Bismarck Parks & Recreation

Swim, Indoor (Winter)

Fee and Location

  • $60/Session
  • BSC Aquatic & Wellness Center, 1601 Canary Avenue.

Preschool Aquatics (3-5 yrs old)

Throughout the three levels, preschool-age children are taught basic aquatic safety and swimming skills, all the while increasing their comfort level in and around the water. Skills are age-appropriate, helping children achieve success on a regular basis and enjoy social interaction with other children. As in all swimming and water safety courses, your child will always know that it’s safety first.

Preschool A – Orients children to the aquatic environment and helps them gain basic aquatic skills.

  • Enter and exit water using ramp, steps, or side. Blow bubbles through mouth and nose. Submerge mouth, nose, and eyes. Open eyes underwater and retrieve submerged objects. Front glide and recover to a vertical position. Back glide and recover to a vertical position. Back float. Roll from front to back and back to front. Tread with arm and hand actions. Alternating and simultaneous arm and leg actions on front and back. Combined arm and leg actions on front and back. Age appropriate water safety topics.

Preschool B – Helps children gain greater independence in their skills and develop more comfort in and around the water.

  • Enter water by stepping in from a deck or low height. Exit water using ladder, steps, or side. Bobbing. Open eyes underwater and retrieve submerged objects. Front float. Back glide and float and recover to a vertical position. Roll from front to back and back to front. Tread water using arm and leg actions. Combined arm and leg actions on front and back. Finning arm action on back. Age appropriate water safety topics.

Preschool C – Helps children start to gain basic swimming propulsive skills to be comfortable in and around the water.

  • Enter water by jumping in. Fully submerge and hold breath. Bobbing. Rotary breathing. Front, jellyfish, and tuck floats. Front and back float or glide and recover to a vertical position. Change direction of travel while swimming on front or back. Tread water using arm and leg actions. Combined arm and leg actions on front and back. Finning arm action on back. Age appropriate water safety topics.

Learn-to-Swim (6 yrs-Teen)

Designed to help participants achieve maximum success, Learn-to-Swim courses are based on a logical, six-level progression that helps swimmers of varying ages and abilities develop their water safety, survival and swim skills.

Level 1- Introduction to water skills: Helps Participants feel comfortable in the water.

  • Enter and exit the water using ramp, steps, or side. Blow bubbles through mouth and nose. Bobbing. Open eyes underwater and retrieve submerged objects. Front and back glides and recover to a vertical position. Back float. Roll from front to back and back to front. Tread water using arm and hand actions. Alternating and simultaneous arm and leg actions on front and back. Combined arm and leg actions on front and back. Age appropriate water safety topics.

Level 2 – Fundamental Aquatic Skills: Gives participants success with fundamental skills.

  • Enter water by stepping or jumping from the side. Exit water using ladder, steps, or side. Fully submerge and hold breath. Bobbing. Open eyes underwater and retrieve submerged objects. Rotary breathing. Front, jellyfish, and tuck floats. Back and front glide and recover to a vertical position. Roll from front to back and back to front. Tread water using arm and leg actions. Change direction of travel while swimming on front or back. Combined arm and leg actions on front and back. Finning arm action. Age appropriate water safety topics.

Level 3 – Stroke Development: Builds on the skills in level 2 through additional guided practice in deeper water.

  • Enter water by jumping from the side, fully submerge then recover to the surface and return to the side. Headfirst entries from the side in sitting and kneeling positions. Bobbing while moving toward safety. Rotary breathing. Back float. Survival float. Change from vertical to horizontal position on front and back. Tread water. Flutter and dolphin kicks on front. Scissors and breaststroke kicks. Front crawl and elementary backstroke. Age appropriate water safety topics.

Level 4 – Stroke Improvement: Develops confidence in the skills learned and improves other aquatic skills.

  • Headfirst entries from the side in compact and stride positions. Swim underwater. Feet first surface dive. Survival swimming. Open turns on front and back. Tread water using two different kicks. Front and back crawl, elementary back stroke, breaststroke, sidestroke, and butterfly. Flutter and dolphin kicks on back. Age appropriate water safety topics.

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

  • Shallow-angle dive from the side then glide and begin a front stroke. Tuck and pike surface dives, submerge completely. Front flip turn and backstroke flip turn while swimming. Front and back crawl, elementary backstroke, breaststroke, sidestroke, and butterfly. Sculling. Age appropriate water safety topics.

Winter Registration Session 1

Opens online or in person at the Park District Office and the BSC Aquatic & Wellness Center on Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025, at 10am.

Classes will be posted approximately one week before registration opens. Classes are subject to change.

Navigating Online Swim Lesson Registration – Instructional Guide (PDF download)

REGISTER

Jan. 13 – Feb. 12 (M & W)
Jan. 14 – Feb. 13 (T & Th)
Time Class M & W T & Th W & Th
TBA        

Winter Registration Session 2

Opens online or in person at the Park District Office and the BSC Aquatic & Wellness Center on Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2025, at 10am.

Classes will be posted approximately one week before registration opens. Classes are subject to change. There will be no lessons on Monday, April 1.

Navigating Online Swim Lesson Registration – Instructional Guide (PDF download)

REGISTER

Feb. 24 – March 26 (M & W)
Feb. 25 – March 27 (T & Th)
Time Class M & W T & Th W & Th
TBA