How To Become an Instructor
SWAM instructors come from diverse backgrounds but all are dedicated Dalhousie Medicine New Brunswick and UNB Saint John student volunteers. Although our typical instructor recruitment periods are August-September and December-January, we are always looking for new instructors! Please note that if you apply outside of the aforementioned recruitment periods, our response may be slower than usual.
In addition to strong swimming skills, qualified applicants will have:
- Teaching experience (preferably, but not necessarily, swimming-related)
- Experience working with children
- Experience working with persons with disabilities
Since S.W.A.M. is a non-certificate program, possession of valid certifications (such as NLS or WSI) is not a formal requirement to becoming an instructor (although it is a strong asset). A fully certified lifeguard is always on duty during lessons.
Registration is currently open. Candidates may contact saintjohn@swamcanada.ca to apply.
All volunteers must have a valid Criminal Record Check and Vulnerable Sector Check. Please consult the following website for more information: Saint John Police
Instructor Testimonials
“I love the casual and comfortable environment that S.W.A.M. provides. We are a team who not only supports one another, but also the children and the families we meet. It is a time full of fun and learning for both the swimmers and the instructors.”
“I’m a fairly new instructor with S.W.A.M. and I love it. It’s a great way to help out the community and get to know some amazing kids. The people I work with are all so nice and helpful and between them and the enthusiastic kids every minute of it is a blast. There’s no feeling that compares to when one of the sweet kids gets excited because they learned a new skill or are doing something they love.”