Training Courses

Orchard Hills offers Red Cross certified training for Lifeguarding, Water Safety Instruction, CPR/AED and First Aid.

Lifeguard Course

Completion of the course provides participants with a basic level lifeguard certification and a CPR for the professional rescuer certification. Students must be 15 years of age prior to the first day of class. (NOTE: this certification is not a waterfront certification). 

The main purpose if the course is to provide entry-level lifeguard candidates with the skills to recognize and respond to emergencies in a variety of different settings. This certification is a ideal for pools, diving wells, aquatic attraction settings, and some water parks. In this course you will learn what it takes to not only save lives with the help of CPR, but also to prevent accidents in an aquatic setting. Upon completion of the class and the passing of the two exams candidates will be certified lifeguards within 10 days of the last day of class.

Course Overview: 

• Must pass a pre-test to enter the class (detailed below)
• 26 – 30 hours of in-class learning over 4 days
• Material covered in class and in the water
• Two written exams 

Pre-Test:

• 300 yards continuous swim using breaststroke and front crawl with breathing
• Tread water 2 minutes using only legs 
• Complete a timed event in 1 min and 40 seconds of swimming 20 yards, surface diving to retrieve a 10-pound brick, return to surface, and swim on back 20 yards to starting point

What to Bring:  

• Swimsuit
• 2 towels
• goggles
• comfortable clothes
• lunch
• pencil/pen and notebook
• Lifeguard training manual (available for pick up 10 days prior) 
• hip pack, complete with two pocket masks (handed out first day)

For any additional questions, please contact Aquatics Department at [email protected]

Lifeguard Recertification Course

This course is provided for lifeguards with a current Red Cross certification and is meant to refresh and reintroduce skills necessary. 

Course Overview: 

• Two written exams (CPR and Lifeguard Skills)
• Material covered in class and in the water

What to Bring: 

• Swimsuit
• 2 towels
• goggles
• comfortable clothes
• lunch
• pencil/pen and notebook
• Lifeguard training manual (available for pick up 10 days prior) 
• pocket mask (handed out first day)
• A copy of certification if certified outside of Orchard Hills originally

For any additional questions, please contact the Aquatics Department at [email protected]

Water Safety Instructor Course

The purpose of the Water Safety Instructor (WSI) course is to train instructor candidates to teach Parent and Child Aquatics, Preschool Aquatics, Learn-to-Swim, Adult Swim and Water Safety Courses and Presentations. This course is designed for individuals who want to pursue a jobas a swimming instructor. Students must be 16 years of age prior to the first day of class.

Course Overview: 

• A blended learning format with online, classroom and in-water components 
• Must be able to demonstrate proper and effective stroke mechanics 
• Must be able to effectively teach skills and stroke mechanics to others
• Participants must attend all class dates, and successfully complete all assignments
• Some assignments must be completed BEFORE the first class
• Participants must pass a written exam with a score of at least 80%.  

Participants will learn:  

• Teaching progressions and course lesson planning 
• Recognizing common skill errors and providing corrective feedback
• Motor learning & hydrodynamic principles 
• Cultural diversity training 
• Fitness and training 
• How to teach people with disabilities and other conditions

Blended Learning: 

This is a blended learning class. Completion of the online blended learning program takes about 9 hours. This must be completed before the first class. Proof of completion will be required at the first-class meeting.

Prerequisites: 

• Demonstrate the ability to swim the following strokes, consistent with Red Cross Level 4 Stroke Performance Charts: 25 yards each (front crawl, back crawl, breaststroke, elementary back stroke, sidestroke)
• 15 yards butterfly
• Maintain position on back for 1 minute in deep water (sculling or floating) 
• Tread water for 1 minute

For any additional questions, please contact Terri Ruggiero at [email protected]