Orono Community Education

Fundamental Aquatics Skills

MUST BE AT LEAST 5 YEARS OLD.

Comfortable in water, submerges head and floats independently.

Course Content: This level allows students to succeed in the fundamentals of aquatic skills. These skills include: front, jellyfish and tuck floats, roll from front to back and back to front, change direction of travel while swimming on front or back, treading of water, combined arm and leg actions on front and back (working towards moving independently) and age-appropriate water safety topics.

Exit Skills: 

• Step from side into chest-deep water, move into a front float for 5 seconds, roll to back, float for 5 seconds then return to vertical position. 
• Move into a back float for 5 seconds, roll to front then recover to a vertical position.
• Push off and swim using combined arm and leg actions on front for 5 body lengths, roll to back, float for 15 seconds, roll to the front then continue swimming for 5 body lengths.

Curriculum and levels are based on the Red Cross' Learn-to-Swim Program. For questions about what level your child should register for, refer to our descriptions.

If you are a new family to Orono Community Education’s swimming lessons, we encourage you to schedule a swimming pre-assessment to determine the best level for your swimmer. Pre-assessments take place at the Orono pool. Instructors will guide your swimmer through a set of skills in a 15-minute period.

Pre-assessments will take place in early December 2024. Contact Tara St. Martin to schedule a pre-assessment at tara.st.martin@orono.k12.mn.us.

Note: Attending a pre-assessment does not guarantee a spot in lessons. Spots fill quickly.