About
American Red Cross Swimming + Water Safety Programs include swim classes, swim lessons, and a water safety education program. The program also offers Swimming + Water Safety, Swimming + Water Safety Instructor Training & Bridging, and water safety lessons. Longfellow’s WHALE Tales program is included as part of these Swimming + Water Safety Programs, along with online training on a variety of water safety topics.
• Ages: 0–18 years old
• Schedule: These courses are 30 minutes or less.
Swim lessons are taught by trained, professional instructors. Red Cross swim lessons are available for infants, children, teens, and adults. Every beginner class starts with the basics, like becoming comfortable in the water and learning safety and basic strokes, then moves on to stroke development, refinement and improvement, then developing ease and efficiency in the water.
Online self-paced, interactive instruction from a laptop or tablet is available, and demonstration of skill proficiency is not available in the online-only format. Blended learning combines in-person sessions with self-paced, interactive online instruction, and an in-person format combines lecture with hands-on skills sessions. A free app is available to help participants stay motivated between classes and progress to the next level.
Longfellow’s WHALE Tales is a drowning prevention initiative composed of nine unique water safety lessons designed to educate young children in a dryland/classroom environment. Longfellow’s WHALE Tales provides complimentary resources including lesson plans, videos, activity sheets, and visuals, and is for children in kindergarten through grade 5. Water Habits Are Learned Early is the theme of Longfellow’s WHALE Tales program.
The American Red Cross offers free online training on a variety of water safety topics. Online water safety courses cover essential information and skills needed to help keep yourself and others safe in, on and around water. Specific online offerings include Water Safety for Parents and Caregivers in English, Spanish, and Haitian Creole, Orientation to Swim Lessons for Parents and Caregivers in English and Spanish, and Becoming an Ambassador for Water Safety.
A 2-year Red Cross Certificate of Completion may not meet workplace requirements. A 2-year Red Cross Certification meets professional licensing compliance and satisfies OSHA workplace requirements.
Last updated April 18, 2026.
• Ages: 0–18 years old
• Schedule: These courses are 30 minutes or less.
Swim lessons are taught by trained, professional instructors. Red Cross swim lessons are available for infants, children, teens, and adults. Every beginner class starts with the basics, like becoming comfortable in the water and learning safety and basic strokes, then moves on to stroke development, refinement and improvement, then developing ease and efficiency in the water.
Online self-paced, interactive instruction from a laptop or tablet is available, and demonstration of skill proficiency is not available in the online-only format. Blended learning combines in-person sessions with self-paced, interactive online instruction, and an in-person format combines lecture with hands-on skills sessions. A free app is available to help participants stay motivated between classes and progress to the next level.
Longfellow’s WHALE Tales is a drowning prevention initiative composed of nine unique water safety lessons designed to educate young children in a dryland/classroom environment. Longfellow’s WHALE Tales provides complimentary resources including lesson plans, videos, activity sheets, and visuals, and is for children in kindergarten through grade 5. Water Habits Are Learned Early is the theme of Longfellow’s WHALE Tales program.
The American Red Cross offers free online training on a variety of water safety topics. Online water safety courses cover essential information and skills needed to help keep yourself and others safe in, on and around water. Specific online offerings include Water Safety for Parents and Caregivers in English, Spanish, and Haitian Creole, Orientation to Swim Lessons for Parents and Caregivers in English and Spanish, and Becoming an Ambassador for Water Safety.
A 2-year Red Cross Certificate of Completion may not meet workplace requirements. A 2-year Red Cross Certification meets professional licensing compliance and satisfies OSHA workplace requirements.
Last updated April 18, 2026.
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