Del Mar Junior Lifeguard and Little Turtle programs teach water safety and more

DEL MAR — Summer activities for children or teenagers include the Del Mar Junior Lifeguard Program conducted by Turtleguard, Inc.
Developed for ages 9 through 17, the two- and four-week sessions offer activities that aid in developing water safety skills, respect for the ocean environment and physical health. Key areas of instruction include lifeguarding, emergency medical services, surf instruction and water safety education.
Aspiring junior lifeguards, ages 7 and 8, can participate in their own age-appropriate, two-week Little Turtle Program, only offered through Del Mar. For program hours, dates and details, log onto delmarjg.com. Program and uniform on-line ordering and sign-ups began March 5
The Del Mar programs, coordinated by Turtle Randolph, owner and operator of Turtleguard, Inc., teach junior lifeguard students everything from recognition of rip currents to other potentially dangerous safety hazards associated with the beach environment, surfing and body boarding lessons, rescue techniques, first aid orientation, physical fitness and much more. Participants have the opportunity to learn team building and water safety skills that will help them throughout their lives.
The Little Turtle program centers on beach safety and fun. It serves as an introductory course to the junior lifeguard program and includes such topics as environmental awareness, ocean safety and educational beach games that help build confidence and ability around the water.
Del Mar’s beach topography distinguishes the programs from others in Southern California and allows for program diversity. Three miles of beaches offer the terrain and space for specialized junior lifeguard training including cliff rescue, helicopter rescue training seminars, compliments of Aerial Support to Regional Enforcement Agencies, or ASTREA, and coastline for a wide variety of on-sand and in-water training and activities.
The programs are hosts to several events throughout the summer offering competitively minded junior lifeguard participants the chance to test their newly honed skills. In addition, Parent/Family Participation Days enable the whole family to join in the experience and see firsthand what it takes to be a junior lifeguard for a day. The programs offer an approximate ratio of one instructor to every 10 students.
Both programs are committed to promoting self-esteem, teamwork, lifesaving emergency skills, general water safety, swimming, surfing, and oceanography. For more information, visit delmarjg.com or call (760) 944-1657.