Aquatics Class Descriptions

Adults will learn support techniques for moving their students through the water. Students will learn water entry, blowing bubbles, front kicking, back floating, and underwater exploration. Bring your student’s favorite bath toy for extra fun! Fee covers both adult and child.

Requirements: Children must be potty trained. An adult must accompany each child registered in the water.

Students will work on submerging the mouth, nose, and eyes and begin to develop floating skills. Students will gain overall comfort in moving through water independently.

Students will work on developing arm and leg coordination on their front and back, holding a back float for 15 seconds, and gliding two body lengths.

Requirements: Students must feel comfortable moving through the water and submerging the mouth, nose, and eyes in order to enroll.

Students will work on jumping into deep water, treading and floating in deep water for one minute, and swimming front crawl and elementary backstroke for 15 yards. Students will also be introduced to rotary breathing.

Requirements: Students must be comfortable in deep water and must be able to float for at least 15 seconds in order to enroll.

Students will work on different floating methods in deep water, front and back gliding two body lengths, swimming front crawl and elementary backstroke 25 yards, and swimming back crawl, breaststroke, butterfly for 15 yards. Students will also continue to develop their treading skills.

Requirements: Students must be able to swim front and back crawl for 25 yards (1 full pool length) without stopping, and tread for at least 1 minute in order to enroll. 

Students will further develop their skills and endurance in elementary backstroke, sidestroke, breaststroke, and butterfly.

Requirements: Students must meet the requirements of Level 4 and swim sidestroke and breaststroke for at least 25 yards (1 full pool length) without stopping in order to enroll.

Students will refine their strokes in order to swim with greater ease, efficiency, and power for longer distances.

Requirements: Students must have the endurance to swim all strokes for at least 50 yards (2 full pull lengths) in order to enroll.
 

Designed for individuals who are not yet comfortable in the water. Participants will gain confidence as they learn basic swim skills of breath control, floating, and front crawl.

Participants will further develop their breath control by learning rotary breathing, additional floating and treading methods, as well as new swim strokes.

Requirements: Participants should feel confident in deep water and should be able to swim front crawl in order to enroll; rotary breathing not required.

Students will refine their strokes in order to swim with greater ease, efficiency, and power for longer distances.

Requirements: Students should be comfortable completely submerging in deep water, and should have the endurance to swim 25 yards (1 full pool length) without stopping using basic swim strokes.

50-minute practices up to twice weekly. Swimmers will focus on improving endurance and stroke mechanics while learning competitive starts and turns.

Requirements: Participants must have the endurance to swim freestyle and backstroke for at least 50 yards (2 full pool lengths) without stopping; must also know how to swim breaststroke and butterfly even if not yet mastered.

60-minute practices up to four times weekly. Swimmers will focus on stroke, start, and turn efficiency while developing speed and learning to think about race strategy.

Requirements: Participants must be able to swim freestyle (using rotary breathing) for at least 200 yards (8 pool lengths) without stopping. Participants must also be able to swim all other competition strokes (butterfly, backstroke, breaststroke) for at least 50 yards (2 pool lengths) without stopping.

75-minute practice up to five times weekly. Swimmers will focus on improving technique and endurance while working to achieve higher time standards and competitive placement. 

Requirements: Participants must be able to consistently swim all four strokes (butterfly, backstroke, breaststroke, freestyle) in competition without being disqualified. 

90-minute practice up to five times weekly. Designed for high school swimmers who wish to swim year-round beyond their high school season. Practices will focus on improving technique, conditioning, and speed in a way that will transition them into lifelong swimmers.

Requirements: Participants must be able to consistently swim all four strokes (butterfly, backstroke, breaststroke, freestyle) in competition without being disqualified and complete more challenging conditioning practice sets.

60-minute structured practice up to five times weekly. Certified coaches will work with swimmers to develop stroke technique, endurance, and speed in a team setting. Coaches work with a broad range of skill levels to provide daily practices that offer a mental and physical challenge. Participants are NOT REQUIRED to compete, but practices may focus on race preparation for swim meets, open water, and triathlons.

Requirements: Participants must be able to repeatedly swim 100 yards (4 pool lengths) freestyle (using rotary breathing) without stopping. Participants should also be able to swim at least 2 of 4 competitive strokes (freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke, butterfly). This offering is NOT for independent swimming; participants seeking independent swimming should enroll in Lap Swim.

IMPORTANT: Participants who wish to compete are encouraged to find local opportunities via Minnesota Masters Swimming and must register with US Masters Swimming in order to do so.

Enjoy open swim time with your family!

• Children must be accompanied by an adult, and children who are not potty trained must wear a swim diaper.
• Pre-registration is required (i.e. no drop-ins) and will be accepted up until the start of the class, provided there is availability.
• Cost is per date, per family.
• No refunds once registered.

Swim laps independently for fitness and enjoyment!

• Generally, one to two lanes are available; participants should expect to share lanes with up to three additional swimmers.
• Pre-registration is required (i.e. no drop-ins) and will be accepted up until the start of the class, provided there is availability.
• Cost is per swimmer and MPS asks that participants register for only ONE time slot per day.
• No refunds once registered.

Aqua Zumba offers high-energy aquatic exercise! Enjoy invigorating music during instructor-led dancing and movement in the pool.

Release the stressors of daily life with a soothing floating sound bath! Sound therapy is a helpful tool for calming the nervous system, managing chronic stress and mood imbalances, promoting healthy sleep, and so much more. This experience takes it to the next level — the weightlessness of peacefully drifting on a luxurious air mattress, while taking in the tranquil vibrations of a sound bath, featuring ethereal crystal singing bowls, gentle gong, rain chimes, and more.

Participants under 18 years old must be accompanied by an adult.
 

Move, groove, or simply float in luxuriously warm water while listening to a playlist designed to encourage a flow state! Sign up with friends or solo and let the stress of the day evaporate. We start and end with a short meditation and the rest is yours to dance or move as you wish in a safe space.

Increase your flexibility while toning and conditioning in the water!

Shower shoes are recommended. 

Condition and stretch in a warm therapeutic pool!

Attain a completely relaxed state as the instructor leads you in simple meditative movements and a mindfulness practice in soothing warm water. Gain body awareness, joy and pleasure on a whole new level as well as the welcome distraction from stress.

Blended-Learning (Online & Classroom)

The American Red Cross Lifeguarding course provides entry-level participants with the knowledge and skills to prevent, recognize, and respond to aquatic emergencies as well as to provide professional-level care for breathing and cardiac emergencies, injuries, and sudden illnesses until emergency medical services (EMS) personnel take over.  Participants who successfully complete this course receive an American Red Cross certification in Lifeguarding with CPR/AED for Professional Rescuers and First Aid, valid for 2 years.

IMPORTANT: This course requires a seven-hour online portion that must be completed before the first day of class. All class sessions must be attended to receive certification. 

Prerequisites:

1. Minimum age of 15 years before the last day of the course
2. On the first day of the course, successfully complete a swim-tread-swim skills test: (NOTE: Goggles ARE permitted during this portion of the skills test)
   1. Jump into the water, submerge, resurface
   2. Swim 150 yards (6 pool lengths) continuously using front crawl, breaststroke, or a combination of both
   3. Maintain position at the surface of the water for 2 minutes by treading water using only the legs
   4. Swim 50 yards (2 pool lengths) continuously using the front crawl, breaststroke, or a combination of both
3. Successfully complete a timed event within 1 minute 40 seconds on the first day of the course: (NOTE: Goggles are NOT permitted during this portion of the skills test!)
   1. Starting in the water, swim 20 yards
   2. Surface dive (feet-first or head-first) to a depth of 7 to 12 feet to retrieve a 10-pound object and return to the surface
   3. Swim 20 yards on the back to the starting point holding the object at the surface with both hands
   4. Exit the water without using a ladder or steps

A video overview of the Day 1 skills tests can be viewed here.

Skill practice sessions in the lifeguarding course involve strenuous physical activity. If participants have any concerns about their ability to participate fully in class (for example, because of a medical condition or disability), please contact MCE Aquatics before the first in-person session to discuss possible accommodations. Participants may also wish to speak with a healthcare professional before the first in-person session. Finally, participants should also keep in mind that there will be physical contact with fellow participants when performing skill demonstrations.

Blended-Learning (Online & Classroom)

This course, also known as WSI, trains participants to teach courses and presentations in the Red Cross Swimming & Water Safety program. Participants develop an understanding of how to use the American Red Cross course materials, how to conduct training sessions, and how to evaluate participants’ progress. Participants who successfully complete this course receive an American Red Cross Water Safety Instructor certification, valid for 2 years.

IMPORTANT: This course requires a seven-hour online portion that must be completed before the first day of class. All class sessions must be attended to receive certification. 

Prerequisites:

1. Minimum age of 16 years before the last day of the course
2. On the first day of the course, successfully complete the following strokes consistent with the Level 4 Stroke Performance Chart: (NOTE: Goggles ARE permitted during this portion of the skills test)
   1. Front Crawl - 25 yards ( 1 pool length)
   2. Back Crawl - 25 yards
   3. Breaststroke - 25 yards
   4. Elementary backstroke - 25 yards
   5. Sidestroke - 25 yards
   6. Butterfly - 15 yards
3. Maintain position on back for 1 minute in deep water (floating or sculling)
4. Tread water for 1 minute

Skill practice sessions in the WSI course involve strenuous physical activity. If participants have any concerns about their ability to participate fully in class (for example, because of a medical condition or disability), please contact MCE Aquatics before the first in-person session to discuss possible accommodations. Participants may also wish to speak with a healthcare professional before the first in-person session. Finally, participants should also keep in mind that there will be physical contact with fellow participants when performing skill demonstrations.