2020 Junior Lifeguard registration will begin in spring

Dates and Hours - Session 1:

Monday Wed Friday 9 am to 12 pm

Tue and Thur JG comps hours vary TBD

Dates : July 6th until July 17th 2020

Safety Check Swim Test scheduled first Monday Session 1

Dates and Hours - Session 2:

Monday Wed Friday 9 am to 12 pm

Tue and Thur JG comps hours vary TBD

Dates : July 20th until July 31st 2020

Safety Check Swim Test scheduled first Monday Session 2

NEW for 2020 !! Session 3 (mini-session) JG - Intro to Personal Aquatic Risk Management

Every season some of our local parents have requested that Sea Bright hold an additional 3rd JG Session later in the summer. Well we listened and have developed a one week mini-session where we have combined basic aquatic risk management and ocean confidence training into one,late summer week long session. There will be no beach games or medical training for this session. JG's will spend 95% of their time in the water performing personal risk management by participating in activities like open ocean swimming, escaping rip currents and learning how to paddle, surf, body surf, boogie board and free dive under the supervision of our instructors and lifeguards. Make no mistake about it, this is not a session for the aquatically shy child. This session is a bridge between the JG curriculum and the Nipper program.

Monday thru Friday 9 am to 12 p

Dates: August 17th - August 21st 2020

Safety Check Swim Test First Thing on Monday Day 1.

Nipper Surf Lifesaving Program: Open Water Safety Apprenticeship

Nipper Tryouts and Swim Test - DATE- Thursday, July 30th 2020

Training Session runs Monday thru Friday 9 am to 4 pm

August 3rd thru Saturday August 15th 2020

Nipper SURF LIFESAVING TEST on Saturday August 15th 2020

JUNIOR LIFEGUARD PROGRAM Ages 7 - 16

Curriculum and Activities:

On Monday Wednesday and Friday the JGs will participate in water based activities, swimming and paddling in the open ocean. Activities will also include rescue and lifesaving drills. The primary goal of the Junior Lifeguard program is to prevent childhood drowning, it is our main focus.

Sea Bright's Junior Lifeguards will participate in numerous fun filled activities designed to teach them hydrology, rip current survival, water confidence, team work and ocean safety. JG's will spend a vast majority of their time in the Atlantic however outside "classroom" training in CPR and first aid will be scheduled throughout the session.

Competitions: NEW SCHEDULE

Sea Bright Junior Lifeguards have the opportunity to travel to other beaches for competitions with other local JG programs. NEW for 2020 there will be 3 scheduled comp field trips on Tuesday's and Thursdays.

Our Junior lifeguards have won several top placing medals and proven themselves as some of the fastest kids on the beach and in the water. This year we are shifting some of the focus of the program to local surf sport.

Safety Check Swim Test and Rip Current Survival:

Each Junior Lifeguard must take the JG swim test to begin their session. The swim test is held on the first Monday of each session and it's distance is based on age group appropriate criteria. The JG is only required to complete the swim. There is no time limit, however........

.....your child must be able to swim continuously for at least 6 minutes unassisted, this is our only safety requirement for entry into the program.

Whenever rip currents present in the Atlantic we seize the opportunity to put the junior guards in the water as much as possible. Our JG instructor staff will provide safety and intensive instruction on how to identify and escape a rip current. During our infamous "rip swims" our older JGs learn how to survive and escape even the biggest of rips with the aid of rescue fins and progressive skills instruction.

Our instructors teach our JG's how to navigate in the open water as all swimming events are held in the ocean. We do not teach the individual JG how to swim as a rule, they must come with basic swimming skills.

Nipper Junior Surf Lifesaving Program Ages 11 - 16

Junior Surf Lifesavers (the JG must complete one regular session and try-out)

Our Nipper Junior Lifesaving program is reserved for those Junior guards that have the ability and motivation to become ocean lifesavers and have the skills necessary to unequivocally manage their own personal aquatic risk factors. The term "Nipper" is a nickname used to refer to the younger surf club lifeguards (JGs) of New Zealand and Australia. Our program has adopted the same training philosophies as our Aussie and Kiwi colleagues. SBOR introduces a whole new level of purpose and accountability to our Nipper candidates . The American Nipper program was first drafted by Australian surf club lifeguard and a former USLA South East Region beach safety chief Gary Wise.

The Nippers will complete 40 hours of training and testing following much of the same standards as our rookie ocean lifeguards. Upon completion of training and only after testing, Nippers will be invited to volunteer on the weekends assisting our lifeguards on busy days.

Nippers have proven themselves since 2015 as a legitimate part of our end of season lifeguard operations. Nippers will never staff lifeguard stands by themselves and are are not responsible for water observation.

Medical Certification

Nippers will complete both American Heart Association Heart Saver First-Aid certification and CPR/AED certification courses. Nippers are also taught how to take a leadership roll during an emergency until lifeguards arrive and will progress through many realistic scenarios designed to teach them risk management, safety, confidence and prioritization.

Nipper Junior Surf Lifesaving Test

The goal of the lifesaving test is for the JG to earn their place on the beach as a public safety volunteer. The Nipper test is a comprehensive evaluation which will clear the JG for unlimited volunteer shifts assisting SBOR's lifeguards on busy days. The lifesaving test is designed to test the NIpper's ability to make basic water rescues and self rescue in less than desirable situations.

If the new Junior Surf Lifesaver chooses to volunteer, their hours are documented for any high school graduation requirment or college entry pre-requisite.

Nippers will be given first opportunity for employment as an Ocean Lifeguard once they reach their 16th birthday pending passing scores on all tests. .

CERTIFIED SEA BRIGHT OCEAN RESCUE