Pool

Pool Admission Standards for Kids

 0-5 Years Old

• Children under the age of 6 years must be accompanied by an adult in the water at all times.
• One adult may swim with a maximum of two non-swimmers at one time or four children if they are all wearing life jackets.
• The adult is not required to be a member or purchase a day pass.
• Additional adults must purchase a day pass.
• Children who are not toilet trained must have a swim diaper on when in the pool.

6-9 Years Old

• Children ages 6-9 years of age may use the pool independently after passing the Guelph Y's swim admission test, which can be administered at any time.  However, a responsible adult must accompany them to the Guelph Y and be present on the pool deck to supervise at all times.
• If a child does not pass the Guelph Y's swim admission test, they must be with an adult in the water at all times.
• One adult may swim with a maximum of two non-swimmers at one time or four children if they are all wearing life jackets.
• Additional adults must purchase a day pass.

10 to 15 Years

• Youth ages 10 years or older may use the pool independently.
• They may sign themselves into the building and use the change room independently.
• A Guelph Y's swim admission test must be completed to access the deep end of the pool.
• If they are not able to complete the Guelph Y's swim admission test successfully they will be required to stay in the shallow end.

Swimming Lessons

A once a week swim lesson for all children and youth are included within their monthly membership. Register for your swim lesson at our Member Services desk in person or by phone today 519-824-5150, extension 0.

Rolling Registration During the School Year

• Swimming lessons are set up with a rolling registration during the school calendar year.
• There is no start date or finish date.
• Swimmers can move up to the next level at their own rate.
• Specific skills will need to be demonstrated within each level in order to move up to the next level.
• Instructors will let swimmers know when they are ready to move up to the next level

Summer Swim Lessons

• Rolling registration stops and is put on hold for the summer.
• Summer swim lessons run through July and August.
• Members must register for a summer swim lesson.
• This once a week summer swim lesson is included within the child and youth membership monthly fees.
• Your school year swim lesson time slot will be put on hold until September at which time you will continue back with your rolling registered lesson for the school calendar year.

Swimming Lesson Attendance Policy

• Parents are encouraged to attend their scheduled swim lesson each week
• If a lesson is going to be missed please call and let the Member Services team know at 519-824-5150, extension 0
• If lessons are missed 3 weeks in a row without a phone call made to let us know, your swim lesson time slot may be given to another family who may be on our wait list

Swim Levels, ages 18 months to 15 years

Please click here for our swim lesson level guide to read a detailed description for our swim levels offered here at the Guelph Y.

Register today at our Member Services Desk

Private Swimming Lessons

One on one swim lessons are available for any of our YMCA Canada swim levels. Instructors will use specific progressions and feedback to help your child work through the YMCA Canada Swim Program at their own pace.

Please see below for a complete list of Fall Private Swim Lesson Dates 

Progress Reports Online

Children and youth who participate in a once a week swim lesson will be able to view their progress reports online at the end of each session.

Swimming Lesson Session Dates For 2017

Steps to Viewing Your Progress Report:

1. Click here to view your child's online swim lesson progress report
2. Enter your child's YMCA-YWCA of Guelph 8 digit membership identification number. This can be found at the bottom of their membership card.
3. If your child's membership identification begins with a zero do not enter the zero (i.e. "01234567" would be entered as "1234567")

Bronze Courses

Bronze Star

Bronze Star is an excellent preparation for success in Bronze Medallion. Participants develop problem-solving and decision making skills individually and in partners. Candidates develop the lifesaving skills needed to be their own lifesaver. Includes a timed 400m swim. Basic First Aid and CPR-A is included. No prerequisites required. Life Saving Society Swim Patrol level or YMCA Canada Star program experience is recommended. 100% Attendance is mandatory.

Bronze Medallion & Emergency First aid with CPR-B

This program teaches an understanding of the lifesaving principles and the four components of water-rescue education; judgment, knowledge, skill and fitness. Rescuers learn tows and carries, defense methods and releases in preparation for rescues of increased risk involving conscious and unconscious victims. Lifesavers develop stroke efficiency and endurance in a 500m timed swim. Bronze Medallion includes emergency first aid with CPR-B. 100% Attendance is mandatory.

Emergency First Aid

Emergency First Aid is for people who want a general knowledge of first aid principles and the emergency treatment of injuries.

Skills include: victim assessment, rescue breathing, CPR, choking, and what to do for external bleeding, heart attack, and stroke.

Included CPR-B. This teaches parents, grandparents, babysitters, or childcare workers the CPR and choking procedures for adults and children.

SUMMER COURSES 

DATES: Monday, July 9th-Thursday, July 12th

DATES: Monday, July 23rd-Thursday, July 26th

TIMES: 1:00 P.M. to 9:00 P.M.

COST: Non-member cost: $185.00 Member cost: $168.00

Bronze Cross

This program is designed for lifesavers who want the challenge of more advanced training including an introduction to safe supervision in aquatic facilities. Bronze Cross is a prerequisite for all advanced training programs including National Lifeguard and Instructor certification. This program includes a timed 600m swim. 100% Attendance in your course is mandatory. 

Prerequisites: Bronze Medallion & Emergency First Aid & CPR-B

Required Manual: Canadian Lifesaving (Cost: $42.00)

SUMMER COURSES 

DATES: Monday, July 9th-Thursday, July 12th

DATES: Monday, July 23rd-Thursday, July 26th

TIMES: 1:00 P.M. to 9:00 P.M.

COST: Non-member cost: $167.00 Member cost: $150.00

Child and Family Drop in Swimming

Preschool Swim, ages 0 to 5

Preschool swim allows you to freely play in our warm pool, with access to water toys and life jackets.

• Preschool swim is for members under six years of age and their parents or guardians
• Parents and guardians must be 16 years of age or older
• Children must be accompanied by an adult (two children per adult)
• The adult is not required to be a member or purchase a day/guest pass
• Additional adults must purchase a day pass
• Please make sure that all children who are not toilet trained have a swim diaper on when in the pool

Open Swim, all ages

This is a recreational swim for members of all ages. One to two lanes are open during this time for lane swimmers of all speeds. Pool admission standards apply. 

Lane Swim, ages 13 years and older

This swium is open for members who wish to swim lengths as a means of working on their strokes and fitness. There is a slow, medium, and fast lane available as well as a section of the pool that may be used for aqua-fitness. Pool admission standards apply. 

Guelph Y Triton Swim (previously Youth Swim Club)

Guelph Y Triton Swim is a free program for children and youth ages 6 to 16 years who are at the YMCA Canada Swimmer level or higher. Formerly known as Youth Swim Club, the Guelph Y has added an additional time during the weekdays and removed the cost to make this program more accessible to our child and youth members! 

Junior Lifeguard Club

Jr. Lifeguard club is a free program for children and youth ages 10 to 16 years who have completed the YMCA Canada swim levels. In this program children and youth will continue to practice rescues, hone their lifesaving skills and have the opportunity to learn basic firstaid. 

Advanced Aquatics and Courses

Standard First Aid and CPR C

Standard First Aid provides comprehensive training covering all aspects of first aid and CPR. Standard First Aid incorporates all of Emergency First Aid and is designed for those who require a more in-depth understanding of first aid. This program includes legal implications of first aid treatment, spinal injuries, heat and cold injuries, bone and joint injuries, abdominal and chest injuries, burns, and medical emergencies.

CPR-C covers all aspects of CPR skills and theory for adults, children, and infants. CPR-C certification is included in Standard First Aid.

Prerequisites: 16 years of age

First Aid and CPR C Courses for 2017

The Life Saving Society policy for renewal is as follows:

• You may complete a recertification course once after completing the full course.
• A recertification course be completed before the expiry date of your existing certification.
• After you have completed a recertification course once, the next time you must complete a full course.

National Lifeguard Service (NLS) Course 

National Lifeguard training builds on fundamental skills, knowledge and values taught in previous lifesaving awards to develop the practical skills and knowledge required by lifeguards. Recognized as the standard measurement of lifeguard performance in Canada, National Lifeguard education is designed to develop a sound understanding of life guarding principles, good judgment and a mature and responsible attitude toward the role of the lifeguard.

The National Lifeguard's primary role is the prevention of emergency situations and where this fails, the timely and effective resolution of emergencies. The National Lifeguard program is designed to prepare lifeguards to fulfill this role as professional facilitators of safe, enjoyable aquatics. The National Lifeguard course cannot in theory or practice prepare candidates for every situation which might be encountered by NLS guards working in Canadian aquatic environments and facilities. National Lifeguard training is designed to develop the basic life guarding skills, principles and decision-making processes which will assist the lifeguard to evaluate and adapt to different aquatic facilities and emergencies. 100% Attendance is Required.

Prerequisites: Must be 16 years of age, have completed Bronze Cross at some point, and have a current Standard First Aid certification.

Required Manual: "Alert: Lifeguarding in Action"

Dates: Sunday, March 25 to Sunday, June 3, 2018 

Day: Sundays

Times: 2:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. 

Cost: $261.00 

National Lifeguard Service (NLS) Recertification Course 

Dates: Sunday, March 4, 2018

Times: 3:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Cost: $81.00 

Dates: Sunday, June 3, 2018 

Times: 3:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. 

Cost: $81.00 

Lifesaving Instructors

The Lifesaving Instructor Course prepares instructors to teach the following Life Saving Society Courses:

• Canadian Swim Patrol Program
• Bronze Star, Bronze Medallion, Bronze Cross, Wading Pool Attendant
• Lifesaving Fitness, Distinction, Diploma
• Basic and Emergency First Aid, and CPR-A, CPR-B and CPR-C
• Current Lifesaving Instructors evaluate all items and certify candidates in Canadian Swim Patrol, Bronze Star, Lifesaving Fitness, Basic and Emergency First Aid, and CPR-A, -B, -C. Instructors evaluate some items in Bronze Medallion, Bronze Cross and Distinction, but only Examiners may certify candidates in these awards.

YMCA Swim Instructors - Register here 

The purpose of the YMCA Swim Instructor Course is to prepare participants to effectively teach people how to swim and improve their swimming techniques.  You will learn how to create positive participant experiences that further the YMCA Mission and will further develop YMCA Swim Instructor competencies.

Participants will learn communication skills such as giving and receiving feedback, planning and organizing skills which will assist you them in prioritizing and setting goals as well as give them insight on maintaining quality standards and prioritizing.

100% Attendance and participation is required.

Manual for courses is extra at $16.95 (HST included)

Dates: February 4 to April 15, 2018 

Sessions: Sunday, February 4 (9:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.)

Sunday, March 4 (11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.)

Sunday, April 15 (11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.) 

Standard First Aid Instructors and Advanced Core Instructors - Register here

The Lifesaving Society Standard First Aid Instructor course prepares candidates to teach first aid courses up to and including Standard First Aid and CPR-A, B, C.

Prerequisites: Minimum of 18 years, LSS SFA with CPR C and Lifesaving Instructor

Required reference material: Current First Aid Award Guide, Current Canadian First Aid Manual and Current First Aid Instructor Resource CD

These may be purchased from the Lifesaving Society website at lifeguarddepot.com

100% Attendance is required

2018 WINTER COURSES

Date: Friday, January 19 to Saturday, January 20, 2018 

Times: Fridays (4:00 p.m. - 10:30 p.m.) Saturdays (9:00 a.m. - 7:30 p.m.) 

2018 SPRING COURSES 

Date: Friday, April 6 to Saturday, April 7, 2018 

Times: Fridays (4:00 p.m. - 10:30 p.m.) Saturdays (9:00 a.m. - 7:30 p.m.) 

2018 SUMMER COURSES 

Date: Friday, June 15 to Saturday, June 16, 2018 

Times: Fridays (4:00 p.m. - 10:30 p.m.) Saturdays (9:00 a.m. - 7:30 p.m.) 

2018 FALL COURSES 

Date: Friday, September 21 to Saturday, September 22, 2018 

Times: Fridays (4:00 p.m. - 10:30 p.m.) Saturdays (9:00 a.m. - 7:30 p.m.) 

Date: Friday, November 23 to Saturday, November 24, 2018 

Times: Fridays (4:00 p.m. - 10:30 p.m.) Saturdays (9:00 a.m. - 7:30 p.m.) 

Standard First Aid (Recertification) 

Dates and Times: Saturday, January 27, 2018 (9:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.) 

Saturday, April 21, 2018 (9:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.) 

Saturday, June 23, 2018 (9:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.) 

Saturday, September 29, 2018 (9:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.) 

Saturday, December 1, 2018 (9:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.)  

Birthday Parties at the Pool