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+
Saturday, January 18th 9am-4:30pm
**Optional Babysitter Training Plus Pediatric CPR/First Aid on Sunday, January 19th 9am-1:30pm.
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 Lifeguard Instructor (LGI) Certification
Ages 17+
October 25 – 27
Friday, 5:30 – 8pm
Saturday & Sunday, 8am – 5pm
Registration Deadline: October 18th
Instructor: Laura Harner
Members: $350.00
Guests: $400.00
Interested in advancing your career in Aquatics? This course prepares you to teach Red Cross Lifeguard classes in the new 2024 program. LGI Review Option for those who are already certified LGIs. For inquiries about how to register, contact Darren Blaney at d.blaney@berkshiresouth.org.
Requirements: current and valid Red Cross Lifeguard Certification.
Red Cross Lifeguarding
with CPR, First Aid, & AED
January 10th – 12th, 2025
Registration Deadline:Â Â January 2nd
Ages 15+
Friday, January 10th
5-8PM
Saturday, January 11th
8AM-5PM
& Sunday, January 12th
8AM-5PM
Instructor: Â Darren Blaney
Please reach out to Darren Blaney at d.blaney@berkshiresouth.org with any questions
FREE FOR APPROVED EMPLOYEES
Non-Employee Costs:
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:
- Complete 7-8 hours of online work
- Complete precertification requirements -300-yard non-stop swim using freestyle (front crawl) or breaststroke with rhythmic breathing, or a combination of the two
- 2 minute water tread using legs only
- 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.Â
- Complete in-person skill sessions and pass written exams
Registration Deadline: September 12th, 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.
Lifeguard Employee Training Benefits:
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 100 hours within the calendar year from the date of completing the course.
New Employees:
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 (following course completion date), and remain in good standing at their one-year work anniversary.
Lifeguard Certification with CPR, First Aid, AED and Waterfront Skills
Upcoming Class Dates: TBD
Instructor: Darren Blaney
Ages 15+
July 26, 5-8PM
July 27 & July 28, 9AM-5PM
July 30, 2PM-6PM (waterfront portion)
**Registration Deadline to 7/20**
FREE FOR APPROVED EMPLOYEES
Non-Employee Costs:
Members $335
Guests $385
Waterfront Certification Requirements:
- Complete 7-8 hours of online work
- 550-yard non-stop swim using freestyle (front crawl) or breaststroke with rhythmic breathing, or a combination of the two
- 2 minute water tread using legs only
- 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
- 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
- Â Complete in-person skill sessions and pass written exams
Registration Deadline: September 12th, 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.
Lifeguard Employee Training benefits:
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 100 hours within a calendar year from the date of completing the course.
Â
New Employees:
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 (following course completion date), and remain in good standing at their one-year work anniversary.
Lifeguard Recertification Class
Dates Coming Soon
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.Â
Please email a copy of your Red Cross Certification to Darren Blaney at d.blaney@berkshiresouth.org,
Lifeguard Employee Training Benefits:
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 100 hours within the calendar year from the date of completing the course.
Â
New Employees:
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 (following course completion date), and remain in good standing at their one-year work anniversary.
First Aid and CPR Courses
Red Cross Adult & Pediatric CPR, First Aid, & AED Certification
Ages 15+
Wednesday, December 4th, 4:30-7:00PM
Instructor: Beignyreih Person
Registration Deadline: Nov 27th
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
*Not refundable for failure to complete the blended learning work or in-person skills session.
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
Narcan Training
Monday, August 19th
12:00 – 1:00 PM
Instructor:Â Berkshire Harm Reduction
Free For Everyone
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 – 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
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 Â
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:
- front crawl – 25 yards
- back crawl – 25 yards
- elementary backstroke – 25 yards
- side stroke – 25 yards
- breast stroke – 25 yards
- butterfly – 15 yards
- Floating on back for one minute
- Treading water for one minute
- Demonstrate swimming skills consistent with the Stroke Performance Charts, Level 4, by swimming the following strokes:
Registration for this class has ended