Junior Lifeguards

Solana Beach Junior Lifeguard Program (SBJG)

The Solana Beach Junior Lifeguard Program has a long history of serving our community by providing youth, ages 7-16, with an ocean safety program that combines athletics, ocean-related curriculum, and fun. 

2024 REGISTER HERE!!

We offer four program options based on age, ability, and commitment. Too young for our programs? Check out the Summer Day Camps!    

Junior Lifeguard & Grom Programs

Junior Lifeguard Program

The Junior Lifeguard program serves participants ages 9-16. No experience necessary. The curriculum focuses on beach and ocean safety, ocean swimming techniques, beach-related first aid and CPR, team building activities, wave riding, lifeguard equipment and rescue techniques, competition, free diving, study of the marine environment, and physical fitness. 

Grom Program

The Grom program serves all participants ages 7-8. This is an introductory program with a focus on beach and ocean safety, ocean swimming techniques, basic lifeguard rescue and first aid, team building activities, wave riding, and physical fitness. 

Session Cost

City residents: $359
Non-resident: $410 

Too young for our programs? Check out the Summer Day Camps!

2024 Session Schedule

The programs offered this year are four, two-week sessions of the Junior Lifeguard and Grom Programs. Both AM (morning) and PM (afternoon) sessions will be offered individually. SBJL programs are options based on age, ability, and commitment. Please view the program information & requirements before registering for any of these programs. 

Each session will meet Monday-Friday, either from 8:00 AM-11:30 AM (morning) or 12:00 Noon to 3:30 PM (afternoon). The only exception is Session 2, which not meet on July 4^th because of the 4^th of July Holiday. This will be the only session with nine meeting dates instead of ten.

2024 Session Schedule

Session	Date	Times
JG/Grom 1AM	June 10 – June 21	8:00 AM – 11:30 AM
JG/Grom 1PM	June 10 – June 21	12:00 PM – 3:30 PM
JG/Grom 2 AM	June 24 – July 5 (no meeting on 7/4)	8:00 AM – 11:30 AM
JG/Grom 2PM	June 24 – July 5 (no meeting on 7/4)	12:00 PM – 3:30 PM
JG/Grom 3AM	July 8 – July 19	8:00 AM – 11:30 AM
JG/Grom 3PM	July 8 – July 19	12:00 PM – 3:30 PM
JG/Grom 4AM	July 22 – Aug 2	8:00 AM – 11:30 AM
JG/Grom 4PM	July 22 – Aug 2	12:00 PM – 3:30 PM

Session Cost

City residents: $359
Non-resident: $410

Enrollment & Registration

Registration opens on Saturday, March 30^th, 2024 at 9 AM for all participants

• All registrations will be done online by the customers themselves. No in-person or telephone enrollments. 
• For registration assistance, call 858-720-4445 or email us at jrguard@cosb.org. If we are not in the office, please leave us a message and we will return you call as quickly as we can. 
• If the specific session that you are applying for is full, then you will be given the option to be put on a wait list. We do occasionally have cancellations, in which case wait-listed applicants will be contacted in the order of the list.
• Once a session is full, we cannot accommodate requests to change into that session, so please be careful to choose the correct session when registering.

Steps for Online Registration

Step 1: Registration Login

• Click here to be taken to the Registration screen managed by an outside vendor
• Login in to your existing account or create a new one

Step 2: Select an Activity and Session

• Select the "Activities" menu item in the upper left of the screen 
• Select "Junior Lifeguards"
• Click on the session you would like to enroll in
• Add to the Shopping Cart

Step 3: Select Participant and Make Payment

• Select Participant
• Answer the four activity questions
• Review Waivers and mark the box that you have read them, then click “Next”
• Enter payment then click “Pay and Finish”

Step 4: Registration Completion

• You will receive a welcome email from us within two weeks of registering with specific information about orientation, uniforms, daily operations, expectations, and helpful hints.
• Attached to that email will be forms that must be returned to our office prior to the first day of attendance. 

Policies & Consent Forms

• Waiver Consent Form
• Cancellation Policy
• Participant Medication Policy

Swim Test Requirements

The following participants must pass a swim test according to their age group:

• All first time Groms.
• All first time Junior Lifeguards (who haven't participated in the Grom program before).

If you have been a participant in any of our programs in the past, you WILL NOT need to take a swim test.

We would still like to communicate the need for proficient swimming skills for each participant. If your child is not a proficient ocean swimmer, please look into private swim lessons to get your child up to speed. We have listed the requirements for this years swimming test criteria below; please try to match these skills in your own setting before testing.

Swim Test Requirements

	Distance Swim	Underwater	Tread Water
Grom (ages 7-8)	50 yds in 2:30	None	None
JG (ages 9-11)	100 yds in 3:00	5 yds	3 minutes
JG (ages 12-13)	100 yds in 2:45	5 yds	3 minutes
JG (ages 14-16)	100 yds in 2:30	5 yds	3 minutes

2024 Swim Test Dates and Times: (For 2024)

• Saturday, April 20th from 3:30-6:15 PM
• Saturday, May 18 from 3:30-6:15 PM

Tests will be conducted at the San Dieguito Boys and Girls Club located at 533 Lomas Santa Fe Drive, Solana Beach, CA, 92075. 

If you are unable to attend one of the swim test dates above, you may take a drop in test at the San Dieguito Boys and Girls club on Saturday or Sunday between the hours of 12pm and 2pm for 15 dollars. There will be no appointments for drop in tests so please do not call requesting one. Please note the following weekends that the Boys and Girls Club will not be offering drop in testing: May 25th and 26th, June 1st and 2nd, June 8th and 9th. Please scan and email the completed swim test card to jrguard@cosb.org. The Boys and Girls Club also offers a wide variety of swim lessons that can help your child prepare for the Junior Lifeguard Program. 

Drop Off & Pick Up

All Junior Lifeguards meet on the beach approximately ½ mile south of Fletcher Cove, just north of the base of the stairs at the Seascape Public access. The access is as stairway located at 501 S. Sierra Ave. Older Junior Lifeguards may access the beach via Fletcher Cove and walk south, tide permitting.  

The drop off / pick up location for younger lifeguards is at the public parking lot across the street and south of the Seascape Public Access.  We use the public lot next to the Fit Gym parking lot. Please do not use the Fit Gym lot as this disrupts their business practices and may jeopardize our use of the public lot.  Please follow the flow of traffic as directed by our staff to ensure the safety and efficiency of the process.  

Scholarships

We will be continuing our Scholarship Program, but we will be follow rigid guidelines to ensure fairness. We are awarding scholarships on a need basis. The scholarship application window will be open from March 30th through April 30th. For more information, please check out the Scholarships page.

Uniforms

Uniforms help to identify the participants to both our department as well as the public. Traditionally, the uniform also serves as a sense of pride to the participants.  

All Junior Lifeguards (Groms & Junior Lifeguards) must be in uniform each day to participate in the program. The required uniform is a plain red bathing suit (trunks for boys, one-piece or two-piece for girls) and the white program t-shirt. 

For more information, please check out the Uniforms page.

FAQs

For the full list of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs), please check out the FAQs page.

Contact Us

Phone: (858) 720-4445

Email: jrguard@cosb.org

Address: 111 S. Sierra Avenue Solana Beach, CA 92075

Office & Store Hours: By appointment only, please email us for info

THANK YOU FOR YOUR ONGOING SUPPORT WITH SBJGs!