04/30/12 ci

HAYS, Kan. -- Fort Hays State University Intramurals and Recreational Sports Department will offer swimming lessons to children six months and older this summer for $35. The lessons will be in Cunningham Hall on the FHSU campus.

Four sessions will be offered: June 4 to June 14; June 18 to June 28; July 2 to July 12; and July 16 to July 26. All sessions will run Monday through Thursday. No classes will be taught on Wednesday, July 4, in recognition of Independence Day.

The parent-and-child class is for children 6 months to 3 years old and is designed to give parents information and techniques to help orient their children to the water. The preschool aquatics class is for ages 4 to 5 and introduces students to basic skills that lay the foundation for future skills.

The other classes are broken into levels. Level 1, introduction to water skills, teaches students to feel comfortable in the water and how to enjoy the water safely. Level 2, fundamental aquatic skills, teaches students fundamental skills that will help them succeed in the water. Level 3, stroke development, builds on the skills shown in level two by providing guided practice. Level 4, stroke improvement, works to build students confidence in their ability to perform certain strokes and other aquatic skills. Level 5, stroke refinement, hones students skills at different strokes and helps to increase their distance. Level 6, swimming and skill proficiency, refines students abilities and prepares them for more advanced courses, such as the water safety instructor course.

On each day, a parent-and-child class and a level 6 class will be at 8:30 a.m., a preschool aquatics class will be at 9:30 a.m., a level 1 class at 10:30 a.m., a level 2 class at 11:30 a.m., a level 5 class at 12:30 p.m., a level 3 class at 1:30 p.m., and a level 4 class at 2:30 p.m. The level 6 class will not be available during the June 4 through June 14 session.

Each class will have a water safety instructor available as well as lifeguard assistants and will last 30 to 45 minutes for the level classes and 30-35 minutes for the parent-and-child and preschool aquatics classes.

For more information, contact the FHSU Campus Intramurals and Recreational Sports Department at 785-628-4373 or stop by the office at Cunningham Hall, room 111.