Aquatic Programs

Held at the University of Maine at Presque Isle's Gentile Hall, the Presque Isle Recreation & Parks staff offer swim programs year round for every age from toddlers, teens, adults to seniors. Whether a newcomer to the water or looking to improve your stroke, we have the class for you. Taught by certified Water Safety Instructors, each class is geared toward the appropriate age and ability of the participants. Group and private lessons are available.

Gentile Hall’s indoor swimming facility features a 25 yard pool ranging from 3.5 feet to 10 feet in depth, with a constant 84 degrees for water and 84 degrees for air. Both a handicapped accessible chair with lift and a friendly entrance of graduated stairs into the pool provides ease of access for both children and older adults.Dayton Swim Schools 1024x683

    2020 Swim Registrations Calendar


Programs Descriptions:

Parent/Toddler & Infants (6 months to 3 year olds): This is a water adjustment class for little ones. The goal is for children to have fun. We want children to enjoy being in the water. Parents are in the water with their children and water skills are introduced. Children will learn how to enter and exit the water, explore buoyancy in front and back position, change body position in water. Emphasis is on fun, safety, and gaining confidence and comfort in the water. Children are required to wear swim diapers. Class is 25 minutes.

PRE 1 Ages 3-5 (non-swimming, fearful, not comfortable with face in the water): They’ll enjoy a playful approach to learning water safety and swimming basics such as bobbing, blow bubbles, kicking, reaching and pulling, swimming and floating. A small class size will help them gain confidence and develop a positive attitude. Class is 25 minutes.

PRE 2 Ages 3-5 (non-swimming, comfortable in the water): Students will learn to be more independent by working on bobbing while blowing bubbles, kicking, reaching and pulling, floating and swimming. Class is 25 minutes.

PRE 3 Ages 3-5 (swimming independently): Student must be able to swim 10 yards (unassisted) without swimming aids and fully submerge face in the water. Emphasis on learning arm strokes front and back, submerging and treading water. Class is 25 minutes.

Learn to Swim I Ages 6-12 (non-swimming, fearful, not comfortable with face in the water): Class will orient students to the aquatic environment and help them gain basic aquatic skills while developing positive attitudes. Class is 40 minutes instruction and 10 minute free time.

Learn to Swim 2 Ages 6-12 (Non-swimming, comfortable in the water): Students will learn to adjust to water, emphasis on learning arm strokes front and back, floating, blowing bubbles, kicking, and jumping in. Must be able to swim 15 yards unassisted to advance to Learn to Swim 3. Class is 40 minutes instruction and 10 minute free time.

Learn to Swim 3 and 4 Ages 6-12 (Must be able to swim 15 yards unassisted): Students will gain endurance to swim the length of the pool. Students will learn: front crawl with rotary breathing, back crawl, elementary backstroke, butterfly, scissor kick, diving, how to tread water and safety skills. Class is 40 minutes instruction and 10 minutes of free time.

Learn to Swim 5 and 6 Ages 6-12 (stroke improvement): Must have passed Learn to Swim 4. Students will refine skills in: front crawl, back crawl, breaststroke, butterfly, sidestroke, surface dives, standing dives and flip turns. Class is 40 minutes instruction and 10 minute of free time.

Adult Lesson: This class focuses on each individual and the instructor will create a class geared towards the goals. Adults will learn basic skills such as submerging and gaining confidence in the water to refining skills and improving the skills that they already have. Class is 50 minutes.

Shallow Water Exercise: Come join the fun and relaxing way to exercise. Classes are taught in the shallow end of the pool. Jumping jacks, cross country ski, running and hopping are all things you can do in the water with little to no impact.

Deep Water Exercise: Classes are taught in the deep end of the pool. Floatation belts are provided. Bad knees, back or hips, this class will allow you to jog, ski, jump and use dumbbells with reduced pain and get your heart rate up.

Lifeguard Training: Must be able to swim 300 yards non stop using front crawl with rhythmic breathing and/or breaststroke. Retrieve a 10 pound brick from the bottom of the deep end starting and finishing in the shallow end. Timed event and tread water for 2 minutes using legs only. Must be 15 years of age by the last day of class. This course trains people how to be an American Red Cross Lifeguard. You will be trained in a number of lifeguarding techniques, such as surveillance, using rescue equipment for distressed swimmers, active drowning victim and passive drowning victim. You’ll also learn how to care for someone who may have a head, neck, or back injury. Full attendance is mandatory. You will receive community first aid, professional CPR and lifeguarding certificates.

Water Safety Instructor (WSI): WSI is a 36-hour class that trains candidates in American Red Cross methods of aquatic safety and instruction. Participants must be at least 16 years old by the last day of class. Swim prerequisites for this class are you must be able to swim all 6 strokes correctly. Full attendance is mandatory.

Adapted Swim Lessons: For children with physical or developmental disabilities including Autism. Children are naturally drawn to the water, especially those with Autism, Down Syndrome and other sensory process disorders. This class aims to provide students with special needs and their parents/caregivers with the knowledge and skill to safely enjoy the water. Success in the program will depend on consistency of participation, swimming outside of class time, and whether the student is developmentally ready to swim. Class is 50 minutes.



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Presque Isle Recreation and Parks Vision

The Presque Isle Recreation & Parks Department strives to provide the citizens of Presque Isle with programs, facilities and opportunities that encourage healthy lifestyles and foster a sense of community belonging now and in the future.

Get in Touch

Telephone: (207) 764-2545
Email: info@pirec.org
Website: www.pirec.org

24 Chapman Road, Presque Isle, Maine

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