Bronze Medallion & Emergency First Aid (BM & EFA)
September 12 - October 3, 2026
Embark on your lifesaving journey with our Bronze Medallion Course, designed for both beginners and those looking to enhance their aquatic skills. This course focuses on developing essential lifesaving techniques, including tows, carries, and defense methods. Participants will also work on stroke efficiency and endurance, highlighted by a 400m timed swim. This course is open to YMCA members and non-members alike.
Highlights:
- Develop fundamental lifesaving skills
- Learn tows, carries, and defense techniques
- Improve stroke efficiency through a 400m timed swim
- Open to YMCA members and non-members
Benefits:
- Gain confidence in water safety and rescue skills
- Prepare for more advanced lifesaving courses
Course Requirements
- 13 years of age by the start of the course
- Bronze Medallion is a prerequisite for assistant lifeguard training in Bronze Cross (need not be current)
Bronze Cross (BC)
October 17 - November 7, 2026
Take the next step in your lifesaving training with our Bronze Cross Course. Building on the skills acquired in the Bronze Medallion Course, this program focuses on advanced rescue techniques and includes a 400m timed swim to enhance endurance. It serves as a prerequisite for those looking to pursue National Lifeguard and Instructor certification. This course is open to both YMCA members and non-members, offering comprehensive training for anyone interested in aquatic supervision and safety.
Highlights:
- Advanced rescue techniques and safety protocols
- 400m timed swim to improve endurance
- Prerequisite for National Lifeguard and Instructor certification
- Open to YMCA members and non-members
Benefits:
- Strengthen your lifesaving abilities
- Prepare for advanced training and certification programs
Course Requirements
- 13 years of age by the start of the course or Bronze Star Certification (need not be current)
- Bronze Medallion is a prerequisite for assistant lifeguard training in Bronze Cross (need not be current)
 YMCA Swim Instructor
September 30 - November 11, 2026
This comprehensive leadership training program prepares participants to become certified instructors under the Lifesaving Society – New Brunswick branch. Graduates will not be qualified to teach and evaluate both lifesaving-awards programs and workplace standard first aid courses. The dual-focus of this course equips you with the knowledge, technical skills, instructional methods and leadership competencies needed to deliver high-quality training in both aquatic lifesaving and first-aid settings.
Program Requirements
- Bronze Cross
The YMCA Swim Instructor course prepares the instructor to teach and evaluate the swimming strokes and related skills found in the YMCA Swimming program. Candidates acquire proven teaching methods, planning skills, and a variety of stroke development drills and correction techniques.
Click here to see Swim Insructor Journey.
National Lifeguard Pool Recertification
November 14, 2026
Program Requirements
- Current National Lifeguard – Pool certification
National Lifeguard Pool Recertification is designed to refresh and evaluate the essential knowledge, skills, judgment, fitness and decision-making required to effectively supervise and respond to aquatic emergencies in a swimming pool environment. Participants will review and demonstrate key National Lifeguard skills, emergency procedures and lifeguarding practices to maintain their certification
Click here to see Lifeguard Journey.
National Lifeguard & Standard First Aid
September 12 - November 14, 2026
Course Requirements
- Bronze Cross
National Lifeguard (NL) is designed to develop the fundamental values, judgment, knowledge, skills and fitness required by lifeguards. The National Lifeguard course emphasizes the lifeguarding skills, principles and practices, and the decision-making processes that will assist the lifeguard to provide effective safety supervision in swimming pool environment
Click here to see Lifeguard Journey.
Contact Us
For more information about our aquatic programs, reach out to our Aquatic
Supervisor at I.Richards@saintjohny.ca or call (506) 693-9622