My name is Laura, but most of the kids call me Coach. This will be my 8th year with Fred's Camp. I love being a part of such an amazing camp family.
It is amazing to see kids develop their confidence and skills in the pool. My number one focus at camp is water safety. Aside from developing swim skills there is nothing more important than teaching and ensuring safety around the water. I know, as parents, that typically is the biggest concern.
We are fortunate to swim in an outdoor lap pool with a depth at 3 feet and 6 inches. We also have (2) certified lifeguards keeping an eye on the pool at all times. The ratio in the pool is approximately 4/1.
During the school year, I am a CPS PE teacher, athletic director, and coach in Rogers Park. I am a certified Lifeguard and WSI (Water Safety Instructor). I have been teaching and coaching swimming for over 12 years.
Our swim teachers work directly with the campers in their groups to challenge each child at their own level. We use the Red Cross Learn-to-Swim curriculum.
Below is an overview of some of the skills that we focus on, as well as the corresponding level.
We also provide a comprehensive report card for all campers at the conclusion of their time at camp. I always encourage all families to call camp for any questions or updates on your child’s progress. We want to hear from you.
Level 1: Introduction to Water Skills
Objective:To help students feel comfortable in the water and to enjoy the water safely
Skills Covered: Entering and exiting the water safely, learning to submerge mouth, nose and eyes and breath control, front and back float and recovering to a stand, changing direction in the water, swimming 5 feet on front and back.
Level 2: Fundamental Aquatic Skills
Objective:To give students success with fundamental skills
Skills Covered: Entering water by stepping or jumping in from the side, submerging entire head, blowing bubbles, open eyes underwater, front and back glide, swim 15 feet on front and 10 feet on back, swim on side, use of life jacket.
Level 3: Stroke Development
Objective:To build on skills in Level 2 through additional guided practice
Skills Covered: Jump into deep water, head first entry from sitting or kneeling, submerging and retrieving an object, bobbing, survival float for 30 seconds, treading water for 30 seconds, front crawl 15 yards, butterfly 15 feet, back crawl 15 yards, elementary rescues, safe diving, check-call-care.
Level 4: Stroke Improvement
Objective:To develop confidence in the strokes learned thus far and to improve other aquatic skills by increasing endurance through swimming greater distances
Skills Covered: Diving, underwater swimming, feet first surface dive, 1 minute of survival floating, treading and back floating, 25 yards of front crawl, breaststroke and back crawl, 15 yards of butterfly and elementary backstroke and sidestroke, compact jump from height in a lifejacket, throwing assists and caring for conscious choking victim.
Level 5: Stroke Refinement
Objective: Coordination and refinement of strokes
Skills Covered: Shallow dive, tuck and pike surface dives, 2 minutes of survival floating, back float and treading water, flip turns on front and back, 50 yards front and back crawl, 25 yards butterfly, breaststroke, elementary backstroke and sidestroke, 2 minutes of survival swimming, rescue breathing.
Level 6: Swimming and Skill Proficiency
Objective: Refine strokes so students swim them with more ease, efficiency, power and smoothness over greater distances; includes "menu options" Personal Water Safety, Fitness Swimmer and Fundamentals of Diving.
Skills Covered: 500 yards continuous swim using 100 yards each of front & back crawl, 50 yards each of breastroke, elementary backstroke, sidestroke & butterfly and 100 yards choice of any of those strokes, survival floating and back floating 5 minutes each, Cooper 12-minute swim test.
