Lifeguard Classes

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Archived Q&A and reviews ▼

Parent Q&A

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  • Lifeguarding in the summer

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    Nov 6, 2018

    My daughter is an active swimmer and has done some lifeguard training through Oakland Parks and Rec, but is interested in working as a lifeguard in the coming summer. I really want her to get good training as I feel like it's a big responsibility. Does anybody have any experience / suggestions / cautions, etc. on a good process and good jobs to seek out?

    Nov 6, 2018

    Berkeley Y offers a lifeguard certification class. There are skill tests at the end to get certified. Once she has the certification she will be able to get a job, and there will probably be some ongoing training.

    Nov 12, 2018

  • Lifeguard training opportunities in Berkeley

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    Jul 18, 2016

    Our 16-year-old is interested in being certified as a lifeguard (along with CPR etc). How does one go about locating such opportunities please?  We are in North Berkeley. Thanks!

    Jul 18, 2016

    The City of El Cerrito has a  lifeguard training course a few times a year at the El Cerrito Pool. I know they had one in June, not sure when the next one is. The Downtown Berkeley YMCA also had one earlier this summer. Check with the aquatics director to find out when they will offer it again. My 16 year old looked into it but didn't end up signing up for either one. I think they cost about $300

    Jul 23, 2016

     The East Bay Regional Parks system has many opportunities to learn life guarding skills, starting with their Junior Life Guard summer camp program, and going up into more advanced instruction for older teens. My son has been doing this for years and actually learned quite a few triage skills as a pre-teen. He's now 14 and an aid, which is like a CIT. I know there are older kids who get more intense training. It might be a little late for your son for this summer, but I encourage others who are interested to look into this program. It's well run. And, most importantly, they work hard to make it FUN, which is a big plus for my son.

    Jul 25, 2016

    Start with the Red Cross?   Add to the list First Aid.

    Aug 3, 2016

    YMCA.

    Aug 8, 2016

Archived Q&A and Reviews

Questions  

Lifeguard training/certificate for 16 year old

Sept 2011

Hi, Can anyone tell us where to get Lifeguard training with the certificate for our teen? We've queried the Berkeley YMCA and they only occasionally offer this (like, every 5 years or so). Any other ideas? I know there must be teens in/near Berkeley getting the certificate, but we'd love to know where! Thanks so much. Teen needs Lifeguard certification

I'd check in with the city of Berkeley Aquatics program (which I think is part of parks and rec). They should know where to go for this. Dianna

Try the East Bay Regional Parks District. http://www.ebparks.org/node/263 Anon

My son went to http://norcallifeguardtraining.com/home in Lafayette. She seems to offer only summer classes but may know of something else. I also had a difficult time finding a program. Ellen

The El Cerrito Swim Center is offering Lifeguard Training Classes starting Sept. 26th, Mon. and Wed. for 3 weeks and one all day Sat. on Oct 1. Also the Richmond swim center at Kennedy High starts on Sept 29th for 2 full weekends. Bridget Cooney Aquatics Supervisor City of El Cerrito 7007 Moeser Lane El Cerrito, CA 94530 Phone: (510) 559-7015 Fax: (510) 528-9413 bcooney [at] ci.el-cerrito.ca.us Another mom

Our 16 yr old son completed his lifeguard training at Mills College this summer. Laura

When we did this a few years ago, we found very few programs in the area. There was one at the Piedmont Pool, which we couldn't fit into the schedule. I took my daughter to the El Cerrito pool and that worked out fine. You might also try calling the Richmond Plunge, UC Berkeley and the City of Berkeley. Call every pool you can think of. At the time, lifeguarding was required to teach swimming to kids. My second kid taught swimming without the class. I don't know why that changed. anon

Junior Lifeguard camp through the East Bay Regional Parks

May 2011

I'm looking for feedback on the Junior Lifeguard camp through the East Bay Regional Parks. My 10 year old daughter is gung-ho, and an excellent swimmer, but my 9 year old son is not as enthusiastic. He is not as good a swimmer (but will easily pass the 25-yard swim test), and I'm thinking of pushing him to do it to get more comfortable in the water. Is it fun? Is it intense? Better for the 11-13 age range? Thanks! Melissa

My daughter attended the Junior Lifeguard camp at Lake Anza several years ago. It was very instructional and also very fun. The hard part was arriving in the early morning wind and fog and getting in the water. I think there were games in the afternoon. . . -Bee

My kids did Junior Lifeguard camp at Lake Temescal for a couple of summers -- it was a great camp for the older one (at ages 11 and 12), and I found it hard to find camps she liked at that age. Younger one, 9 and 10 when she went, liked it less, possibly because there were fewer kids that age, but she was okay with it. It fell into the category of ''camps I loved and my kids were okay with'' -- they work on swimming and fitness and learn some basic first aid and rescue skills; they get to hang out with cool lifeguards all day; they're in a beautiful place. (Every morning at dropoff I wistfully wished I could spend all day at the lake.) I also appreciated that it's reasonably priced and scheduled week by week so there's flexibility. Kathy