Advanced Aquatics

The YMCA is dedicated to offering high quality enrichment courses to help individuals develop in spirit, mind and body. The exam date (where applicable) is the last day of the course. Prerequisites are to be presented on the first day of the course. All prerequisites listed as current must be current within 2 years of last day of the course. Participants must be of age by the last day of the course. Non-members are welcome unless otherwise stated.

Cancellations can be made by fax, email or in person a minimum of 4 business days before the start of the course to receive a full refund. Cancellations made less than 4 business day before the start of the course will be refunded less an administration fee of 35% of the full course fee. Cancellations will not be refunded after the course begins unless a medical note is provided. All enrichment course refunds will be mailed within 14 business days of submission.

The YMCA of Niagara offers a comprehensive selection of Advanced Aquatics programs including Bronze Medallion, Bronze Cross, Instructors and NLS. We also offer Standard First Aid courses and recertification.

Please note: Classes are not offered on holidays.

YMCA Master Swimmer (Members only)

Prerequisite: 10 years of age and completion of Star 6 or equivalent
Course Fee: $0

Notes: 6 hours of volunteer assisting an instructor is required outside scheduled class time.

St. Catharines Walker Family Branch
Tuesdays, 6:00 – 7:30pm  April 9 - June 25
Sundays, 3:30 – 5:00pm  April 14  - June 23

Niagara Centre Branch
Mondays, 5:30 - 7:00pm  April 15 - June 24

Niagara Falls Branch
Saturdays, 4:30 - 6:00pm  April 13 - June 22

Fort Erie E.J. Freeland Branch
Tuesdays, 5:30 - 7:00pm  April 9 - June 25

Niagara West Branch
Tuesdays, 6:00 – 7:30pm  April 9 - June 25
Saturdays, 4:00 – 5:30pm  April 13 -  June 22

Port Colborne Branch 
Fridays, 4:30 - 6:00pm April 12 - June 21

Lifesaving Fitness Bronze, Silver, Gold (Members only)

Prerequisite: 10 years of age and completion of Star 6 or equivalent
Course Fee: $0

St. Catharines Walker Family Branch
Thursdays, 7:00 - 8:00pm  April 11 - June 27

Niagara Centre Branch
Wedesdays, 5:30 - 6:30pm  April 17 - June 26

Niagara Falls Branch
Thursdays, 6:30 - 7:30pm  April 11 - June 27

Fort Erie E.J. Freeland Branch
Wednesdays, 5:30 – 6:30pm  April 10 - June 19

Niagara West Branch
Wednesdays, 6:00 – 7:00pm  April 10 - June 26

Port Colborne Branch
Fridays, 5:00 - 6:00pm April 12 - June 21

Bronze Star & Basic First Aid/CPR(A)

Prerequisite: recommended completion of Star 6 or equivalent
Course Fee: $65 + HST

St. Catharines Walker Family Branch
Saturdays, 4:00 – 5:30pm   April 13 - June 22

Niagara Centre Branch
Fridays, 5:30 - 7:00pm  April 19 - June 28

Niagara Falls Branch
Sundays, 10:30am - 12pm  April 14 - June 23

Fort Erie E.J. Freeland Branch
Not offered in Spring

Niagara West Branch
Not offered in Spring

Port Colborne Branch
Not offered in Spring

Bronze Medallion & Emergency First Aid/CPR(B)

Prerequisite: 13 years of age (birth certificate required) or Bronze Star certification
Course Fee: $140 + HST
Notes: 100% attendance strongly recommended

St. Catharines Walker Family Branch
Saturdays, 2:30 – 5:30pm April 13 - June22

Niagara Centre Branch
Sundays, 3:00 – 6:00pm  April 14 -June 23

Niagara Falls Branch
Not offered in Spring

Fort Erie E.J. Freeland Branch
Not offered in Spring

Niagara West Branch
Not offered in Spring

Port Colborne Branch
Tuesdays, 6:00 -  9:00  April 16 - June 25

Bronze Cross

Prerequisite: Bronze Medallion and Emergency First Aid/CPR(B) Certificate
Course Fee: $85 + HST
Notes: 100% attendance strongly recommended

St. Catharines Walker Family Branch
Sundays, 3:30 – 5:00pm  April 14 - June 23

Niagara Centre Branch
Sundays, 4:00 – 6:00pm  April 14 - June 23

Niagara Falls Branch
Not offered in Spring

Fort Erie E.J. Freeland Branch
Not offered in Spring

Niagara West Branch
Not offered in Spring

Port Colborne Branch
Thursdays, 7:00 - 9:00pm  April 18 - June 27

YMCA Assistant Swim Instructors

Prerequisite: 14 years and Bronze Cross. Recommended completion of YMCA Master Swimmer.
Course Fee: $40 + HST
Notes: 100% attendance and participation required. 12 hours of volunteer assistant teaching required outside of class time.

St. Catharines Walker Family Branch
Not offered in Spring

Niagara Centre Branch
Not offered in Spring

Niagara Falls Branch
Not offered in Spring

Fort Erie E.J. Freeland Branch
Not offered in Spring

Niagara West Branch
Not offered in Spring

Port Colborne Branch
Not offered in Spring

YMCA Swim Instructors & LSS Lifesaving Instructors

Prerequisite: 16+ years and Bronze Cross
Course Fee: $ 130 + HST
Notes: 100% attendance and participation required.

St. Catharines Walker Family Branch
Not offered in Spring

Niagara Centre Branch
Tuesdays, 6:00 - 10:00pm  April 9 - June 18

Niagara Falls Branch
Not offered in Spring

Fort Erie E.J. Freeland Branch
Not offered in Spring

Niagara West Branch
Not offered in Spring

Port Colborne Branch 
Not offered in Spring

National Lifeguard - NL

(Following the 2012 updated National Lifeguard standards)

Prerequisite: 16 years of age (birth certificate required), Bronze Cross and current Standard First Aid/CPR(C) – Standard First Aid must be from organizations recognized in Ontario public pool regulations. (Lifesaving Society, Canadian Red Cross, St. John Ambulance)
Course Fee: $255 + HST
Notes: 100% attendance and participation required

St. Catharines Walker Family Branch
Wednesdays, 6:00 - 10:00pm  April 10 - June 12

Niagara Centre Branch
Not offered in Spring

Niagara Falls Branch
Not offered in Spring

Fort Erie E.J. Freeland Branch
Not offered in Spring

Niagara West Branch
Not offered in Spring

Port Colborne Branch
Not offered in Spring

NL Recert
(Following the 2012 updated National Lifeguard standards)

Course Fee: $70 + HST
Notes: Must bring proof of certification to recert.

St. Catharines Walker Family Branch
Sunday, 4:00 – 10:0pm  April 28 or May 26

Niagara Centre Branch
Not offered in Spring

Niagara Falls Branch
Sunday, 4:00 – 10:00pm June 16

Fort Erie E.J. Freeland Branch
Not offered in Spring

Niagara West Branch
Sunday, 5:00 – 10:00pm June 2

Port Colborne Branch - COMING SOON

Adult Bronze Medallion and Cross
Prerequisite: 15+ years of age and must be able to swim 200m.

Course Fee: $194 + HST
Notes: 100% attendance and participation required

St. Catharines Walker Family Branch
Not offered in Spring

 

First Aid

Standard First Aid + CPR(C)

Course Fee: $87 + HST
Notes: 100% attendance and participation required. Certification issued through Lifesaving Society.

St. Catharines Walker Family Branch
Saturday/Sunday, 9:30am - 6:00pm  April 20/21 or May 4/5 or June 1/2 or June 15/16

Niagara Centre Branch
Saturday/Sunday, 9:30am - 6:00pm May 25/26

Niagara Falls Branch
Saturday/Sunday, 9:30am - 6:00pm  April 6/7 or May 11/12 or June 8/9

Fort Erie E.J. Freeland Branch
Saturday/Sunday, 9:30am - 6:00pm  May 11/12

Niagara West Branch
Saturday/Sunday, 9:30am - 6:00pm April 27/28

Port Colborne Branch
Not offered in Spring

Standard First Aid + CPR(C) Recert

Course Fee: $55 + HST
Notes: Must bring proof of certification to recert. You must hold certification from the Lifesaving Society (blue card) dated no more than 3 years from date of issue to attend this recertification. You may only recertify once, then subsequently you must repeat the full course. Thereafter, you may renew by alternating recertification and full course.

St. Catharines Walker Family Branch
Sunday, 9:30am - 6:00pm April 14 or June 9

Niagara Centre Branch
Saturday, 9:30am - 6:00pm June 8

Niagara Falls Branch
Saturday, 9:30am - 6:00pm  May 4

Fort Erie E.J. Freeland Branch
Not offered in Spring

Niagara West Branch
Saturday, 9:30am - 6:00pm  June 15

Port Colborne Branch
Not offered in Spring

 

Babysitting Course

Prerequisite: Minimum age 11 years
Course Fee: $45

Niagara Falls Branch
Saturday, 9:00am - 5:00pm  April 6 or May 4

Fort Erie Branch
Saturday, 9:00am – 4:00pm  May 25