Junior Guards

Overview of Summer 2008

The Junior Guard program was taken to new heights this summer. The number of Junior Guards doubled. The amount of skills taught tripled and the fun had was infinite!

Management Staff

The Junior Guard program saw many faces of management. Each new person brought a little something different to the program made the summer unique. The summer started off with two Lead Guards over the program, Alexis Thompson and Breezy Diether. By the end of the summer, Breezy Diether worked as Pool Operator specialist over the Junior Guard program with Jenny Smith and Kristin Lyon as Lead Guards. Even though the management was constantly evolving, the kids were the top priority. At the end of the summer, each member of management knew all 100 names of each Junior Guard.

Training

The First Session of Junior Guards began with 66 kids at the first training week. Training began with all of the necessary skills needed to become a lifeguard. Patron surveillance, proper rotation and drowning recognition skills were all drilled into the kids on the first day. Day two they focused on a decision making model to help in sticky or unfamiliar situations. Day three was packed full with CPR, first aid, rescue breathing and AED skills. On finally, on the last day we taught them how to aid properly in a Learn-to-Swim lesson.

After training each Junior Guard was assigned a pool and schedule. They were taught work performance and responsibility. They were expected to come on time, complete their skills and learn right alongside professional lifeguards. This year their hands were full as they helped in countless lessons and guarded beside the lifeguards. With the Second session of Junior Guards, every single Junior Guard in the first session stayed on for the second session except five. Along with the old Junior Guards came an additional 28 Junior Guards to be spread out to all of the pools. By the end of the summer, the Junior Guard program had full retention of kids.

Monthly Attendence Reporting

We had a large number of hours reported by our Junior Guards this summer. In total, they worked: ........

Special Events

The Junior Guards were given opportunities to learn leadership and were prepared for a real work experience. Lead Junior Guards were chosen at each pool to help the young leaders develop the leadership qualities needed to one day lead a pool. In-services were held to reinforce training and parties were thrown to draw the Junior Guards together as a team. Guard games...in-services....

New Programming

rad tad newsletter.....

Sunrise Challenge Wells Rastas

At the first ever Annual Sunrise Challenge, Wells took ***Third place. The Sunrise Challenge was a chance for each pool to show their best skills, spirit and comradery. The events ranged from brain teasers to 0" Depth Spinals. Wells stepped up to the challenge and showed their incredible use of logic and physical fitness. As the Wells "Rastas" they were able to show their fellow lifeguards just what kind of employees they should be.

Wells Pool

The summer of 2008 has been an awesome and growing experience! Skills were sharpened and experiences were gained. Each new lifeguard was able to perfect their individual skills as well as become an efficient team.

This summer's management included Katie Pfister as Pool Operator along with Lead Guards, Pat and Danielle Havis. Through their hard work and relaxed atmosphere Wells pool provided a service to the Henderson Community. It was place for kids and families to gather to have fun and learn the importance of Water Safety.

The Water Safety Instructors at Wells took on enormous loads of lessons and as such were able to help kids in Wells area learn to swim. Many instructors taught in the morning and taught at night. Still, as the sun began to set the "Fishy in the Basket" song was just as loud and spirited.

Every Lifeguard, WSI and management staff worked together at Wells to make it a positive environment to work at and to visit as a community member.