Adult Lifeguard Program Success

Article by Lori Larsen, Camrose Booster 

The City of Camrose Mayer Aquatic Centre recently added five new staff to their “pool” of valuable lifeguards.

The five lifeguards, Gordon Scott, Arlene Dylke, Scott Barker, Jen Zimmerman and Tera Wolsey, all successfully completed the nine-week Adult Lifeguard/Swim Instructor School that was offered free of charge to anyone (over 18 years of age) interested in a career in lifeguard/swim instructor and being part of the team at the Aquatic Centre.

The program began on April 18 and finished on June 15 and included instruction on lifeguarding and swim instructor.

Successful participant and new lifeguard Jen Zimmerman shared her thoughts on the experience.

“I have been a stay-at-home mom for almost 14 years, and my children are now old enough that I could go back into the workforce,” explained Jen.

Lifeguarding for Jen seemed like a natural fit because of her love for swimming and the fact that she was already a part of the Masters program for the Camrose Tsunami Club. 

“This program (Adult Lifeguard and Swim Instructor School) combined something I loved doing (swimming), learning new things, meeting new people and the hours are pretty ideal, mornings and afternoons while my children are in school.”

The program was instructed by four Mayer Aquatic Centre head lifeguards and, by Jen’s account, they did an amazing job of making it fun, relative and beneficial.

“We learned so many new things and it was great having our small group together. Five of us went through the entire program and two joined for the Swim Instructor program.

“We had a fantastic time and we became like a little family. We got to know each other well.”

With the training complete, the new lifeguards are able to begin working this summer, however, the bulk of their hours working will begin in September of this year and will go through until June 2024.

The goal is to be able to fill in gaps while other lifeguards (students) are not as available; however, Jen did say that they will be given the option to fill in some summer hours too, if they choose. 

“The beginning of the program was dedicated to just the Lifesaving Society’s National Lifeguarding program and included a degree of physical requirements,” explained Jen. “Including a 400-metre endurance swim, 20-pound brick carry and 50-metre sprint, along with practical training of saving people with a variety of injuries.”

She noted that prevention was one of the first and most important parts of their training. “We were trained to know all the rules and why they are in place so we can enforce those rules to prevent injury.”

After the completion of the lifeguarding session, the participants moved onto the Lifesaving Society’s Swim Instructor course.

“This course makes sure that we (instructors) accommodate people with all types of abilities and make it work for every student, for example, if someone is a visual learner, an auditory learner or they just want to get in and try.”

Successful completion of this part of the program qualified the students of the Adult Lifeguard/Swim Instructor School to provide instruction to the various levels of Lifesaving Society Parent & Tot; Lifesaving Society Preschool; Lifesaving Society Swim for Life and Lifesaving Society Canadian Swim Patrol.

“Once into the higher levels of the Swimmer and Swim Patrol, it includes an aspect of first aid and life saving,” noted Zimmerman. “This is all about self rescue, whether a person can swim to survive or help someone who needs help. Those are good skills to have.

“They (Mayer Aquatic Centre staff and administration) are very flexible and there are other opportunities that will arise.”

Eventually the new lifeguards will be given an option to level up as a lifeguard, become coaches to assist with the Lifesaving Society’s Lifesaving program or teach aqua fit classes, if they so choose.

Jen encouraged others who may have an interest in working as a lifeguard/swim instructor to partake in the program, should it be offered again.

“All the instructors and staff were wonderful. We all came in at different levels when we arrived and they got us all up to the level we needed to qualify."

[Pictured left to right, back row, are City of Camrose Aquatic Centre head lifeguards/instructors Carter Cannady, Sam Pennings and KB Dumas.
Centre row: City of Camrose Mayer Aquatic Centre manager Christine McCord, Mayer Aquatic Centre staff member Natasha Dewald, Adult  Lifeguard/Swim Instructor course recent graduate Jen Zimmerman, Mayer Aquatic Centre supervisor Lesley Heisler, Lifeguard/Swim Instructor course recent graduate Tera Wolsey and Mayer Aquatic Centre head lifeguard/instructor Carley Moon.
Front row: Lifeguard/Swim Instructor course recent graduates Gordon Scott, Arlene Dylke and Scott Barker.]