AQUATICS

Water Babies

ages 6 months-3 years

Infants and toddlers learn to feel comfortable in the water and have fun through games and drills. One parent/guardian must be in the water with the swimmer for the entire lesson.

Aquatots

ages 2-3 years

Introduce your little one to the joys of the beach while setting a strong foundation for future water experiences. In this level, swimmers will gain confidence around the water in a fun and interactive way. Watch your little one learn to float with assistance and be introduced to proper body positioning while laying a foundation for future swimming.

2026 LIFEGUARD TRAINING

The Crystal Lake Park District takes pride in training and hiring confident, responsible young adults to patrol our beaches and keep our swimmers safe at all times. We offer lifeguard training classes several times per year. This class provides full certification upon course completion.

This class provides entry-level lifeguard candidates with the skills and knowledge necessary to prevent, recognize and respond to emergencies, and to provide care for injuries and sudden illness until advanced medical personnel arrive. This class is taught in a blended learning format with an online portion that must be completed prior to attending the first class. 

Prerequisites:

• Complete a swim-tread-swim sequence.
• Jump into the water, submerge, resurface, swim 150 yards (using the front crawl breaststroke or a combination of both), maintain position at the surface of the water for 2 minutes by treading water using only the legs, then swim 50 yards using the front crawl, breastroke or a combination of both.
• Complete a timed event within 1 minute 40 seconds by starting in the water, swimming 20 yards, surface dive (feet-first or head-first) to a depth of 7 to 12 feet to retrieve a 10-pound object, return to the surface and swim 20 yards on the back, return to the starting point holding the object at the surface with both hands and exit the water without using a ladder or steps.
• ALL classes must be attended for the entire length of time.
• Students who pass the course will receive an American Red Cross certificate for Lifeguarding with Waterfront Skills, CPR/AED for Professional Rescuers and First Aid. These certifications are valid for two years.

Lifeguards who are hired by the Crystal Lake Park District will receive a partial refund of class fees after successfully completing a summer of work.

FEE: $250

LOCATION: MAIN BEACH, 300 LAKESHORE DR, CRYSTAL LAKE

For information questions about Lifeguard Certification Training, please contact Stephanie Scott at sscott@crystallakeparks.org

View Summer 2026 Lifeguard Certification Training

 

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2026 GROUP SWIM LESSONS

Why should your child learn to swim? Swim lessons teach lifesaving skills, calms fears, keeps kids active over the summer months and helps build confidence. Our seven levels of swim lessons guarantee your child is in the proper instructive class. 

NEW for 2026!  All classes take place at West Beach, 2330 Lake Avenue, Crystal Lake

Swimmers will be evaluated on the first day to ensure proper placement.

Res: $68, Non-Res: $88

Aquatota (ages 2-3)

Introduce your little one to the joys of the beach while setting a strong foundation for future aquatics experiences. In this level, swimmers will gain confidence around water in a fun, interactive way. Watch your little one learn to float with assistance and be introduced to proper body positioning while laying a foundation for future swimming. On the last day of class, participants will practice their skills in a life jacket. Please bring your own life jacket if you have one. Those who do

LEVEL 1-Beginner Swimmers (3 & Up)

Kick, splash and learn in this beginner friendly swim class. Swimmers will gain comfort going underwater, learn proper body positioning and prepare to conquer assisted forward movement. On the last day of class, participants will practice their skills in a life jacket. Please bring your own life jacket if you have one. Those who do not have a life jacket may borrow one for class. Children are evaluated on the first day of class to provide proper placement.

LEVEL 2-Swimmin' Solo (4 & Up)

Swimmers will use their knowledge and experience in the water to conquer independence in the water. Forward movement on the back and belly are emphasized in this playful, goal driven class. Important safety skills such as rolling to one’s back to breathe are taught in this class.

LEVEL 3-Kickin' & Swimming (4 & UP)

You can swim, now can you use technique? Swimmers will build upon their skills and master the front crawl and back crawl strokes. Swimmers in this level will master their flutter kicks and learn dolphin and froggy kicks.

LEVEL 4-Swimmers with Style (4 & UP)

Swimmers in this level will refine their front and back crawl into a proper freestyle and backstroke. Swimmers will also learn and master treading water and will be introduced to the breaststroke..

LEVEL 5-Swimmers with Strokes (4 & up)

Refine your strokes and master the butterfly in this level! Swimmers will spend the session working through ’drills’ to help master proper swimming technique in each stroke. Additionally, swimmers will learn surface dives and how practice retrieving an object from a deeper portion of the swim area.

LEVEL 6 & 7-Swimmers with endurance

You know the strokes, now its time to apply them! Swimmers in this level work on endurance and skills that coincide with open water swimming. In this level, swimmers will be introduced to how their foundation of swimming can be used in emergencies and will be introduced to the drills our lifeguards do in trainings. On the last day of class, swimmers will participate in a mini "Guard Games" competition with CLPD lifeguards.

2026 Private SWIM LESSONS

Ages 3 & Up 

Designed for swimmers of all ages and abilities, private swim lessons offer individualized instruction in a supportive environment. Our instructors tailor each lesson to the participant’s skill level and goals, focusing on water safety, stroke development, and confidence-building. Whether you are learning the basics or refining advanced techniques, private lessons provide personalized attention to help you become a stronger, more confident swimmer. *Private lessons are 1-on-1 and are not available for 2 or more.

*Private lessons are 1-on-1. Private lessons not available for 2 or more.

Fee: $146 res/$190 non-res

View schedule and register online via digital guide

2026 Adult Beginner Swimmer Levels 1 & 2

Ages 16 & Up 

Swimming is a lifelong skill that will keep you safe! This adult friendly class will take you through the basics in swimming-helping beginner swimmers gain necessary skills to swim independently and build confidence in aquatic environments.

Mon, Wed, Jun 22-Jul 15, 6:15-6:50 PM

Fee: $68 res/$88 non-res

reg online via digital guide