Parent Handbook

Program Hours

Regular Program:  9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Monday – Friday.

Drop off should not occur before 830am and pick up no later than 330pm.

Any exceptions to normal program hours will be announced for field trips and other special events

Contacts

Program Administrator:

R. Chris Egan (robert.egan@parks.ca.gov)

(714) 292-6381

 

Lead Instructor:

Ryan Allen (ryan.allen@parks.ca.gov)

(949) 796-0729

What To Bring

Junior lifeguards should be equipped with the following for each day of the program:

  • All mandatory uniform articles (please make sure are articles are clearly marked)
  • Footwear (sandals are OK)
  • Sunscreen (please apply at least 15 minutes prior to arrival and encourage reapplication)
  • Water
  • Food (lunch will take place daily from approximately 1200-1240pm)
  • Towel
  • Some type of bag to store possessions when engaged in other activities
  • Swim fins

Transportation

Jr. Lifeguard group activityIt is the sole responsibility of each parent or guardian to ensure safe travel for their child(ren) to and from the Junior Lifeguard Program.  California State Parks and the Junior Lifeguard Program are not responsible for students outside of scheduled program hours and activities. The Program does not certify parent carpools. The only Program provided transportation is by licensed commercial carriers hired by the Program for group travel to special activities.

Parents are expected to be prompt at dropping-off and picking-up their Junior Lifeguards. Parents are responsible for their children immediately prior to and immediately following scheduled program hours.  If you would like your child to ride their bicycle to/from JG’s, please write a note at the beginning of the session advising us of this.

A PICK UP AND DROP OFF PASS WILL BE ISSUED FOR ACCESSING THE PARK FOR PICK UP AND DROP OFF. This pass can be picked up before the program starts or the first day of instruction (this is NOT a valid day use pass).

Attendance

Attendance is taken twice daily (first thing in the AM and after lunch). Attendance is particularly important if your child will be attempting to qualify for the Ironguard award. If your child is arriving late, walk them out to the beach and personally notify an instructor of their presence.  Please send a note with your child if they will be leaving early so their instructor can have them prepared to leave when you arrive.

Discipline

Student Discipline for Minor Incidents:

For the Junior Lifeguard Program to be successful, students must exhibit behavior that is respectful of our staff, other students, our equipment and facilities.  Group activities are vital to our program.  A student that is disruptive to group activities and disrespectful to instructors diminishes the enjoyment and education of the other students.

The intent of discipline is to instruct the student so as to gain compliance with acceptable behavior norms.  Therefore, please familiarize your Junior Lifeguard with the following expected behaviors:

  • Arriving on time and being promptly picked up from the program
  • Respect of Instructors and other staff
  • Respect of other students: no shoving, hitting or name-calling
  • Respect of the facilities, equipment and property of others
  • Cooperation with others
  • Practice good sportsmanship
  • Follow all safety rules and all instructions
  • Listen quietly to directions / announcements
  • Participate in regular program activities

The progressive steps of discipline are as follows:

  1. When a minor discipline situation occurs, the student will be counseled about the situation and given an explanation of what behavior change is expected. 

  2. If a subsequent incident occurs, the student will be asked to take a "TIME OUT" or "TAKE A LAP". A "TIME OUT" is a period of five to ten minutes that the student spends quietly reflecting on the incident. A "TAKE A LAP" is a supervised swim or run of reasonable distance. After the "TIME OUT" or "TAKE A LAP" the student is allowed to rejoin the group activity. A “TIME OUT” could also be in the form of having a student sit out of an activity in which the rest of his group is participating in.

  3. When a student has a series of "TIME OUT’s” or "TAKE A LAP’s” in the same day or a series of discipline situations over several days, the Lead Instructor will inform the youth's parent or guardian about the situation. 

  4. When a student continually disregards the Instructors or shows little or no improvement with steps 1 through 3, the student will be suspended from the program for one day. The parent or guardian of the student will be informed that the student has been suspended. There will be no prorated refund of fees. 

  5. If after suspension the student's behavior is still not acceptable, the parent or guardian of the student will be informed that the student may no longer attend any of the program's activities. There will be no refund of fees.

Student Discipline for Major Incidents:

Major first time incidents will result in an immediate suspension (1-3 days).  Major incidents would include:

  • Insubordination
  • Fighting with another student or other person
  • Unlawful or non-consensual touching of another person
  • Use of any illegal substance
  • Stealing the property of another
  • Vandalism of equipment or facilities
  • Throwing rocks, sand or food at other students, wildlife or property of others
  • Use of cell phone to engage in any inappropriate conduct.
  • Other conduct which brings disrespect on the Jr. Lifeguards or the State of California
  • Any time a major behavior problem occurs, the Aquatic Program Supervisor shall be advised.

Participation in Activities

Students are EXPECTED TO PARTICIPATE in all regular program activities. Although is possible for students to not complete some activities, it is necessary that they are willing participants in all activities. If students do not participate in some activities this will fall into the disciplinary procedures and staff will follow protocols outlined in the discipline policy

Group Determination

Jr. Lifeguard group activityInitial group assignments will be determined by a participants respective age. The three groups of the program consist of the following: C Group (9–10 year-old), B Group (11-12 year old), A group (13-15 year old). Over the course of the first few days of the program, instructors will make evaluation to attempt to group like skilled participants for the final grouping of the four-week sessions. There will be a number of activities that are done by the entire group of like aged participants. No group request should be made by any parents of participants in the junior lifeguard program.

assignments for each child (A, B or C) will be made by the program instructors.  Grouping is based primarily on age and skill level in the ocean. However, there may be other factors which influence your child’s grouping.  If you have questions please feel free to contact the program coordinator.

Refund Policy

  • If a participant must cancel for any reason prior to 7 calendar days of the start date of the training a $50.00 cancellation fee will apply.
  • If a participant must drop out of the training for any reason within 7 calendar days after the training has started a 50% refund will be issued.
  • If a participant must drop out of the training after 7 calendar days of the start date of the training no refund will be issued.
  • If a participant is injured while participating in the training a pro-rated refund will be issued based on the number of training days that were started.
  • No refund will be issued to any participant that is suspended or expelled from training for disciplinary reasons.
  • There is no refund for uniform items.

Use of Personal Equipment

No personal equipment will be allowed unless otherwise noted by a Lead Instructor. Traditionally, Bolsa (or HB) Surf Day is the only day where JG’s are encouraged to bring their own equipment. We have plenty of equipment for the JG’s to use.

Notice of Nondiscriminatory Policy

The California State Junior Lifeguard program admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. The state does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and ethnic origin in administration of educational policies, admissions policies, scholarshp, athletic and other administered programs.

Ironguard

The IRONGUARD award is designed to help encourage an environment in which junior lifeguards will challenge themselves to participate at a high level in all aspects of the program. JGs will compete in challenge events (run, run-swim-run, swim, paddleboard, intercrew competition) and point values will be assigned and awarded based on placing in these events. Junior guards will be given an exit exam and those qualifying for IRONGUARD will need to get a score above a pre-established threshold. Those attempting to qualify for IRONGUARD will not be allowed to miss more that three days of the program.

Driving In The Park

POSTED SPEED LIMIT WITHIN THE STATE PARK IS 15MPH. DO NOT SPEED. THERE ARE A HIGH CONCENTRATION OF KIDS IN THIS AREA. DO NOT SPEED!