join our team of Leaders

get involved with swam

At SWAM, volunteers are the heart of everything we do. From the pool deck to behind the scenes, our student-led programs are run entirely by compassionate, driven individuals who care about making a difference.

Whether you want to teach swim lessons, help organize a local chapter, or support national initiatives, we’d love to have you on our team.

volunteer Opportunities

Interested in joining our team? We have the following positions available:

    • Teach one-on-one swimming lessons to children with disabilities

    • No experience required, we provide training

    • Must be comfortable in the water, patient and enthusiastic

    • Reach out to your local chapter for more information!

    • Help run your local chapter

    • Executive roles may include communications, training or fundraising

    • Great leadership opportunity

    • Reach out to your local chapter for more information!

    • Contribute to national-level projects like communications, training materials, or fundraising

    • Ideal for alumni or students not near a chapter

    • Email canada@swamcanada.ca for more information!

SWAM Ottawa instructors at an in-water training session

how to get started

  1. Find your local chapter

  2. Complete the volunteer application

  3. Attend training sessions

  4. Get paired with a swimmer and start teaching!

volunteers in a lecture hall with nametags and aquatic emojis overlayed
shark mascot at the front of a university lecture hall

what you’ll learn

Volunteering with SWAM is more than just swim instruction. You’ll gain:

  • Inclusive teaching strategies

  • Leadership & communication skills

  • Teamwork & adaptability

  • A meaningful connection to your community

ready to dive in? Find a chapter to volunteer.

Instructor testimonials

  • “I love the casual and comfortable environment that SWAM 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.”

    — SWAM Instructor

  • "Being an instructor with SWAM has been one of the most rewarding activities I’ve partaken in at university. I look forward to lessons every week and have formed amazing bonds with my child and his family. It is amazing to feel like you are making a difference.”

    — SWAM Instructor

  • “It’s hard to narrow down my love of this program to just one aspect, but I’d say it’s seeing how much joy our program brings to the countless children and their families we support. to be able to brighten up their weeks by something as simple as half an hour of fun in the water…it’s more meaningful and important than words can say.”

    — SWAM Instructor

volunteers smiling and taking a selfie underwater
volunteers smiling with a shark mascot lying across the floor
SWAM volunteers at a softball game
SWAM Ottawa volunteers smiling and making certificates for their swimmers
SWAM Kingston volunteers spelling "SWAM" with their hands
three volunteers smiling in the water
SWAM Ottawa volunteers swimming at an in-water training
instructors standing in a circle in the water during a training session
instructors smiling on the pool deck with a sign that says "just keep swimming"