Swim Lessons

ONLINE REGISTRATION OPENS ON MONDAY, MAY 1, 2023

 


Swim Lesson Schedule 


Session I 
Morning Sessions 
June 7-17; Tues-Fri
 
Evening Lessons 
June 6-16; Mon-Thurs



8:00 AM9:00 AM9:45 AM10:45 AM6:45 PM
AngelTadpoleAngelCrabTadpole
MinnowCrabMinnowFrogFrog
SealFrogSealJellyfishJellyfish
StingrayJellyfishAngelAngelAngel





Session II
Morning Sessions 
June 28-July 8; Tues-Fri
 
Evening Lessons 
June 27-July 7;  Mon-Thurs




8:00 AM9:00 AM9:45 AM10:45 AM6:45 PM
AngelTadpoleAngelCrabTadpole
MinnowCrabMinnowFrogFrog
SealFrogSealJellyfishJellyfish
StingrayJellyfishMinnowAngelAngel





Session III
Morning Sessions
July, 19-29; Tues-Fri
 
Evening Lessons 
July 18-28; Mon-Thurs




8:00 AM9:00 AM9:45 AM10:45 AM6:45 PM
AngelTadpoleAngelCrabFrog
MinnowCrabMinnowFrogJellyfish
SealFrogSealJellyfishAngel
StingrayJellyfishMinnowAngelMinnow




Class Descriptions 

 

Parent & Child  

Tadpole  

30 Minute Class 

Ages:  3 months – 18 months 

Class Size: Min. 6, Max. 8  

Children work with a parent focusing on basic water and safety skills.  Skills that will be introduced and practiced include, but are not limited to: 

Learn how to enter and exit the water safely 

Feel comfortable in the water 

Explore buoyancy in a front and back position 

Change body position in the water 

Submerge in a rhythmic pattern 

General water safety topics 

 

Preschool 

30 Minute Class 

Ages:  3 - 5 years 

Class Size:  Min. 3, Max. 5 

Crab 

This class will focus on helping students feel comfortable in the water and learn basic safety in and around the water through water and/or pool deck drills and games.  Skills that will be introduced and practiced include, but are not limited to: 

Enter/Exit the pool safely 

Submerging face to include nose and blowing bubbles 

Bobbing to nose 

Back Float with support 

Back Glide with support - 2 feet 

Front Crawl arms with support - 5 feet 

Elementary Backstroke arms with support - 5 feet 

Water Safety 

 

         Frog

This class will further explore the basic aquatic skills needed for swimming    by using water and/or pool deck drills and games.  Skills that will be introduced and practiced include, but are not limited to: 

Submerging face, to eyes, and blowing bubbles 

Bobbing, to eyes, with bubbles - 3 times 

Back Float with support - 3 seconds 

Front Float with support - 5 seconds  

Back Glide with support - 5 feet 

Front Glide with support - 2 feet 

Combined Front Crawl with assistance - 10 feet 

Elementary Backstroke with assistance - 10 feet 

Water Safety 


Jellyfish

This class will further explore the basic aquatic skills needed for swimming    through water and/or pool deck drills and games.  Students will be performing skills independently.  Skills that will be introduced and practiced include, but are not limited to: 

Bobbing with bubbles - 5 times 

Back Float with support - 5 seconds 

Front Float with support - 5 seconds  

Back Glide without support - 5 feet 

Back Glide with kick - 10 feet 

Front Glide without support - 5 feet 

Front Glide with kick - 10 feet 

Combined Front Crawl - 20 feet 

Elementary Backstroke - 20 feet 

Safety Swim - 10 feet 

Water Safety 

 

Ellis Learn to Swim Program 

45 minute class 

Ages:  6 - 12 years 

Angelfish 

Class Size:  Min. 4, Max. 5 

This class will focus on helping students feel comfortable in the water and learn basic safety in and around the water through water and/or pool deck drills and games.  Skills that will be introduced and practiced include, but are not limited to: 

Enter/Exit the pool safely 

Breath Holding - 5 seconds 

Bobbing with bubbles - 10 times 

Jumping into chest deep water 

Back Float and Front Float, unassisted - 5 seconds 

Back Glide and Front Glide without support - 5 feet 

Back Glide and Front Glide with kick - 10 feet 

Elementary Backstroke - 20 yards feet 

Backstroke - 10 feet 

Front Crawl - 10 feet 

Introduction of Breaststroke - arms 

Safety Swim - 5 feet 

Water Safety 

 

 

 

Minnow 

Class Size:  Min. 4, Max. 5 

This class will focus on increasing the proficiency of skills learned in the Angelfish class as well as increasing the distances required through water and/or pool deck drills and games.  Skills that will be introduced and practiced include, but are not limited to: 

Breath Holding - 10 seconds 

Bobbing with bubbles - 25 times 

Jumping into chest deep water 

Back Float and Front Float unassisted - 10 seconds 

Back Glide and Front Glide without support - 10 feet 

Back Glide and Front Glide with kick - 20 feet 

Elementary Backstroke - 25 yards 

Backstroke - 25 yards 

Front Crawl - 25 yards 

Breaststroke kick, assisted - 5 feet 

Combined Breaststroke, assisted - 5 feet 

Safety Swim - 25 yards 

Water Safety 

 

Seal 

Class Size:  Min. 4, Max. 6 

This class will focus on performing the previously introduced strokes unassisted while increasing their proficiency and distance through water and/or pool deck drills and games.  Skills that will be introduced and practiced include, but are not limited to: 

Breath Holding - 15 seconds 

Bobbing with bubbles - 30 times 

Jumping into chest deep water 

Back Float and Front Float - 10 seconds 

Back Glide and Front Glide - 15 feet 

Back Glide and Front Glide with kick - 20 feet 

Elementary Backstroke - 50 yards 

Backstroke - 50 yards 

Front Crawl with rhythmic breathing - 25 yards 

Breaststroke - 25 yards 

Sidestroke arms - 25 yards 

Scissor kick - 25 yards 

Combined swimming exam - 100 yards 

Water Safety 

 



Sword Fish 

Class Size:  Min. 4, Max. 6 

This class will focus on performing the previously introduced strokes unassisted while increasing their proficiency, distance and introducing new strokes through water and/or pool deck drills and games. Instructor will not be in the water.  Skills that will be introduced and practiced include, but are not limited to: 

Elementary Backstroke - 100 yards 

Backstroke - 100 yards 

Front Crawl with rhythmic breathing - 100 yards 

Breaststroke - 100 yards 

Sidestroke - 100 yards 

Butterfly - 50 yards 

Open Turns 

Treading Water - 3 minutes 

Surface Dive 

Flip Turns 

Combined swimming exam - 150 yards 

Water Safety 

 

Private Lessons 

Our instructors are available for private lessons.  These lessons are designed to meet each person’s specific needs.  The sessions are 30 - 45 minutes long and start as low as $25.00 per session.  Please complete a request form available at the Portland Community Center.  For more information email michelle.miller@portlandtx.gov or call 361-777-4670. 

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Teaching Water Safety & Swimming Skills

Swim Lessons

Swim Lesson Program

The Jeff Ellis and Associates Learn to Swim Program features many levels of instruction to help swimmers from infants through adults develop their swimming and water safety skills.  The program is designed to give students a positive learning experience while covering skills in a logical progression for optimal development. Water safety skills are also taught and practiced within each class and each session.  Every stage of the program is challenging and therefore students may take the same class more than once. We reserve the right to combine classes as needed.

Registration Information

You can register in person at the Portland Community Center or online here.  Please note that we will not process phone registrations.  The cost of each 8-day session is $39.00.  Payment must accompany the completed registration form. Registration will close the Sunday prior to the class begin date. 

Advancing to the Next Level

In order to advance to the next level/class, students must pass ALL skills listed for the particular level/class in which the student is enrolled. 

Class Wait List

We limit the class size to provide an optimal student to instructor ratio.  If a class has reached the maximum limit, names are placed on a waiting list and students are called as openings become available. 

Class Cancellation, Transfer, and Refund Policy 

Parks & Recreation Cancellation

A minimum of 4 participants is required to have a class.  We reserve the right to cancel classes based on enrollment. Classes that do not meet the minimum enrollment will be canceled and we will make a reasonable attempt to transfer students to another open class.  If needed, a full refund to your account will be automatically issued, which can be used toward any future programs.  In lieu of a credit, a check may be requested by contacting the Portland Community Center.

Customer Cancellation

The customer must submit a written request to withdraw from the class by 8:00 AM on FRIDAY PRIOR to the first day of the class and receive a refund, minus a $10.00 cancellation fee.  Refunds will be issued as a credit that can be used toward any future programs.  In lieu of a credit, a check may be requested by contacting the Portland Community Center.  Any request received after the deadline may be declined or only receive a partial credit pending review and approval. 

Transfers-Customer

Transferring out of one class/session into another class/session may be done before 8:00 AM on the FRIDAY PRIOR to the first day of the class, space permitting. 

Entrance Fees

An entrance fee will be charged to swim or practice before or after lessons.  Any parents and/or siblings who lap swim during lessons must pay the regular admission fee.