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Home My WebLink AboutSS2 - Junior Lifeguard ProgramCity of Newport Beach Junior Lifeguard Program ►,; r�iri► Newport Beach Fire Department - "Safety, Service, Professionalism" Established in 1984 with 50 Participants 215' Anniversary in 2004 with 1,200 participants Junior Lifeguard Program Basics • Eight week summer program • Monday — Thursday Classes • Morning Session 9 AM — 12 Noon • Meets on the south side of the Balboa Pier Participants are ages 9 — 15 Learn about Ocean Safety • All Instructors are NB Ocean Lifeguards 2 Why is our Junior Lifeguard Program so Popular and Successful? • Number One Priority SAFETY • Number Two Priority SAFETY • Number Three Priority SAFETY • QUALITY Program • Clear, Consistent and Achievable Expectatinns for Participants • instructors with highesl.(�taracterthat are excellent Rolc Models • Tremendous Support form our Parents 2004 Junior Lifeguard Instructors 3 Yearly Junior Lifeguard Calendar • October - Uniform Bids • November -Thank You & Info Post Card Mailed • December - Print Program Information • January - New Program Information Mailed • February — Swim Tests • March -- Registration & Uniform Order • April / May - Program Set -Up • June / July / August - Program is Session • September Program Evaluation JG Swim Tests • Required to pass every Year for Participation • Consists of Swimming 100 Yards in a swimming pool & Treading Water 3 Minutes D Group 9 veers -old - 2:00 or less C Group 10 - 1 r years -old - 1:50 or less $ Group 12 - 13 years-old - 1:45 or Jess A Group 14 -15 years -old - 1:40 or I= Seven Different Testing Dates during February M JG Registration • The registration process is explained orally and provided in writing to those who pass the Swim Test • Registration for Newport Beach Residents lasts for two weeks prior to Open Registration for non - residents (established 1999 by Council) • Three ID's Checked (CDL, Check, Bill, Car Reg.) • NO P.O. Box or Business Address Accepted • Only Parent or Guardian • Where Junior Lifeguard Participant Lives • One week Open Registration for Non Residents • if Space Available (Due to Safety 1,200 Participants) • Payment in Pull by Check and Uniform Size Selection Junior Lifeguard Participation 1984 -1997: Program grew from 50 participants to 1,000 participants (1997 was the first year we exceeded 1,100 pass the swim test) 1998 -2005: Program expanded to 1.200 participants (approx_ 1,300 passed the swim test each year since 1998; OVER 1,500 THIS YEAR) 5 Non - Resident Participation Year Available Space 2003 216 2004 185 2005 0 Current 2005 Registration -Full with 1,207 participants at the completion of Newport Beach Resident Registration. -Every Newport Beach Resident that Registered on time is in the 2005 JG Program. -The Reason we have a Maximum number of 1,200 Participants is for the Safety of Junior Lifeguards. *Past History shows that we have very few Drop - Outs, approximately 5 per year. *This is the reason for no "Waiting List". (False Hope) -We Cancelled Open Enrollment do to lack of space. 0 Answers to Some Questions... Q: "I heard that certain non - resident children got in the program because their grandparents live in Newport Beach ?" A: Children are allowed in during priority registration based upon "their" residency; not the grandparent. If the grandparent is the legal guardian and the child has their grandparent's home as their residency, then they are considered Newport Beach residents for priority registration purposes. Answers to more Questions... Q: "If I own a business or property in Newport Beach, or have a NB post office box, can I register my child during priority registration ?" A: These three conditions do not meet the residency test for the child as described previously. To put it simply, residency is based upon the "child's" residential. address. 7 Answers to more Questions... Q: "I know for a fact that people lied or forged documents that showed they are Newport Beach residents. I could have lied but chose not to." A: As described, we ask for three forms of documentation to determine residency. We will be glad to re- evaluate someone's residency status if provided a nom, Answers to more Questions... Q: "Our kids attend the same schools and use the same beach as Newport Beach kids. It isn't fair that our kids are treated different than NB kids." A: When we established a resident and non - resident fee, we were instructed by City Council to give preference to Newport Beach residents. Therefore, we have a two -tier fee structure and give NB residents two -weeks of priority registration before we open registration to non - residents. M Answers to more Questions... Q: "Our kids have been in the program for three years. It is a shame they cannot get priority over new program participants." A: We follow the NB resident rule first. After that, we believe that everyone should have an equal chance to get in our program. And we love new participants in the program as that gets us one new child who gets exposed to "our ocean safety messages. Answers to more Questions... Q: "Why put our kids through the swim test if you are not going to let them register or be placed on a waiting list." A: We used to do registration and then swim test. We found that we had many persons that could not pass the swim test. We then had to `im- register' participants and issue numerous refund checks. We now only register those who are guaranteed a position in the program. IN Options for 2005 JG Program -Conduct 2005 Program for 1,200 NB Residents Maintain Safety of Program Maintain Quality of Program -Add 100 -200 Students for 2005 Safety Concerns Quality Concerns Uniform Production Problems Additional Staff Needed , Effect on Beach Operations Additional Equipment Needed Long Term Plan For the Continued Success of our City of Newport Beach Junior Lifeguard Program Must Keep the Main Priorities in Focus: Number One Priority SAFETY -Number Two Priority SAFETY -Number Three Priority SAFETY .QUALITY Program 10 yY 1�Y • •� J� "�' � V. A I •t . � � !t4-,- 400 ON . i;rlow" 13 i