Parents Please Read: The American Red Cross has revised the learn to swim program. We have spent the last few months and we will continue training staff in the new program aspects and we will begin to deliver that new program in the fall session of 2009.

The new program is a multi-level instructional approach to swimming classes and has been revised to maximize participant success and includes the most current bio-mechanics and stroke descriptions for the swimming skills included in the program materials. The American Red Cross over the years has made changes to place a greater emphasis on safety in on and around the water and this program is no different, greater emphasis on age appropriate learning experiences have greatly enhanced this program.

Look in August for complete descriptions of the New Learn to Swim program that will be offered on our website at:

The program itself will be more age specific, however, this may result in a little confusion as to where to place your child. All 3 and 4 year olds will be locked into the Pre-School program until turning 6 years of age current 5 year olds that are in level 1 or 2 will be allowed to enter the progressive learn to swim program at level 1 or 2 depending on their current status and if they took lessons at Blue Hills. If lessons taken were at another facility they will be locked into the Pre-school age 5 program.

Some children will experience skills that are now included in a lower level, if for example they are in level 3, there are a few skills that were not covered in the old level 1 & 2 so they may experience a little delay until they catch up with those skills or you can elect to sign them up for a level lower than they are currently at to enhance the learning experience for your child. This may hold true for the entire program until we catch up with ourselves regarding these changes. Please bear with us as we work through these changes in the Red Cross Program.