We provide a range of swimming opportunities, including lessons, for all ages and abilities.
- Learn to swim group lessons (see information below)
- Aquatic leadership and lifesaving (train to be a swim instructor and lifeguard)
- Lane swimming for recreation and fitness
- Public swim sessions
- Aquafit classes (advance registration required)
- Masters swim (advance registration required)
View the drop-in swim schedule to find public swim sessions.
Please note: Staff may have to clear the pool five minutes prior to the end of a public or lane swim session.
Admission fees
Visit our Fees page to find current admission fees for swimming.
Swim Lessons
Registration for swimming lessons and aquatic leadership programs can be done online or by calling 604-987-7529.
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Our Early Years program is designed to focus on fundamental movement skills, stroke progressions, safety education and fun in the pool!
Parent Participation (0-3yrs)
These 30 minute classes are designed to introduce your child to the water and to teach safety in and around the pool.
- Parent Participation 1 Guppies (6-18mos) - Introduction to the pool environment, pool safety education, and how to correctly hold your child in the water for floating and gliding. A parent or guardian 16yrs+ must be in the water at all times for the duration of the lesson.
- Parent Participation 2 Clown Fish (18mos-3yrs) - This 'Parent Participation' program introduces infant/child first aid, independent movement in the water, and transition from swimming with a parent to swimming with a teacher. Ready-Swim-Return and the Fundamental Movement Skills of standing, walking, hopping, bubbles and floats. A parent or guardian 16yrs+ must be in the water at all times for the duration of the lesson.
- Parent Participation Sea Otters (2-4yrs) - Introduction to beginner swim skills and gaining independence in the water. Beginner swim skills include introduction to bubbles, submersions, floats, glides, and facility safety. All registrants will start the class with a caregiver in the water, with a goal of completing the course independently with the instructor.
On My Own (2-6yrs)
These 30 minute classes are designed to teach the fundamental movement skills in aquatics. Basics of the four swimming strokes: Front Crawl, Backstroke, Breaststroke, and Butterfly are introduced as well as safety in and around the pool.
- Tiny Tots 1 Turtles – Karen Magnussen Only (2- 3yrs) An 'On My Own' swim class offered to 2yr olds who are comfortable leaving mom & dad. Focus is on pool orientation, assisted floats, submersion, and assisted kicks.
- Tiny Tots 1 Tadpoles (3-6yrs) - Focus is on pool orientation, assisted floats, submersions, and assisted kicks.
- Tiny Tots 2 Jellyfish (3-6yrs) - Swim class emphasizes floating, entries & exits, and assisted kicks.
- Tiny Tots 3 Seahorses (3-6yrs) - Swim class introducing your child to deep water, gliding, and kicking independently.
- Tiny Tots 4 Seals (3-6yrs) - Includes an introduction to front crawl, propulsive kicking for all 4 strokes, and deep water safety skills.
- Tiny Tots 5 Sting Rays (3–6yrs) - Focus is on an introduction to backstroke and breaststroke with unassisted swims in the deep water.
- Tiny Tots 6 Orcas (3-6yrs) - This final level of the preschool program introduces basic lifesaving skills, distance swims for front crawl and backstroke, and an introduction to butterfly.
- Adapted Swim Lessons (3-6yrs & 6-12yrs) - Low ratio lessons for pre school age children with physical or developmental disabilities. First time registrants must contact the Inclusion Programmer 604.983.6415 prior to their first class. There is a limit of one registration per student per season.
View available programs
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Starting in September 2024, NVRC is offering the Lifesaving Society’s ‘Swim for Life’ program for school-age lessons. This program has been run nationwide for many years and focuses on teaching safety in and around the water. It is offered in almost all communities in Metro Vancouver providing residents who have taken lessons elsewhere with a seamless lesson experience. Read our news story for more information and answers to questions you may have.
Instructors are sharing recommended ‘Swim for Life’ levels in spring and summer lesson report cards, or you can refer to the equivalency chart.
For customers who are not sure what level is appropriate for their child, swim assessments are being offered during public swim sessions. Assessments are not available during $2 swims or on weekday afternoons, and Karen Magnussen pool can only provide assessments for Swim Stage 1A/1B. To get an assessment, let the front desk know you would like one when you pay or check-in and they will connect you with a lifeguard.
Swim for Life levels
Swimmer 1 Is 6+ and is new to swim lessons or has aged out of the Tiny Tots program. Swimmer 2 Can float on their front and back; glide and kick on front and back; blow bubbles underwater. Swimmer 3 Can tread water for 15 seconds; kick 10 meters on front, back, and side; swim 10 meters of front and back crawl; swim 25 meters; jump into the deep end. Swimmer 4 Can tread water for 30 seconds; swim 15 meters of front and back crawl; 10 meters of whip kick on back; swim 4x15 meters with 20 seconds rest; do a kneeling dive. Swimmer 5 Can tread water for 1 minute; swim 25 meters of front and back crawl; do 15 meters of whip kicks on front; swim 4x25 meters with 20 seconds rest; do a standing dive. Swimmer 6 Can tread water for 1 minute; swim 25 meters of front and back crawl; do 15 meters of whip kicks on front; swim 4x25 meters with 20 seconds rest; do a standing dive. Swimmer 7 (Rookie Patrol) Can tread water using only legs for 45 seconds; swim 100 meters of front and back crawl; swim 50 meters of breaststroke; swim 25 meters head-up; swim 300 meters; do a stride entry. Swimmer 8 (Ranger Patrol) Has completed Canadian Swim Patrol Rookie Patrol. Swimmer 9 (Star Patrol) Has completed Canadian Swim Patrol Ranger Patrol. View available programs
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At this age you can pursue one or more swimming streams
Learn-to-Swim Swim for Fitness Lifesaving Become an Instructor/Lifeguard Youth Beginner - This learn-to-swim program will teach participants the fundamental movement skills for the 4 strokes and learn useful entries including dives and rolls.
Youth Intermediate - Provides youth with the intermediate skills to perform the strokes of their choice; freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke and butterfly.
Youth Advanced - Work towards participating in a Masters Swim programs by practicing workouts drills, and endurances.
Junior Masters 1 (11-17yrs) provides swimmers with an introduction to competitive inspired workouts, turns and entries. Swimmers must have completed Swimmer 9 or Swim Stage 3 and be comfortable swimming at least 10 consecutive lengths.
Junior Masters 2 (11-17yrs) is a continuation of Junior Masters 1 and will challenge swimmers with interval training and longer distance swims. Swimmers must have completed Junior Masters 1 or Spring/Summer 2024 Junior Masters.
Bronze Star 12yrs&up - The Lifesaving Society’s Bronze Star develops swimming proficiency, lifesaving skill and personal fitness. Candidates refine their stroke mechanics, acquire self-rescue skills, and apply fitness principles in training workouts. Bronze Star is excellent preparation for success in Bronze Medallion and provides a fun introduction to lifesaving sport.
Bronze Medallion 13yrs&up - Bronze Medallion challenges the candidate both mentally and physically. Judgment, knowledge, skill and fitness – the four components of water rescue – form the basis of Bronze Medallion training. Pre-requisites: 13yrs of age or Bronze Star and swimming ability at an I Can Swim Stage 3 level.
Bronze Cross - The Lifesaving Society’s Bronze Cross begins the transition from lifesaving to lifeguarding and prepares candidates for responsibilities as lifeguards. Pre-requisite: Bronze Medallion.
Please see AQUATIC LEADERSHIP below View available programs
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- Adult Beginner - Teaches beginner progressions from which all strokes are taught. Participants are introduced to breath control, deep water and surface support
- Adult Intermediate - Provides adults with the intermediate skills to perform the strokes of their choice: front crawl, back crawl, breaststroke and butterfly. Must be able to swim in the deep lanes to register.
- Adult Advanced -Work towards participating in Masterswim by practicing workouts, drills, and endurance.
- Adapted Swim Lessons - Low ratio lessons for adults with physical or developmental disabilities. First time registrants must contact the Inclusion Programmer 604.983.6415 prior to their first class. There is a limit of one registration per student per season.
Once you have completed Adult Advanced, check out our Fitness Membership and pay-as-you-go options:
- Masters Swim 1 (pre-registration required)
Must be able to swim 75m continuously and at least two of the following: freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke or butterfly. Good for the recreational swimmer who would like to improve their strength and endurance. - Masters Swim 2 (pre-registration required)
Must be able to swim 400m continuously & at least 100m of three of the following: freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke or butterfly. Great for the triathlete or recreational swimmer who would like to improve their strength and endurance.
View available programs
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We offer adapted swimming lessons for children, youth and adults who have physical or developmental disabilities, or other support considerations.
These beginner lessons are available when a group lesson might not be a fit, and the curriculum is modified to focus on water safety and independent swimming skills.
Classes are offered as low-ratio or parent participation small group.
We encourage participation in our group lessons but if you feel that adapted lessons might be an option for you or your family member, or it has been recommended by an aquatic staff member, please contact the Inclusion Programmer prior to the first lesson 604-983-6415.
There is a limit of one registration per season.
Please see the swimming class listings for specific days and times.
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Visit our 'How to Become a Swim Instructor & Lifeguard' page to learn what courses and certifications are needed, and what courses are currently being offered by NVRC.
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Practice makes perfect! Here are three tips on how you can help your child practice and improve their swimming skill:
- Take your kids to public swim sessions and have fun with them in the pool.
- Ask them to show you what they learned in class and watch them practice.
- Practice swimming with them if you are able.
Please note: Outside parties are not permitted to provide swimming lessons or instruction of any kind during NVRC public swim sessions. Private swim lessons are not permitted except when offered by NVRC.
For learn to swim opportunities, please see our group lessons.
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Due to limited staffing resources, NVRC is not offering private swim lessons at this time.
Private swim lessons are not permitted except when offered by NVRC; outside parties are not permitted to provide swimming lessons or instruction of any kind during NVRC public swim sessions.
For learn to swim opportunities, please see our group lessons.
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Are you or your child passionate about swimming? The North Shore is home to six community swim clubs that offer training in competitive swimming, diving and waterpolo:
