(CONTRIBUTED)

MADISON – Madison Parks and Recreation Department will offer lifeguard certification courses in April at Dublin Park.

Classes will be held on April 4, 5, 6 and 11. To enroll, participants must be at least 15 years old before the date of the last scheduled class.

The course requires participants to swim 300 yards continuously, divided into three segments of 100 yards each:

* Breaststroke with rhythmic breathing and propellant kick. The swimmer can use rhythmic breathing to the side or front.

* Breaststroke with pull-breathe-kick-slide sequence.

* Front crawl or breaststroke in any combination for the 100 yards.

In addition, participants must swim 20 yards with the front crawl or breaststroke, surface dive 7 to 10 feet and retrieve a 10-pound object.

Then, the swimmer must return to the surface, swim 20 yards back to the starting point with the object and exit the water without using a ladder or steps. Swimmers must complete this sequence within one minute and 40 seconds.

To register, call aquatic director Kyle Parker at 256-772-2560 or email to kyle.parker@madisonal.gov.