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Swim Lessons & Aquatics Classes

Kitsap County is surrounded by approximately 171 square miles of waterways, which accounts for nearly 30% of the total area of the county. Be sure you and your loved ones are fully prepared to be safe in and around the water with Naval Base Kitsap swim lessons. With proven effective instruction methods and lesson opportunities for swimmers of all ages, NBK Swim Lessons at the Bangor Aquatics Center are a great option to ensure everyone is adept at water safety. 

Our swim lesson program is broken into age-appropriate, skills-based learning sessions. Ages 6-18 months begin in our Star Babies and Star Tots levels, which are parent-assisted classes utilized to get youth acclimated to the water. Ages 3 and older take part in our Starfish Swim and Stroke Schools. In Starfish Swim School, participants learn the foundational skills to remain safe in and around the water. Levels 1-3 are separated into two age groups: Preschool 3-5 year olds and School-age 6-12 year olds. In Starfish Stroke School, students refine their strokes and start preparing to join the swim team while building endurance in the four competitive strokes. 

Star Babies & Star Tots Levels 1-2

Star Babies - Ages 6-18 months*

30-minute class, one day per week 
10 kids per class

Students will gain trust and improve comfortability in the water while also learning important body positions. Students and parents will learn about safely entering the water, proper balancing holds to help improve comfort and trust between children and parents. Students will begin working on the foundational swim skills such as front and back floats, counting cues, sliding and jumping into the water. All of these skills will be taught and reinforced through songs and games. 


Star Tots Level 1 - Ages 18 months-3 years*

30-minute class, one day per week 
10 kids per class

Students will gain trust and improve comfortability in the water while also learning important body positions. Students and parents will learn about safely entering the water, proper balancing holds to help improve comfort and trust between children and parents. Students will begin working on the foundational swim skills such as front and back floats, counting cues, sliding and jumping into the water. All of these skills will be taught and reinforced through songs and games. 

In order to advance to Star Tots Level 2, students must be able to perform the Star Tots Level 1 safety and swim skill benchmarks. All benchmarks in the Star Tots program a combination of parent and child skill.

Safety Skill Benchmarks:

  • »  Parents must exhibit understanding of constant and dedicated surveillance, and properly fit a life jacket. 
  • »  Students must show understanding of wearing a life jacket

 

Swim Skill Benchmarks:

  • »  Parent and child should be relaxed and comfortable while enjoying the water. 
  • »  Child must perform a relaxed front, back, vertical and side position for at least five seconds while supported. 
  • »  Child can enter the water from the wall, submerge, turn around and grab onto the wall, and pull their head out of the water with assistance. 

 


Star Tots Level 2 - Ages 18 months-3 years*

30-minute class, one day per week 
10 kids per class

Students will continue to gain confidence in the water and will begin to transition to instructor-assisted activities instead of parent-assisted. Students and parents will:

 

  • »  Learn about recreational water illnesses and receive a brief introduction to CPR.
  • »  Be able to roll from their front to their back and from their back to their front.
  • »  Bob in the water, kick, pull and drift through the water.
  • »  Be proficient at independent movement.

Students will age out of the Star Tots program at three years old at which point instructors will notify parents for what preschool level the child is most ready. Students are not allowed to enter the preschool program before three years of age. 


 

*These swim lessons require a parent/guardian in the water with every child. 

Starfish Swim School | Levels 1-3

Starfish Level 1 - Ages 3-5 years OR 6-12 years

20-minute class, two days per week 

3 kids per class

Level 1 course sets the foundation for comfortability and safety in and around the water. Students will focus on the importance of asking permission before entering the water, good body position and control, and safe breathing techniques. Good body position and control will be introduced with the practice of floats on the front and back and streamline swim positions. The streamline swim position introduces good body position in preparation for learning front crawl/freestyle and backstrokes in more advanced levels. Other skills learned include how to safely exit the water, front and back floats, front and back streamline and full body submersion. In order to advance to Level 2, students must be able to perform the Level 1 swim skill benchmarks. 

Safety Skill Benchmarks:

  • »  Asking permission and putting on a life jacket before entering the water.
  • »  Floating on their back and kicking for 20 feet. 

 

Swim Skill Benchmarks:

  • »  Assisted submersion for 5 seconds and coming up for breath.
  • »  Jumping in, submerging and recovering for air.
  • »  Rolling on back while kicking for 5 seconds. 

 


Starfish Level 2 - Ages 3-5 years OR 6-12 years

20-minute class, two days per week 

3 kids per class

Level 2 course focuses on forward movement, rotary movement and direction change in the water. This level will introduce fundamental swim skills such as kick and pull movements on the front and the back. These skills are a turning point in a student's progress as they learn to swim more independently and how to safely return to the wall. Other swim skills to be performed include front and back streamlines with kicks, treading water, swimming underwater, side glides and retrieving a submerged object front the bottom of the pool. More safety skills will also be incorporated in the fundamentals of this course level. Students will learn how to help others in need without risking their own safety and how to call for emergency services. In order to advance to Level 3, students must be able to perform the Level 2 safety and two sets of swim skill benchmarks. 


Safety Skill Benchmarks:

  • »  Tread water for 15 seconds.
  • »  Use of flotation devices to help someone who is in trouble in the water.
  • »  Understand how to call for emergency services.

 

Swim Skill Benchmarks Set 1:

  • »  Jumping in, submerging, recovering for air. 
  • »  Kicking for 10 feet on the front or back.
  • »  Changing directions and returning to the wall using swim-roll-swim to breathe. 

 

Swim Skill Benchmarks Set 2:

  • »  Jumping in, recovering to side glide and kicking for 10 feet in the dive tank. 

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Both sets of swim skill benchmarks will be performed in swim gear and regular clothing. Performing these benchmarks in everyday clothing helps practice the skills and strength needed in the event of an emergency in the water outside of a pool setting. 

 


Starfish Level 3 - Ages 3-5 years OR 6-12 years

30-minute class, two days per week 

5 kids per class

Level 3 course focuses on integrated movement. This is the beginning stages of learning front crawl/freestyle with rhythmic breathing. We also will work on refining the body positions learned in previous levels and transforming them into a recognizable swim stroke. Students will reinforce body position in side glides while adding over arm pulls. Survival floats, safe head first dives from the deck and vertical head-first surface dives will also be learned. In order to advance to Level 4, students must be able to perform the Level 3 safety and swim skill benchmarks. 


Safety Skill Benchmarks:

  • »  Demonstrate the ability to perform a survival float.
  • »  Tread water for 30 seconds. 

 

Swim Skill Benchmarks:

  • »  Demonstrate the ability to start in side glide.
  • »  Swim with overarm pulls and kicks for 30 feet. 
  • »  Demonstrate 1-2-3 breathing pattern.

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After completing Level 3, students will move from the Swim School curriculum to the Stroke School curriculum. 

Starfish Stroke School | Levels 4-6

Starfish Level 4 - Ages 5-12 years

45-minute class, two days per week 

6 kids per class

Level 4 students will progress from the Swim School curriculum to the Stroke School curriculum. At this point students will begin refining their swim strokes and building endurance as they become strong, confident swimmers. The Stroke School Level 4 course focuses on the development of freestyle and backstroke. Students will learn and understand the fundamentals of performing recognizable swim strokes. Students will practice proper arm movement and recovery and flutter kicking techniques. Also, rhythmic breathing and good body position will be practiced regularly. Safety skills in this level build upon skills learned in previous levels, including putting on a life jacket and asking for permission before getting in the water. In order to advance to Level 5 students must be able to perform the Level 4 safety and swim benchmarks. 

Safety Benchmarks:

  • »  Ability to put on a life jacket and float on the back kicking for 30 feet. 
  • »  Asking permission before getting into the water. 

 

Swim Skill Benchmarks:

  • »  Swim freestyle with body stretched out and with consistent form for 25 yards.
  • »  Swim backstroke for 25 yards with straight arm and recovery. 
  • »  Demonstrated body roll and good arm and body extensions. 

 


Starfish Level 5 - Ages 5-12 years

45-minute class, two days per week 

6 kids per class

Level 5 course focuses on the fundamental techniques of butterfly and breast stroke. Proper breathing technique, arm movements and two new kicks will be introduced. Other swim skills learned in previous levels, such as survival floats and treading, will also be
recalled. Safety topics learned in previous levels will be reviewed and demonstrated to reinforce safe practices around the water. In order to advance to Level 6, students must be able to perform the Level 5 safety and swim skill benchmarks. 

Safety Skill Benchmarks:

  • »  Ability to use floatation to reach or throw to assist a swimmer.
  • »  Knowing how and when to call emergency services.
  • »  Ability to articulate water concepts. 

 

Swim Skill Benchmarks:

  • »  Ability to swim half a length using butterfly stroke and then switch to freestyle. 
  • »  Demonstrates ability to swim breaststroke for 25 yards with good rhythm/timing and body extension. 

 


Starfish Level 6 - Ages 5-12 years

60-minute class, two days per week 

8 kids per class

Level 6 course focuses on building strength and endurance. Reaching this level means that the student is proficient in freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke and butterfly. In this level, students will learn to incorporate open turns and flip turns with their strokes. More advanced drills will be introduced to build strength, endurance, and confidence. Students will learn how to utilize pace clocks and other equipment to improve speed and technique. This level is a basic introduction to a competitive swim team environment. Students will review and discuss all water safety topics and practice more advanced survival floats. In order to be prepared for a competitive level of swimming, the safety and swim skill benchmarks must be achieved.

Safety Skills Benchmark:

»  Demonstrates ability to tread water for two minutes.

»  Ability to survival float for two minutes. 

 

Swim Skill Benchmarks:

»  Demonstrates the ability to swim 200 yards continuously using all 4 strokes with either open or flip turns to change directions.


 

Upon completion of Level 6 students who are interested are prepared to join a swim team.

Registration and Session Information

There are no scheduled swim lesson sessions at this time

 

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