Aquatic Facilities • Instructions

Overview The Wheaton Park District Swim Lesson Programs at Rice Pool & Water Park and Northside Family Aquatic Center are unique to their own facilities. The courses are comparable. For those with special needs, Rice Pool & Water Park is an accessible site for recreation, swimming and swim lesson programs. Register for as many classes or sessions as you wish. Swimming lessons are not made up, nor are refunds provided due to missed lessons for inclement weather or absence. There are no class cancellations. Instructors reserve the right to place the participant in the class best suited to his or her ability.

Course Descriptions

Placement is based on skill, not age. Children are tested and placed in appropriate levels on the first day of class (children must be toilet trained). These descriptions apply to swimming lessons at both Northside Family Aquatic Center and Rice Pool & Water Park. In order to move to the next level, one must perform the following skills correctly:

Ages 3-5
• Toddler I: First time lessons
• Toddler II: Able to blow bubbles and put face in water
• Toddler III: Move with feet off of bottom, front float, back float, beginning stroke

Youth, Ages 6 & Over
• Beginner I: Enter water, hold breath, blow bubbles, front float and glide
• Beginner II: Front float, front glide, crawl stroke 20 feet (arms & kick), jump into chest-deep water
• Beginner III: Crawl stroke with rhythmic breathing, jump into deep water, back float with movement
• Advanced Beginner WPD: (Must have passed Beginners) Crawl stroke with rhythmic breathing survival float, treading water, elementary back stroke, front dive, underwater swim
• Intermediate WPD: (Must have passed Adv. Beginners) Review crawl and elementary backstroke, sidestroke, breaststroke, 5-minute swim.
• Swimmer WPD: (Must have passed Intermediate) Breaststroke, sidestroke, back crawl, review all strokes, 10-minute swim

Class Ratios
• 3- to 5-year-olds: 4 swimmers to 1 instructor
• 6 years and over: 6-8 swimmers to 1 instructor
• Advanced classes may possibly have 10 to 1 ratio.