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Class Summary

The Lifeguarding course is a comprehensive training that provides participants with the knowledge and skills to prevent, recognize, and respond to a wide range of aquatic emergencies in both shallow water (less than 7 feet) and deeper water (7 feet or more). It also prepares them to provide professional-level care for breathing and cardiac emergencies, injuries, and sudden illnesses until EMS personnel take over. 

This class is taught in a blended learning format, with the online portion(s) (accessible via mobile, desktop, or tablet) to be completed before each instructor-led session. Upon successful completion, participants receive an American Red Cross certificate for Lifeguarding (including deep water) with CPR/AED for Professional Rescuers and First Aid, valid for 2 years.

 Requirements

• Minimum age: 15 years

• 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, breaststroke, 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 to return to the starting point holding the object at the surface with both hand exit the water without using a ladder or steps.

Location: 

Rochester Recreation Center

21 Elton Hills Dr NW, Rochester, MN

Instructors

Shannon Penney, Madison Martin

Price

FREE (with application to City of Rochester or RGCC)

OR $300

Upcoming Classes

December 19th-21st, 2025

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Class Summary

The Lifeguarding course is a comprehensive training that provides participants with the knowledge and skills to prevent, recognize, and respond to a wide range of aquatic emergencies in both shallow water (less than 7 feet) and deeper water (7 feet or more). It also prepares them to provide professional-level care for breathing and cardiac emergencies, injuries, and sudden illnesses until EMS personnel take over. 

This class is taught in a blended learning format, with the online portion(s) (accessible via mobile, desktop, or tablet) to be completed before each instructor-led session. Upon successful completion, participants receive an American Red Cross certificate for Lifeguarding (including deep water) with CPR/AED for Professional Rescuers and First Aid, valid for 2 years.

This is a recertification class for current lifeguards.

 Requirements

• Minimum age: 15 years

• 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, breaststroke, 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 to return to the starting point holding the object at the surface with both hand exit the water without using a ladder or steps.

• Current Red Cross Certification (30-day grace period is allowed)

Location:

Rochester Recreation Center

21 Elton Hills Dr NW, Rochester, MN

Instructors

Sam Sonnabend, Shannon Penney, Madison Martin

Price

FREE (with application to City of Rochester or RGCC)

OR $125

Upcoming Classes

December 27th