Training & Certifications

Overview

At Berkshire South, we offer Red Cross training & certification courses for members and guests in CPR/First Aid, Lifeguarding and Babysitting in an effort to make and keep our community safer!

Babysitter Training

Babysitter Training

Dates Coming Soon!

Ages 11+

Friday,  February 16th  4pm-7pm 

Sunday, February 18th  9am-1pm

**Optional Babysitter Training Plus Pediatric CPR/First Aid on Tuesday, February 20th 3:30 – 7PM.

 

Instructor: Beignyreih Person

Start your own babysitting business! Enhance your childcare skills and become a Red Cross certified babysitter with this comprehensive two day course. Gain knowledge and skills needed to safely and responsibly care for children and infants. Develop leadership skills, learn how to set up a babysitting business, engage in age-appropriate activities, handle behavior, make sound decisions, manage diaper-changing, mealtimes and bedtimes and respond effectively in an emergency.

Add a day to also earn your Infant and Child CPR and First Aid certification.

Members: $100 or $130 with Pediatric CPR class

Guests: $120 or $150 with Pediatric CPR class

Red Cross Lifeguard Certification Courses

Red Cross Lifeguarding
with CPR, First Aid, & AED

Ages 15+

May 17, 18, & 19

(Register deadline May 7th)

OR

June 21, 22, & 23

(Register deadline June 11th)

Friday 6-8:30PM

Saturday & Sunday 8AM – 5PM

Please reach out to Darren Blaney at d.blaney@berkshiresouth.org with any questions

Members $325

Guests $375

*Not refundable for the failure of swimming tests and written exams.

Berkshire South offers a blended certification program combining online coursework with onsite aquatics time.

Participates will earn certifications in Lifeguard Training, CPR, First Aid, and AED.*

Requirements:

  1. Complete 7-8 hours of online work
  2. Complete precertification requirements -300-yard non-stop swim using freestyle (front crawl) or breaststroke with rhythmic breathing, or a combination of the two
  3. 2 minute water tread using legs only
  4. Swim 20 yds, retrieve a 10-lb dive weight from 7 feet deep, surface, and swim 20 yds on back with the weight held on the chest, using legs only, and exit the pool without using the ladder or stairs within 100 seconds. 
  5. Complete in-person skill sessions and pass written exams

Registration Deadline: May 7th/ June 11th, so students have time to receive the online link and complete the blended learning portion

TWO-STEPS TO REGISTER! Register online & Email aquatics@berkshiresouth.org to set up your swim test and American Red Cross Registration.

LIFEGUARD TRAINING EMPLOYMENT REIMBURSEMENT OPPORTUNITY: New lifeguards will receive a 50% reimbursement toward the successful completion of the Lifeguard class after 50 hours worked, and a 100% reimbursement after 100 hours worked during a calendar year.

Newly hired lifeguards will receive full reimbursement of their in-house BSRCC lifeguarding course fees if they work 100 hours within their first year of employment, and remain in good standing at their one-year work anniversary.

Lifeguard Certification with CPR, First Aid, AED and Waterfront Skills

Instructor: Darren Blaney

Ages 15+

May 17, 18, & 19 

(Register deadline May 7th)

OR

June 21, 22, & 23

(Register deadline June 11th)

Friday 6-8:30PM

Saturday & Sunday 8AM – 5PM 

Members $335

Guests $385

  1. Complete 7-8 hours of online work
  2. 550-yard non-stop swim using freestyle (front crawl) or breaststroke with rhythmic breathing, or a combination of the two
  3. 2 minute water tread using legs only
  4. Swim 20 yds, retrieve a 10-lb dive weight from 7 feet deep, surface, and swim 20 yds on back with the weight held on the chest, using legs only, and exit the pool without using the ladder or stairs within 100 seconds
  5. Swim 5 yds, submerge and retrieve 3 dive rings place 5 yds apart on one breath, resurface and continue to swim to end of the pool
  6.  Complete in-person skill sessions and pass written exams

Registration Deadline: May 7th/June 11th, so students have time to receive the online link and complete the blended learning portion

Online requirement: 7-8 hours of online work, link provided at time of registration

Maximum number of participants: 10 total

Please contact d.blaney@berkshiresouth.org with questions.

Existing Employees in good standing:

Current employees and returning lifeguards who have worked for BSRCC in previous seasons are eligible for free Lifeguard training to maintain or renew their Red Cross Certification, provided they commit to working at least two 6-hour shifts for a full season, or an equivalent number of hours in a calendar year.

 

New Employees:

For new lifeguard employees who only need recertification in order to serve, we offer full reimbursement for successfully passing the class and completing 50 hours of employment.

 

New lifeguards will receive a 50% reimbursement toward the successful completion of the Lifeguard class after 50 hours worked, and a 100% reimbursement after 100 hours worked during a calendar year.

Lifeguard Recertification Class

Lifeguard watching a group of people exercising with noodles in the pool

May 31 & June 1

Friday, 6:30-8:30PM & Saturday 9AM-5PM

Instructor: Darren Blaney

Ages 15+

Members: $150

Guests: $175

Renew your Red Cross Lifeguard Certificate for an additional 2 years! To take this course, you must have a current, valid Red Cross Lifeguard certification (or certification that expired within 30 days of the final day of class) to register. 

Please email a copy of your Red Cross Certification to Darren Blaney at  d.blaney@berkshiresouth.org,

New Employees:
For new BSRCC lifeguard employees who only need recertification in order to serve, we offer full reimbursement for successfully passing BSRCC’s in-house recertification class after reaching 100 hours of employment and remain in good standing at their one-year work anniversary.

 

 

Existing Employees In Good Standing: Current employees and returning lifeguards who have worked for BSRCC in previous seasons are eligible for free in-house Lifeguard training to maintain or renew their Red Cross Certification, provided they commit to working at least two 6-hour shifts per week for a full season, or an equivalent number of hours in a calendar year.

First Aid and CPR Courses

CPR & First Aid

Ages 15+

Thursday, (NEW DATE!) March 21, 6-8PM 

Instructor: Beignyreih Person

aquatics@berkshiresouth.org

Learn valuable skills that could save a life. Our informative hands-on courses include training in First Aid and CPR/AED for adults, children and infants. Red Cross certifications are valid for two years. This is a blended learning class with an online component. Upon registration, the instructor will contact you with information about completing the online learning portion of the course before the in-person skills session.

Members $90

Guests $110

*Price includes materials fee

Please register NO LATER than March 14th.

Group CPR Class Rates Available:

Do you have a group of 10 or more people interested in CPR training? We are happy to offer a 10% savings per person and can schedule it as a private group class. Please contact Darren at d.blaney@berkshiresouth.org  to schedule a private class to accommodate your organization’s needs.

Narcan Training

Wednesday, November 8th

1:00 – 2:00pm

Instructor: Krystle Kincaid (Prevention Services Supervisor for Berkshire Harm Reduction) OR Tyler Bentz (Reductionist within Berkshire Harm Reduction)

Free For Everyone

Free For Everyone

This will be a community conversation and training about harm reduction and overdose prevention. Learn how harm reduction is a social justice movement and survival strategy. You will learn both overdose prevention and how to detect and respond to a possible overdose.

Choke Saver Training

Ages 13+

Monday, February 26th

9:00 -10:00am

Instructor: Berkshire Community College and the Berkshire Public Health Alliance of the Berkshire Regional Planning Commission

Free For Everyone

Free For Everyone

Free – Registration through the BCC website.

Choke Saver Training is a one-hour class providing participants with a two-year certification. The class is free — a huge cost savings for local businesses — and provides easy, regional access to training for all employers required to have Choke Saver certified individuals on site.

Youth Mental Health First Aid Training

Ages 18+

Monday, August 28th

9:00-5:00pm

Instructor: Chase Giroux and David Kieval

Free For Everyone

Free For Everyone

Free

Learn how to identify, understand, and respond to signs of mental health and substance use challenges among children and adolescents. Understand the symptoms of substance use challenges, learn how to interact during a crisis, and extend your knowledge of trauma, self-care, and the impact of social media and bullying.

Water Safety Instructor Training

Blended Learning Water Safety Instructor Training

August 11-13 9:00- 6:00 p.m.

This course is being offered to the Berkshire South Community by “Teach America to Swim” a fully licensed and insured Licensed Training Provider (LTP) of the American Red Cross. The cost for this course is $597.00  Registration is completed by visiting their website  

The American Red Cross Water Safety Instructor course is designed to prepare instructor candidates to plan, prepare, and teach Red Cross Learn-To-Swim and Water Safety programs. The course focuses on:

  • Teaching water safety concepts and swimming progressions
  • Lesson planning and management strategies Best-practice teaching methods for all swimmers
  • Techniques for building relationships with families

Prerequisites for In-Person Training:

  • Be at least 16 years old by the last day of the course
  • Pass and complete online training
  • Pass swim skills evaluation:
    • Demonstrate swimming skills consistent with the Stroke Performance Charts, Level 4, by swimming the following strokes:
      1. front crawl – 25 yards
      2. back crawl – 25 yards
      3. elementary backstroke – 25 yards
      4. side stroke – 25 yards
      5. breast stroke – 25 yards
      6. butterfly – 15 yards
    • Floating on back for one minute
    • Treading water for one minute

Registration for this class has ended

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Daxko is Berkshire South's new online registration system

To register, click the red “Register Here” link below the program title. You will be redirected to Daxko’s website, create a login, and complete registration!
For more detailed instructions on how to create a Daxko account, visit the links below.

Current and Past Members: Click here for instructions on how to set up your Daxko profile and connect your existing BSRCC account

Guests: See instructions on how to create a Guest Account.

If you are having difficulties using the Daxko online registration system, email Mark at mdelsignore@berkshiresouth.org. Please direct any program-related questions to the respective department manager or director.