SEA ISLE CITY – Each year, Beach Patrol organizations around the region sponsor Junior Lifeguard Programs to search for future recruits and give potential lifeguards a taste of what it’s really like to rescue swimmers on the beach. 2011 marked the twelfth successful year for the Sea Isle City Beach Patrol (SICBP) Junior Lifeguard Program, which took place from July 26 through Aug. 11. According to SICBP Lieutenant Dave Stearne, thirty-six young athletes, ages 14 to 17, participated in this year’s training course.
“The purpose of our Junior Lifeguard Program is to introduce basic lifesaving skills and rescue techniques as an educational and physical training foundation for prospective beach patrol employees,” said Stearne, a 23-year veteran with the SICBP. “During the program, instructors apply the principles of surf-bashing, swimming, ocean-rowing and other techniques of water rescue and beach management appropriate to the age and skill level of the participants.”
Following this year’s program, which was open to male and female applicants, the SICBP hosted the 2011 Junior Lifeguard Races on Sea Isle City’s 44th Street Beach. In addition to Sea Isle’s junior lifeguards, future recruits from the Upper Township and Longport Beach Patrols also participated in the event.
After a day filled with exciting competitions, including rowing, paddle-boarding, open swimming, kayaking, running and mock-rescue races, the Junior Lifeguards from Sea Isle’s and Longport’s Beach Patrols ended-up in a tie for first place, with Upper Township following close behind in second. However, regardless of “who won” and “who tied,” it was evident that all three beach patrol organizations were winners that day – and each also has a very bright future.
“The Junior Lifeguard Programs are very important,” said Sr. Lifeguard J.J.Walsh, a Longport native and 18-year member of the Longport Beach Patrol. “The younger we can start these kids and the more information we can put in their hands, the better our beach patrols and our beaches will be in the future. About 40% of Longport’s Junior Lifeguards go on the become beach patrol members – if not in Longport, in other beach patrols. No matter what the field, we can never invest enough in our youth.”
For additional information about the Sea Isle City Beach Patrol, visit www.sicbp.com; for Longport Beach Patrol, visit www.longport-nj.us; for Upper Township beach Patrol visit www.uppertownship.com/Beach_Patrol.
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Do you think it's appropriate for BLM to call for "Burning down the city" and "Black Vigilantes" because…
