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It is the responsibility of each parent or guardian to ensure safe travel for their child to and from the designated Junior Lifeguard Program meeting area. Please discuss, in advance, a designated plan with your child so they understand where, when, and whom to meet.
The City of Seal Beach and the Junior Lifeguard Program are not responsible for participants outside of scheduled Program hours and activities. Parents or guardians are responsible for their children immediately prior to and immediately following scheduled program hours.
Parents or guardians are expected to be prompt when dropping off and picking up their child(ren). The program staff understands there may be some situations beyond a person's control which will cause them to arrive late to pick up their child. In the event a situation arises which will make you more than 20 minutes late, please make every attempt to notify the Program staff.
The Junior Lifeguards are instructed by qualified Ocean Lifeguards. All of the instructors have successfully completed an intensive United States Lifesaving Association (USLA) certified Open Water Lifeguard training course. Instructors are also certified in Emergency First Aid and CPR for the Professional Rescuer. Many of the instructors have prior experience working with children either as coaches or teachers.
During the period of instruction, participants are also under the watchful eye of on-duty beach lifeguards in addition to the close supervision provided by the instructors.
The Junior Lifeguard Program is not a day care program, it requires daily participation in rigorous physical activity (i.e. running and swimming). If your child is not fully able to participate due to an injury or illness which inhibits participation in any given activity please do not send your child to Junior Lifeguards. Instructors cannot maintain adequate supervision of their group when there is not full participation in each activity.
All program participants must be able to swim, enter the ocean readily, and participate in water activities. Parents should be aware that ocean swims are a daily part of the program. Your child will be required to swim the distance of the pier at least once during the course of the program. During the first week, all Junior Guards must demonstrate the ability to enter the water readily and without hesitation, as well as the ability to swim a given distance without requiring instructor assistance. If, after the first week, your child cannot or does not demonstrate these abilities you will be asked to reconsider your child's participation in the Program.
Attendance is taken daily for all groups in the Junior Lifeguard Program. Regular attendance is encouraged and will allow participants to fully benefit from the program. However, if your child cannot fully participate in the day's activities please do not send your child to Junior Guards. Please notify your child's instructor if your child will be absent more than two days in a row. When your child returns from an absence please send a written note with him or her.
Participants are instructed on important ocean skills and physical conditioning techniques that are introduced on a daily basis and build cumulatively throughout the seven-week program. Extended absences of more than one week are not recommended. Program fees will not be prorated or refunded for extended absences.
For the Junior Lifeguard Program to be successful, participants must exhibit behavior that is respectful of staff and other participants as well as our equipment and facilities. Group activities are vital to our program. A student who is disruptive to group activities and disrespectful to instructors diminishes the enjoyment and education of the other participants.
The intent of discipline is to gain compliance while instructing the student in acceptable behavior. On the first day of the program your child will be given a copy of the "General Orders". The instructor will go over each of the rules with your child. Both you and your child will be asked to sign and return the "General Orders" to your child's instructor. The following expected behaviors comprise the "General Orders". Please familiarize your child and yourself with the "General Orders".
The Seal Beach Junior Lifeguard staff follows a progressive discipline procedure. The steps for a minor discipline situation are as follows:
Major first-time incidents may progress the participant directly to step 4 or 5 of the above disciplinary process. Major incidents include:
Any time a major behavioral problem or incident occurs, the Lifeguard Captain shall be advised.
In addition to the age groups previously mentioned, Junior Lifeguard participants will be divided into individual instructor led groups. These groups will be determined primarily by physical ability. In order to facilitate adequate supervision of each participant during daily activities it is necessary that each group member be of similar ability.
Switching groups so that participants may be with their friends will not be considered.
All Junior Lifeguards will report to the designated meeting area at 9:00 a.m. SHARP and will leave the beach at 12:00 noon. Parents and guardians are responsible for their children after program hours.
All Junior Lifeguards are expected to participate in ALL activities (excluding field trips and/or Regionals). Participants should be on time, in full uniform, and prepared for their session on the beach (i.e. sand, sun, fog, cold weather, exercise, lectures, etc.). Daily, Junior Lifeguards should: