Swim Lessons
Summer
Swim lessons
Swimming can be a glorious activity whether you are casual or competitive, but it can be a scary experience - and even a life-threatening one - for those who don’t know what they’re doing. Swimming safety for everyone is of paramount importance in our community. Swim lessons are made available to children of all ages (members only, of course), and those lessons are taught by a select group of Highland Lakes’ lifeguards who are certified as Water Safety Instructors.
Instructors
Kaitlyn Nix, Water Safety Director
Registration
Registration for Swim Lessons begin on Memorial Day weekend and are due before June 25th.
How to Register:
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Confirm your child's level category below
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Decide your preferred Beach Locations & Times Slots
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Wait for an email that will confirm your child's swim lesson details
Contact kaitlyn.j.nix@gmail.com with any questions.
Swim Level Categories
Parents will be required to be in the water with their younger children who need assistance.
Level 1 – Introduction to Water Skills
This level allows the student to feel comfortable in the water and to enjoy the water safely. At the conclusion of Level 1, students must successfully enter unassisted, move 5 yards, bob 5 times to chin level and safely exit the water. Students can walk, travel along the shore or swim, float on front with support for 3 seconds, rollover onto their back (with assistance), float on back with support for 3 seconds before advancing to the next level.
Level 2 – Fundamental Aquatic Skills
This level provides students success with fundamental skills. At the conclusion of Level 2, students will successfully complete skills assessment of stepping from waterside into chest-deep water, move into a front float for 5 seconds, rollover to a back float, return to standing position, then move into a back float for 5 seconds and return to a standing position. The student must also push off and swim using a combination of arm and leg movements for 15 feet on the front, push off and swim using a combination of arm movement for 15 feet on the back before advancing to the next level.
Level 3 – Stroke Development
The student builds on the skills introduced in Level 2 by providing additional guided practice. At the completion of Level 3, the student will successfully complete these skill assessments: Jump into chest-deep water from the side, swim front crawl for 15 yards with face in the water and rhythmic breathing pattern (to front or side), maintain position by treading or floating for 30 seconds and swim back crawl for 15 yards before advancing to Level 4.
Level 4 – Stroke Improvement
The student develops confidence in the strokes learned and to improve other aquatic skills. At the completion of Level 4, the student will successfully complete these skills assessments: perform a feet-first entry into chest-deep water, swim front crawl for 25 yards, maintain position on back 1 minute in deep water (floating or sculling), and swim elementary backstroke for 15 yards, swim breaststroke 15 yards, tread water for 1 minute, swim back crawl 25 yards before advancing to Level 5.
Level 5 – Stroke Refinement
The student provides further coordination and refinement of strokes. At the completion of Level 5, swimmers will successfully complete these skill assessments: perform a shallow dive into deep water, swim front crawl for 50 yards, maintain a back float position for 2 minutes in deep water (float or scull), swim elementary backstroke for 25 yards, swim breaststroke for 25 yards, tread water for 2 minutes and swim back crawl for 50 yards before advancing to Level 6.
Level 6 – Swimming and Skill Proficiency
At this level, strokes are refined so students swim them with ease, efficiency, power and smoothness over greater distances. At the completion of Level 6, swimmers will swim 500 yards continuously using various strokes including: the front crawl for 100 yards, back crawl for 100 yards, breaststroke for 50 yards, elementary backstroke for 50 yards, sidestroke for 50 yards, butterfly for 50 yards, and choice of stroke for 100 yards.
Swimmers will perform the Cooper 12-minute swim test and compare with pre-assessment results, perform a front approach and hurdle feet-first and head-first entry from a 1 meter springboard (if applicable), for lifeguard readiness in addition to above skills that are applicable: Swim 20 yards using a front crawl or breaststroke to a depth of 7 to 10 feet, retrieve a 10 lb. object, return to the surface and swim 20 yards on the back or side to the starting point with the object (students must hold object with both hands and keep his or her face out of the water) with additional skills for Personal Water Safety in addition to the above skills before completion of the American Red Cross swim program.
Swim
Attire
lesson Attire
Swimmers are encouraged to come to their lesson every day ready to swim with a towel, water bottle, goggles, and cap if necessary.
Girls should wear a one-piece suit, boys nothing too baggy.
Lessons are conducted at Beach 1, Beach 3 and the Swim Lanes on the Main Lake.
Swim lessons are 30 minutes long.
Lessons start at 11:00 AM.
Last lesson is at 3:00 PM.
lesson
locations & TIMES
Swimming Safety
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Always swim with a buddy; never swim alone.
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Read and obey all rules and posted signs.
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Swim in areas that are supervised by a lifeguard.
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Children or inexperienced swimmers should take extra precautions, such as wearing U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jacket when around water.
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Watch out for the “dangerous too’s”- too tired, too cold, too far from safety, too much sun, too much strenuous activity.
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Set water safety rules for your family based on swimming abilities (for example, inexperienced swimmers should stay in water less than chest deep).
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Be knowledgeable of the water environment you are in and its potential hazards, such as deep and shallow areas, currents, depth changes, obstructions and where the entry and exit points are located. The more informed you are, the more aware you will be of hazards and safe practices.
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Know how to prevent, recognize and respond to emergencies.
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Use a feet first entry when entering the water.
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Enter head first only when the area is clearly marked for diving and has no obstructions.
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Do not mix alcohol with swimming, diving, or boating. Alcohol impairs judgment, balance and coordination, affects your swimming and diving skills and reduces your body’s ability to stay warm.
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Know how to prevent, recognize and respond to emergencies.
Lifeguard training
Swimmers who are 15 or older by July 25 are eligible to take a Lifeguard Training course. The course, which spans 15 days or so, begins with a pre-test for those interested in becoming certified by the American Red Cross.
Requirements:
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Pass the American Red Cross swim test
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Be an HLCC member in good standing
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Attend all classes scheduled
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Be age 15 by July 25th and bring proof of age
How to Register:
Complete THIS FORM and send via one of the ways below addressed to Kaitlyn Nix, Water Safety Director:
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Email it to hlcc@warwick.net
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Mail it to HLCC, PO Box 578, Highland Lakes, NJ 07422
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Place it through the mail slot at the Club Office.
Registration Fee:
A $50 non-refundable deposit is due at the time of registration.
Guard Start
Offered during July, this course teaches all of the components of lifeguarding and water safety, and is offered for swimmers between the ages of 11 and 14. Instructors for this class focus on the responsibilities of lifeguarding and provide instruction in fitness, leadership, professionalism, and swimming development.
Lifeguard Olympics
Each August lifeguards from the different beaches are paired off to three teams that compete against each other in various athletic/fun events. Held in the early evening at Beach One, this is one of the most popular spectator sports in Highland Lakes as families and friends gather to cheer on their beach. Some of the events include Rescue Board Races, Beach Volleyball, capture the flags, tugs of war, sand soccer, wacky relay race, and on and on. Lifeguards bring baked goods for sale and all proceeds are donated to the American Red Cross.