured their children learned to swim and are now trying to get comfortable themselves so that they can play with the grandchildren in the pool or at the lake. Some want to become more comfortable so that they feel safer learning to canoe or kayak. Whatever the reason, the staff at the Aquatic Centre have a great time in the relaxed atmosphere that surrounds the adult lessons.
The lessons are registration programs where a person signs up for a 10-week series. The registration times are advertised and registration takes place at the Aquatic Centre in person or via telephone for the fall, winter, spring or summer sessions. There is an alternative to the formal scheduled lessons and that is private lessons. In this option, arrangements are made with one of the instructors at the Aquatic Centre as to time and frequency for the lessons. The fee for these lessons is agreed to between the parties and paid to the instructor. Regular admission to the pool is paid each time. In this arrangement, lessons can be tailor-made for each individual and a particular instructor selected. Interested people simply leave contact and lesson requirements with the front desk and the notice is posted for the interested staff to make contact with the patron.
The Aquatic Centre is responsible for offering instruction in First Aid. Standard First Aid courses are offered monthly except during the summer using instructors from the pool. Standard, emergency and health care provider courses are available if there is a demand. Courses are set up for businesses and agencies in the community who want to have their staff trained to deal with emergencies. These courses are scheduled to fit the needs of the sponsoring agency. A simple phone call will get the process started for you today. Recertification is done as part of the regular training program. The First Aid courses mesh into the offering of leadership courses that take place at the Co-op Aquatic Centre. The lifeguards and instructors at the facility are all trained first aiders.
