Aquatics
Whether you're 3 or 93 - you'll enjoy swimming at THPRD! Channel your inner Michael Phelps or aquasize for more flexibility and better muscle tone.
Whatever your skill level - from the littlest polliwog to a seasoned, confident swimmer - we're known for our excellent teaching staff and beautiful, clean pools!
Pool Locations
- Aloha Swim Center
- Beaverton Swim Center
- Conestoga Recreation & Aquatic Center
- Harman Swim Center
- Raleigh Swim Center (summer only)
- Somerset West Swim Center (summer only)
- Sunset Swim Center
- Tualatin Hills Aquatic Center
Swim Class Descriptions
THPRD is proud to use the American Red Cross Learn To Swim skill progressions. These levels have been modified to suit our patrons' needs and to provide more opportunity for success with the additional levels. We hope that you and your children enjoy our Learn To Swim program.
Preschool Swimming
(ages 3-6 years and have not started the first grade)
Level A is an initial adjustment to the water environment. Swimmers will experience bubble blowing, fully submerging their head, and exploring the water while on their front and back. Upon successful completion, swimmers will be able to enter the water unassisted, move 5 yards, bob five times to mouth level and safely exit the water. They will also glide on front with assistance for two body lengths, roll to back with assistance and float with support for three seconds. Safety skills are an integral part of the Learn To Swim program and appropriate skills will be incorporated into this class.
Level B is a basic swimming class where swimmers will gain confidence floating and moving short distances while on their front and back independently. Upon successful completion, the swimmer will be able enter unassisted, glide two body lengths on front/back, rollover and float for 5 seconds and recover to a vertical position. Safety skills are an integral part of the Learn To Swim program and appropriate skills will be incorporated into this class.
Level C will build confidence for the swimmer to perform floats and glides on front and back, while introducing front crawl and combined back. Rotary breathing will be introduced. Upon successful completion, the swimmer will be able to jump into chest-deep water, move into a front float five seconds, roll over to a back float five seconds and recover. The swimmer will be able to push off and swim 5 body lengths using combined arm and leg action on their front and roll to back and float 15 seconds, roll to front then continue swimming for 5 body lengths. Safety skills are an integral part of the Learn To Swim program and appropriate skills will be incorporated into this class.
Level D will focus on developing front crawl skills, an introduction to elementary backstroke and treading water. Swimmers will also practice performing skills for longer distances. Upon successful completion, swimmer will be able to jump into water over their head, front float for 5 seconds roll to back and float for 5 seconds and return to a vertical position. Swimmer will also be able to push off and swim using combined arm and leg action on front for 5 body lengths taking a minimum of 3 breaths to the side, roll to back and float 15 seconds, roll to front and continue swimming for 5 body lengths. Safety skills are an integral part of the Learn To Swim program and appropriate skills will be incorporated into this class. Preschool age participants who successfully complete Level D may proceed in registering for School Age Swimming Level 3 to continue their swimming progressions.
School Age Swimming
(ages 6-12, have started the first grade)
Level 1 is an initial adjustment to the water environment. Swimmers will experience bubble blowing, fully submerging their head, and exploring the water while on their front and back. Upon successful completion, swimmers will be able to enter the water unassisted, move 5 yards, bob five times to mouth level and safely exit the water. They will also glide on front with assistance for two body lengths, roll to back with assistance and float with support for three seconds. Safety skills are an integral part of the Learn To Swim program and appropriate skills will be incorporated into this class.
Level 2 is a basic swimming class where swimmers will gain confidence floating and moving short distances while on their front and back independently. Upon successful completion, the swimmer will be able enter unassisted, glide two body lengths on front/back, rollover and float for 5 seconds and recover to a vertical position. Swimmers will also be able to push off from the side and swim using combined arm and leg actions on front for 5 body lengths, roll onto back, float for 15 seconds, roll to front and continue swimming for 5 body lengths. Safety skills are an integral part of the Learn To Swim program and appropriate skills will be incorporated into this class.
Level 2½ will build confidence for the swimmer to perform floats and glides on front and back, while introducing front crawl and combined back. Rotary breathing will be introduced. Upon successful completion, the swimmer will be able to jump into chest-deep water, move into a front float five seconds, roll over to a back float five seconds and recover. The swimmer will be able to push off and swim 5 body lengths using combined arm and leg action on their front, minimum of 3 side breaths and roll to back and float 15 seconds, roll to front then continue swimming for 5 body lengths. Safety skills are an integral part of the Learn To Swim program and appropriate skills will be incorporated into this class.
Level 3 will focus on developing front crawl skills, an introduction to elementary backstroke and treading water. Swimmers will also practice performing skills for longer distances. Upon successful completion, swimmer will be able to jump into deep and swim front crawl for 15 yards, maintain position be treading/floating for 30 seconds and swim elementary backstroke for 15 yards. Safety skills are an integral part of the Learn To Swim program and appropriate skills will be incorporated into this class. Preschool age participants who successfully complete Level D may proceed in registering for School Age Swimming Level 3 to continue their swimming progressions.
Level 3½ introduces breaststroke, butterfly, and basic diving. The focus will be increased proficiency and endurance of front crawl, back crawl, and treading water. Upon successful completion swimmers will be able to jump into deep water, swim front crawl 25 yards, maintain position by treading water or floating 1 minute and swim elementary backstroke for 25 yards. They will also be able to swim breaststroke for 25 yards, change direction and position, then swim back crawl for 25 yards. Safety skills are an integral part of the Learn To Swim program and appropriate skills will be incorporated into this class.
Level 4 focuses on developing breaststroke and butterfly and increased proficiency and endurance of front crawl, back crawl and elementary backstroke. Upon successful completion the swimmer will be able to perform a feet-first entry into deep water, swim front crawl for 25 yards, change direction and position and swim elementary backstroke for 25 yards. Swimmers will also swim breaststroke 25 yards change direction and position swim back crawl for 25 yards. Safety skills are an integral part of the Learn To Swim program and appropriate skills will be incorporated into this class.
Level 5 will introduce sidestroke. The focus will be increased proficiency and endurance of strokes previously introduced. Upon successful completion, swimmer will be able to perform a shallow-angle dive into deep water, swim front crawl 50 yards, turn immediately and swim elementary backstroke for 50 yards. They will also be able to swim breaststroke 25 yards, turn and swim back crawl for 25 yards. Safety skills are an integral part of the Learn To Swim program and appropriate skills will be incorporated into this class.
Advanced Swimming
Advanced swimmers will work on the following competitive strokes to ensure efficiency: freestyle (crawl stroke), back crawl, breaststroke, and butterfly. The intent of this level is to refine strokes so swimmers swim them with ease. At this level swimmers have the choice of the following tracts: Personal Water Safety, Fitness Swimming, or Fundamentals of Diving. These tracts may be completed in any order.
Fitness Swimmer
The fitness swimmer will use a pace clock, pull buoys, fins, hand paddles, and training principles. The intent of this level is to refine strokes so swimmers swim them with ease. Upon successful completion, you will swim 500 yards continuously using the following order: front crawl, 100 yards; back crawl, 100 yards; breaststroke, 50 yards; elementary backstroke, 50 yards; sidestroke 50 yards; butterfly 50 yards; and choice of stroke, 100 yards. You will also perform the Cooper 12-minute swim test and compare results with the pre-assessment results.
Personal Water Safety
Personal water safety includes the use of lifejacket skills, swimming and self-rescue techniques, basic safety rules for boating and open water. The intent of this level is to refine strokes so swimmers swim them with ease. Upon successful completion you will swim 500 yards continuously using the strokes in the following order: front crawl, 100 yards; back crawl, 100 yards; breaststroke, 50 yards; elementary backstroke, 50 yards; sidestroke 50 yards; butterfly 50 yards; and choice of stroke, 100 yards. Next, the swimmer will jump into deep water, perform survival float five minutes, roll onto their back and perform a back float five minutes. Next the swimmer will perform a feet-first surface dive, retrieve an object from the bottom of the pool at a minimum depth of 7 feet, return to the surface.
Fundamentals of Diving
Fundamentals of diving will introduce basic diving from the side and from a diving board. Also presented will be approach and hurdle from a diving board, diving in a tuck and pike position. The intent of this level is to refine strokes so swimmers swim them with ease. Upon successful completion, swimmer will swim 500 yards continuously using the strokes in the following order: front crawl, 100 yards; back crawl, 100 yards ; breaststroke, 50 yards; elementary backstroke, 50 yards; sidestroke 50 yards; butterfly 50 yards; and choice of stroke, 100 yards. Diver will perform a front approach and hurdle with a feet-first entry from a 1-meter springboard, and will also perform a front approach and hurdle with a head-first entry from a 1-meter springboard.
Pool Schedules
- Aloha Swim Center
- Beaverton Swim Center
- Conestoga Recreation & Aquatic Center
- Harman Swim Center
- Raleigh Swim Center
- Somerset West Swim Center
- Sunset Swim Center
- Tualatin Hills Aquatic Center
Be sure to check out the age-specific safety rules for using swim facilities
Drop In Classes
Drop in aquatic activities at THPRD include lap swims, aquarobics, water walking, pregnancy fitness, and more. See the facility listing to see schedules for drop in activities there.
Facility Rentals
Be sure your next birthday party is a splash -- have a pool party at THPRD! Contact the facility directly to get information about party packages, services and fees and to make reservations.
