Junior Lifeguard Club

The Junior Lifeguard Club (JLC) offers serious fun for kids 8 years and up who can swim at least 25m and tread water for 2 minutes. The Jr. Lifeguard Club provides an action-packed challenge for kids who love the water but who want more than "lessons."

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The Jr. Lifeguard Club is for quick learners, those between levels or programs who thrive in an energetic learning environment.

Action Packed fun

More action, more options, more fun. The Junior Lifeguard Club offers a unique aquatic alternative for those kids who love the water and who want more than "lessons."

The Junior Lifeguard Club keeps kids interested and active in aquatics - especially quick learners and those caught between levels. The Junior Lifeguard Club is perfect for youth who thrive in an energetic learning environment.

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JLC - manikin tow

PERSONAL CHALLENGES FOR PERSONAL BESTS

The Junior Lifeguard Club is an alternative to traditional test-sheet-based aquatic programs. The Club stresses fun and aquatic skill development based on personal-best achievement. Building on skills they already have, Junior Lifeguard Club members work to develop and improve swimming and other aquatic skills with emphasis on: Swimming skills, Lifesaving skills, Lifesaving knowledge, Leadership & teamwork, Community education, Competition, Personal fitness.

Leadership development - including teamwork and decision-making skills - is an important aspect of the Junior Lifeguard Club. Members apprentice with working instructors and lifeguards.

As part of the Junior Lifeguard Club's service to the community, Club members will create and execute their own Water Smart® community education projects.

The Junior Lifeguard Club is water-based - most of the activities happen in the water. These activities may be supplemented with dry-land fun or community education projects, displays and demonstrations.

FRIENDS CAN JOIN TOGETHER

The Junior Lifeguard Club is designed for members with differing abilities. Friends (and siblings) can join the Junior Lifeguard Club together even if they are of different ages and different abilities.

The Club welcomes members between 8 and 15 years of age as long as they can meet the Society's Swim to Survive® standard, i.e., roll into deep water, tread water for 1 minute and swim at least 50 metres.

LOTS OF RECOGNITION

There is no "failure" in the Junior Lifeguard Club. Members enjoy high activity challenges in a learning environment where personal effort and success are recognized.

WaterLog: Club members - and their parents - can track individual progress in aquatic skills, lifesaving knowledge and activities that promote both leadership and teamwork in their personal Waterlog using recognition seals.

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You can earn 7 different kinds of Recognition Seals for:

  • Community Education
  • Leadership/Teamwork
  • Lifesaving Knowledge
  • Lifesaving Skills
  • Swimming Skills
  • Fitness
  • Competition

You can also earn Lifesaving Awards without leaving the Club:

  • Canadian Swim Patrol Awards - Rookie Patrol, Ranger Patrol, Star Patrol
  • Lifesaving Fitness - Bronze, Silver, or Gold levels.

JLC COACHES

The Junior Lifeguard Club is led by a Junior Lifeguard Club Coach. Junior Lifeguard Club Coach must:

  • be a current Lifesaving Instructor
  • hold a current lifeguard certificate
  • have lifeguarding experience

We recommend that Junior Lifeguard Club Coaches:

  • have previous coaching or leadership experience such as Scouting, Guides, or other children or youth groups
  • have experience in a lifeguard team as an organizer, competitor or coach
  • be a certified Lifesaving Sport Coach Level 1

EASY ADMINISTRATION

There are no test sheets and a minimum of paperwork in the Junior Lifeguard Club.

Each Junior Lifeguard Club Member must have a WaterLog. Affiliate members purchase Junior Lifeguard Club WaterLogs, the Recognition Seals and Award Seals from the Lifesaving Society.

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Junior Lifeguard Club Members purchase their WaterLogs from the affiliate when they join the Club. The Club member mails the Club Member Registration Card (found in the WaterLog) to the Lifesaving Society's office to register their membership in the Junior Lifeguard Club. The Society mails the Junior Lifeguard Club Membership Seal - to be affixed to the inside front cover of the WaterLog - directly to each member.