Paddling Panthers

Paddling Panthers swim lessons include all levels of the American Red Cross Learn-to-Swim Program. Lessons are taught by American Red Cross certified Water Safety Instructors. All participants in this program will be assessed on the first day of class to ensure proper class level enrollment.

Our swim lesson program is available to family members of UNI students, faculty, staff and alumni. Our swim lesson program is not open to the general public.

Paddling Panthers Registration

Important Registration Reminders

Registration Information

We recommend registering right away if you have specific preferences or schedule constraints.

Questions about levels or clarifications?

Ask us now! That way you can get into the correct level right away. You must be a parent or guardian of the children you enroll. This is for liability purposes.

Registering with Fusion

Recreation Services implemented a new software system last fall for registration. This has been a work in progress and will continue to be. We appreciate your patience and understanding during the process of transitioning to a new registration system this past year.

That being said, please make sure you are able to successfully get into your account BEFORE the morning of registration. If you are an alumni and graduated prior to 2008, you will need to do some additional steps that would be helpful to do couple days before registration to make sure you can get into your account efficiently and smoothly.

Age Restrictions

If the age restriction appears on the child the system is tracking the age the child currently is and not the age the child will be at the start of the session. Even if the child will be the correct age at the start of the session, the system is reading the current age you put in the system. To go around this, you will need to adjust the age for the registration and change it after the child is registered. We wish we could change this!

Paddling Panther swimming lesson in WRC on UNI Campus

Session Information

Session Options

Session dates and times are as follows: Sessions are comprised of eight lessons each. Parent/Child and Preschool are 30 minutes in length, Levels 1-6 are 40 minutes in length.

Paddling Panthers Lesson Fees

UNI Students, Staff, Faculty, Alumni & WRC paid users: One child: $80 per session

Paddling Panthers Level Information

Parent/Child

This class is designed to help children ages 6-36 months and their parents feel comfortable in the water. Parents and/or guardians must participate in this class. The basic skills learned are water entry, bubble blowing, front kick, back floating and underwater exploration. Swim diapers are required for participation in this course.

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Preschool

This class is designed to help children age 3-4 years feel comfortable in the water. Skills learned in this class are combined stroke on front and back, underwater exploration and using life jackets.

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Level 1: Introduction to Water Skills

This class is designed to help children feel comfortable in the water. Submerging mouth, nose and eyes, floating on front/back and swimming on front/back using arms and legs will be emphasized in this class. Minimum age = 4 years.

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Level 2: Fundamental Aquatic Skills

This class gives students success with fundamental skills. Front/back glide, treading water and swimming with combined strokes will all be introduced in this class.

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Level 3: Stroke Development

This class builds on skills learned in Level II. Front/back crawl, diving, safety skills, survival float, deep water skills and butterfly kick will all be introduced in this class.

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Level 4: Stroke Improvement

This class develops confidence in previously learned skills and improves other aquatic skills. Elementary backstroke, breaststroke, scissors kick and survival skills will all be introduced in this class.

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Level 5: Stroke Refinement

This class will further coordinate and refine the strokes previously learned. Surface dives, flip turns, sidestroke and survival swimming will all be introduced in this class.

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Level 6: Swimming and Skill Proficiency

This class refines the strokes so students can swim with efficiency, power and smoothness over greater distances. It also prepares students to participate in more advanced courses, including Water Safety Instructor and Lifeguard Training Courses.

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Class Size

There is a minimum enrollment of 4 "Paddling Panthers" for each of the regular swim lesson classes. Maximum class size for preschool is 4 participants per instructor, for Level 1 is 5 participants per instructor, for Levels 2-6 is 6 participants per instructor, for parent child is 8 participants per instructor.

Lessons for levels 1 - 6 are 40 minutes
Parent/Infant and Preschool are 30 minutes
Any other class that has an enrollment below four students will be canceled or taught for 30 minutes instead of 40 minutes

Weather Policy

If lightning is detected within an eight-mile radius of the Wellness/Recreation Center (WRC) the Recreation Services professional staff, student facility manager or Welcome Desk supervisor will inform persons in the pool areas (e.g., the lifeguards, swim lesson instructors, aquatic supervisors, swim lesson parents/guardians, swim lesson patrons and group fitness aquatic class participants/instructor). Once pool patrons have been informed of the lightning situation, they will have the option of leaving the pool(s) or to continue to swim at their own risk. If patrons choose to leave the pool, they should not use showers or land line telephones, and lifeguards will be trained to provide this information to patrons, as appropriate.

If a severe weather warning is received from the UNI Police or another reliable weather source indicating a severe thunderstorm/tornado is present in the area and patrons should take cover, WRC patrons will be evacuated to a safe zone(s). The lifeguards, swim lesson instructors, aquatic supervisor and/or group fitness class instructor will instruct patrons to leave the pool and take shelter in the pool locker rooms. Once an all clear is received patrons will be allowed to return to the pool(s).

You may choose to call the WRC prior to driving to the building if you are coming for swimming lessons. Please call the main welcome desk at 319-273-2413 for information concerning lessons and severe weather closures. Unless there is a severe weather warning, we will stay open for swimming lessons!

Paddling Panthers FAQs

How do I register for group swim lessons?

Recreation Services launched a new registration software. Follow the instructions in the PDF to login and use this system when registering for a program.

Where is the pool located?

The Natatorium is located in the lower level of the UNI Wellness and Recreation Center.

Where are lessons held?

Swim lessons are held in both the lap and leisure pools, depending on the level.

Can I make up a missed class due to illness or schedule conflict?

We do not allow make up classes due to illness or schedule conflicts.

Where should I park for swim lessons?

If you do not have a UNI Parking Permit, parking is available in the metered lot on the west side of the Wellness and Recreation Center. Metered spaces usually carry a $1/hour fee and are monitored 7 a.m. - 9 p.m., Monday - Friday. Parking lots are not monitored on Saturday or Sunday but may close depending on large events being held on campus.

What should I wear to swim lessons?

Adults should wear an athletic bathing suit. Children who are not potty trained must wear a swim diaper underneath their bathing suits. Swim Diapers are not sold by Recreation Services. Goggles are not required but may be worn during lessons.

Can both parents be in the water for the parent/child class?

Yes, both parents may be in the water with their child(ren) during the parent/child classes.

Do parents need to be in the water during preschool classes?

No, parents do not need to be in the water during the preschool class. It is encouraged that parents sit in the chairs near the class.

Where can I change my child before and after classes?

There are men’s and women’s locker rooms connected to the pools. Children four years of age or younger are permitted in the opposite gender locker rooms with their parents. Additionally, there is a family changing room connecting to the leisure pool in the SW corner.

Can I work out while my child is in swim lessons?

Members and non-members are not permitted to work out during swim lessons. They should be either on the pool deck or on the pool balcony to provide assistance if needed.

Can I drop my child off at swim lessons, and come back and get them?

For safety purposes, parents must stay in the Wellness and Recreation Center building during their child’s swim lessons.

My credit card has been charged the wrong amount. What do I do?

Please contact Swim Lessons at swimlessons@uni.edu for immediate assistance.

What is the refund policy?

Due to administrative fees you will not receive $5.00 back per registration. If you need a refund or have any questions regarding refunds, please contact Swim Lessons at swimlessons@uni.edu.