Swim Lesson Locations (by camp location)

Our swim program is run in conjunction with the City of Ottawa and we rely on the expertise of their lifeguards to assess the appropriate levels of all campers.

Based on the first day assessment of the lifeguards, campers will be placed in swim groups of 10 with an instructor to camper ratio of 5:1. Please note that lifeguards sometimes move a swimmer to a different level based on their on-going assessment over the first 4 days of lessons. Parents will receive written notice of their child’s swim level on Friday of the first week.

* Small group sizes allow the instructor (and an assistant) to work very closely with all campers at different levels.

Swim Levels (same as the City of Ottawa)

Lesson Descriptions – Swim Creatures – 5 year olds

Mikinàk | Turtle 1
Your child will learn how their body floats and moves through the water on their front and back. Your child will learn how to blow bubbles and put their face in water. Upon completion of this level, your child will be able to float and glide on their front independently.

Omagakì | Frog 2
Your child will be introduced to movement in chest deep water and full body submersion. Your child will continue to develop their water movement skills. Upon completion of this level, your child will be able to float and glide on their front and back independently.

Màng | Loon 3
Your child will learn basic kicking techniques, gain comfort in deep water, and be introduced to rollover glides. Upon completion of this level, your child will be able to float in deep water and swim 5 metres with a PFD.

Nigig | Otter 4
Your child will learn how to tread water unassisted, jump into deep water and become introduced to a front glide with body roll. Upon completion of this level, your child will be able to glide with kick on front and back for 5 meters.

Amik | Beaver 5
Your child will start to learn the progression to front crawl, sitting dives, disoriented entries and underwater swim. Upon completion of this level, your child will be able to complete a distance swim of at least 10 metres.

Lesson Descriptions – Swim Colours – 6 to 12 year olds

Yellow 1
Your child will learn how to independently float and glide on their front and back, enter and exit shallow water and will learn underwater breathing techniques. Upon completion of this level, your child will be able to complete a distance swim of at least 5 metres.

Coral 2
Your child will learn deep water skills, learn how to kick on their front and back and introduced to rollover glides. Upon completion of this level, your child will be able to complete a distance swim of at least 10 metres.

Red 3
Your child will start to learn the progression to front crawl, jump into deep water, and practice increasing distance on front and back glides with kick. Upon completion of this level, your child will be able to complete a distance swim of at least 25 metres.

Magenta 4
Your child will learn front crawl, back glide with body roll, kneeling dives and head- first sculling. Upon completion of this level, your child will be able to complete a distance swim of at least 50 metres.

Purple 5
Your child will learn back crawl, whip kick on back, disorienting entries and continue develop their front crawl. Upon completion of this level, your child will be able to complete a distance swim of at least 100 metres.

Navy 6
Your child will learn whip kick on front, eggbeater in deep water and develop their back crawl and front crawl technique. Upon completion of this level, your child will be able to complete a distance swim of at least 150 metres.

Aqua 7
Your child will learn elementary backstroke, breaststroke arms, front dives and continue to develop front and back crawl. Upon completion of this level, your child will be able to complete a distance swim of at least 300 metres.

Seafoam 8
Your child will learn breaststroke, scissor kick, stride entries and continue to develop front crawl, back crawl and elementary back stroke. Upon completion of this level, your child will be able to complete a distance swim of at least 400 metres.

Green 9
Your child will learn side stroke, shallow dives, surface dives, and ice rescues and continue to develop front crawl, back crawl, breaststroke, and elementary back stroke. Upon completion of this level, your child will be able to complete an interval swim of 400 metres.

Lime 10
Your child will learn head up front crawl and breaststroke, compact jumps, choking response and continue to develop front crawl, back crawl, breaststroke, sidestroke and elementary back stroke. Upon completion of this level, your child will be able to complete a timed swim of 400 metres in 13 minutes

Frequently Asked Questions

Want to know more?

Read our FAQs for policies including:

• Cancellations and Refunds

• Payment Options (installments)

• Cell Phone Rules

Preparing for camp

On the Thursday before each week of camp you'll receive an email from us reminding you that you're registered for camp for the upcoming week. At that time, we'll also remind you to download this week's "Gator Tales". Gator Tales is our weekly publication which includes: a packing list, emergency contact information, afternoon outings schedule, lunch menu, theme day schedule and more.

Camp Hours

There is no additional cost to pre and post camp supervision hours. Supervision is provided in classrooms where campers can choose between 2 classrooms: one for quiet activities like reading and listening to music and the other for watching kids cartoons or Disney kids movies on TV.

Sample Daily Schedule

Each day is packed with special activities and every day and every week is different to accommodate campers who are with us for several weeks throughout the summer.

All of our camps are scheduled the same: 

The Specialty Camp of your choice (Arts, Bike, Horseback, Multisport, Swim Lesson Camp, etc.) runs every morning, followed by lunch as an entire camp, followed by our afternoon activities.

Afternoon Schedule by Camp Location

5 and 6 year olds

DO NOT ATTEND OUR AFTERNOON SWIMS. They will instead visit local splash pads every afternoon except Friday when they will take part in our Gator Games (activities at the camp location). 

7 to 12 year olds

will travel by school bus or walk (where applicable) to some local City of Ottawa swimming pools. See the Afternoon Schedule below.

Quest for the Gator Cup

One of the traditions we are most proud of is our weekly "Quest for the Gator Cup". Since 1996, this fierce, but friendly, competition has pit our Safari friends (Iguanas, Parrots, Treefrogs, Cheetahs, Elephants, and Gators) against one another in a week-long competition that we call the "Quest for the Gator Cup". Each team consists of campers of all ages and from all Specialty Camps and their counselors. At the end of each week, every camper receives a commemorative ribbon celebrating their participation in this one-of-a-kind event.

The Gator Cup is sure to be the highlight of every camper's week and something they will remember for years to come.