Aquatics Programs

Level 1: Introduction to Water Skills
Enter and exit water, blow bubbles, bob in water, open eyes to retrieve objects, supported floats, and glides.

Level 2: Fundamental Aquatic Skills
Progress to performing unsupported floats. Learn basic movements for front and back crawl. For children who can submerge underwater comfortably.

Level 3: Stroke Development
Must be comfortable with deeper water. Children will build up to swimming 15 yards of front and back crawl with proper breathing technique.

Level 4: Stroke Improvement
Children learn the butterfly stroke and open turns. They are also taught new kicking techniques used for 2 minutes of treading water.

Level 5: Stroke Refinement
Children practice all competitive strokes and must perform them properly over longer distances (up to 50 yards per stroke). They also learn competitive turns and various deep water surface dives.

Level 6: Fitness Swimming & Fundamentals of Diving
Building endurance is the focus of this level. Swimmers will build up to a 500-yard continuous swim and 5 minutes of trading water in addition to learning various surface and springboard dives.

Preschool Aquatics Level 1 | Ages 3-5
Children learn elementary aquatic skills (i.e., breath control, submerging, and supported floats as well as establish a foundation for stroke mechanics) with parental assistance.

Preschool Aquatics Level 2 | Ages 4-5
Children build upon basic aquatic skills. With assisted instruction and encouraged independence, children begin to develop fundamentals for back and front crawl.

Preschool Aquatics Level 3 | Ages 4-5
Children tie together skills from previous levels. This entails practicing skills to attain higher stroke proficiency and swim greater distances. All skills will be performed independently.

Parent/Tot Classes
Parents and swimmers will spend time in the water developing comfortability in a group setting while learning basic water skills including blowing bubbles, floating positions and, beginning arm and leg actions.

Parent Assisted Lessons
This class is designed around the curriculum of American Red Cross swim lessons levels 1-3. Parents will be in the water assisting their swimmer through all developmental skills including floating, kicking, and swimming.  Instructors will provide structure and guide participants to gaining independence in the water.

Adult Swim Lessons
Designed for men and women who wish to learn or improve their swimming skills, strokes, and techniques. Both beginners and experts alike will leave this class with enhanced swimming abilities in the water.

Semi-Private Lessons
Participants will follow the guidelines of the American Red Cross Learn to Swim program levels 1-6. This class will utilize a higher instructor to student ratio than that of the general Learn to Swim program, geared toward those individuals looking for a bit more attention in the swimming pool. Swim levels and ages may be combined for any lessons and class sizes will not exceed 3:1 student to teacher ratio.

Private Lessons
Private swim lessons are a great way to learn the basics of swimming or fine tune your techniques. They are designed to meet your specific needs and are open to both adults and children. Lessons are 30 minutes in length. Different packages are available. Private lessons are scheduled by contacting the Aquatic Coordinator Anthony DeMichael.

Shallow Water Aerobics
This low impact shallow water class focuses on continued movement through the water while emphasizing flexibility and mobility. Accompanied by music, this is the perfect opportunity for people looking to take the first steps into water aerobics.

Deep Water Aerobics
Held in the deep end of the pool while wearing a floatation belt, this class offers a zero-impact workout that includes swimming style movements at an aerobic pace. Perfect for all fitness levels, water resistance helps increase strength and mobility without putting too much stress on joints or bones.

Aqua Zumba
Take your Latin dance to the pool. Water increases the resistance but reduces the stress on the joints. Aqua Zumba® is fun, and a great aerobic and strength training workout. Class is appropriate for all fitness levels with a pace that allows you to move through the water with resistance, strengthening the muscles and joints to full range of motion without impact.

Aqua Barre
Get ready to dive into this brand-new class that brings Barre to the water.  Learn how ballet inspired movements and gentle resistance can strengthen arms, legs, and especially core.  Aqua Barre workouts are appropriate for all fitness levels.  Be the first to try this fun and inspiring water workout.

Aqua Jog
This water fitness class is a no impact, high intensity program that focuses on building cardiovascular strength and endurance. Classes are held in the deep water and participants will use a flotation belt.  This class is beneficial for runners and active fitness participants as it offers a no impact dry land alternative to cross training.

Aqua Fit
This class is for all fitness levels. The class helps improve strength, muscular endurance, coordination, balance, as well as helps alleviate joint pain.

Palatine Tiger Sharks | Ages 6+
Palatine Park District Tiger Sharks is a USA Swimming year round competitive swim team offering high quality professional coaching and technique instruction for all ages and abilities. The goal of our team is to provide every member an opportunity to improve swimming skills and achieve success at his or her level of ability. Online registration is not available for Swim Team classes. Visit the Palatine Tiger Sharks website at ppdswim.org.

Learn to Dive – Beginning | Ages 9-18
Designed to teach the safe and proper way to use the 1-meter springboard. Any individual 9 years and older who has an interest in diving, and has completed level 4 learn to swim class and can swim comfortably in deep water and complete a head first entry into the water. Students will be taught a forward approach and back press to begin, then progress to forward and backward dives as well as other skills as time and ability permit.

Learn to Dive – Intermediate/Advanced | Ages 9-18
Designed for the diver who has been recommended from the beginning diving lesson. If divers have come from a different diving program, or have had no formal instruction, the diver should be able to successfully execute a front approach, back approach, front dive, and a back dive. Divers at this level are encouraged to register for multiple sessions.

Dive Team | Ages 9-18
A year round competitive United States Diving Team where the coaching staff strives to create an atmosphere where each diver will be able to achieve his or her own potential in a positive and nurturing environment. For more information, visit windycitydiving.com and view team programs currently offered.

Age Group Water Polo | Ages 8-14
This beginning water program is for young players interested in learning and playing water polo. Water polo is a fast-paced sport that combines swimming, basketball and football. Participants should be proficient swimmers (beginner level or above). Visit Northwest Chicago Water Polo for more information.

High School Water Polo | Ages 14-18
This program is for high school age players interested in playing water polo, a fast-paced sport that combines swimming, basketball, and football. Participants should be proficient swimmers (beginner level and above).