Lifeguards in the Making

THE SEA GIRT JUNIOR Lifeguard Program has been training future lifeguards since 1996. It is an engaging summer activity that is designed to educate future lifeguards about ocean safety, physical fitness and the values of teamwork and responsibility. The program offers hands-on training, all under the guidance of experienced lifeguards. It serves as both a fun summer experience and a steppingstone for those interested in pursuing future roles in beach safety.

Tim Harmon, Chief Lifeguard and Emergency Management Coordinator for the Borough of Sea Girt, along with Jillian Miller, Lifeguard Sergeant and Junior Lifeguard Program Director, shared insights about this remarkable program with Spring Lake Magazine.

What are the goals of the Junior Lifeguards program in Sea Girt?

The primary goals of the Sea Girt Junior Lifeguard Program are to help kids become confident and competent in open water swimming and respect the ever-changing nature of the ocean. Given the ocean’s unpredictable nature, we focus on educating junior lifeguards so they can safely navigate challenging conditions.

Participants also learn about the rescue equipment used by lifeguards and how to utilize and use them properly. In addition to safety training, the program includes a competitive component, where we teach advanced techniques to prepare our juniors for local, regional, national and even world championship-level competitions.

How is the program structured (daily schedule, age groups, levels)?

Junior Lifeguards: This core program meets three days a week from 8:00 to 9:30 a.m. and is divided into three age groups: Group A: 14 to 15-years-old, group B: 12 to 13-years-old, group C: 9 to 11-years-old.

Mini Guards: Designed for younger participants aged 6 to 8, this introductory program meets on Friday mornings from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m.

Iron Guard Group: Geared toward Junior Lifeguards who are more focused on competition, this group also meets three times per week with an emphasis on advanced training and preparation for competitive events. The age range mirrors that of the Junior Lifeguard Program.

There is an additional component of our Junior Guard programs: Safe surfing instruction by our accomplished lifeguards that surf, coach and officiate all levels of surfing and surf competitions.

We provide boards and instructors, and the kids bring the energy to learn how to surf. The program offers small group sessions and low participant to instructor ratios.

We also have our Grom Squad, which is a 5-person team of girls and 5-person team of boys that receive instruction geared to the competitive side of surfing.

How do you ensure participant safety during training and ocean activities?

We ask that our Junior Lifeguards wear a cap while swimming; we issue each Junior Lifeguard a yellow swim cap with our logo on it to ensure safety. We have designated lifeguards that are strictly on “Safety Patrol” in the water for instructors. Instructors will only send a certain number of Junior Lifeguards in the water at a time to keep a controlled ratio. This is often accomplished by having “heats” of a practice event or creating relay teams. Our surf school participants are issued a rash guard to identify them in the water.

What is the typical progression for kids in the program—do many become full lifeguards? Do kids come back each year?

Yes, the majority of our newly hired lifeguards each year have come through our Junior Lifeguard Program. Kids tend to come back each year, and the ultimate goal is to become a Sea Girt Lifeguard.

Our program in Sea Girt is one of the larger programs on the east coast, and year after year has some of the top competitors at regional and national competitions. Last year we were fortunate to put three of our Junior Guards on the Junior National Team that competed in Australia at World Junior Championships. Our kids have been selected to participate on the World Junior Teams seven times over the past 10 years.

Are there competitions or special events in which Junior Lifeguards participate?

Yes, there are five local tournaments each summer, one regional tournament, one national tournament and one international level tournament. The local tournaments are held in Spring Lake, Long Branch, Belmar, Ocean Grove and Manasquan. Sea Girt will host the regional tournament, and the national tournament will be held in Huntington Beach, California this year.

What qualities do you look to instill in the Junior Lifeguards beyond fitness?

We look to instill good teamwork, respect for each other, respect for the ocean and positive influence for our community.

How can families enroll, and how quickly does the program fill up?

Our program registration is online only via a registration program from Active Network. We post the registration link on our website and put an email out to the past participants. The mini guard program filled up within the first week, and the other programs still have availability, but historically sell out every summer. Program information can be found at seagirtbeachpatrol.org.

Are there any new additions or changes planned for this year’s program?

Big additions this year will be Junior Lifeguard of the Week, updated prizes and updated weekly themes. These include Christmas in July, ice cream truck days, superhero day, patriotic week and our yearly partnership with John Wayne Skin Cancer Foundation, who provides the kids with a cool hat, sun safety education and some sunscreen.

What is the end goal for participants?

The ultimate goal of the program is to become comfortable with the ocean and beachfront/ocean environment. Seeing the kids have fun daily and becoming proficient in the use of the Junior Lifeguard Equipment and ultimately become a Sea Girt Lifeguard when they are old enough to try out.

Many kids come to the program at age 5 or 6 years old and continue through age 15. At 16, they are eligible to become Sea Girt Lifeguards, and many do just that.

Find out more about the Junior Guards Program at seagirtbeachpatrol.org or on Instagram @sgjuniorguards.

BY DANIELLE KUTCHER