Future lifeguards go to camp at community pool
Junior lifeguard camp is currently happening at the North Fort Myers Community Pool. For two weeks, children 10 to 14 explore what it takes to be a lifeguard.
The two-week course, which is part of the Lee County summer camp program, costs $100 per child and also is offered in San Carlos Park, Lehigh, and Pine Island in their community pools.
The latter two will hold their camps July 8 to 19.
Paul Rapp, the pool’s supervisor, said the course is a feeder program for Lee County for when youths actually become lifeguards at age 16.
“It’s a specialty camp that we wanted to add on and be able to have something special for the kids,” Rapp said. “Last year we had two one-week camps. This year we put all the age groups together and made one two-week camp.”
In the two days they were at camp so far, the children learned to perfect their strokes (freestyle and breaststroke), enter the pool properly as a lifeguard, and reaching and simple assists of conscious victims, Rapp said.
From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., the 10 campers learn water safety, rescues, CPR/first aid, role of a lifeguard, physical training, stroke development and other aquatic related topics.
Many of the skills developed help put the campers in position for future lifeguard employment.
Students must have the ability to swim 50 yards without resting, recover a 10-pound weight from six feet of water, and tread water for one minute without hands.
“We’re working on their stamina and do a clinic with them every day on technique and stamina. To be a lifeguard, you have to swim at least 200 yards,” Rapp said. ‘We have a great group of kids who are strong swimmers, so it’s going really well.”
Cole Castleberry, 10, who lives a short walk from the pool, said he has been swimming at the pool since age 3, and his grandfather told him about the program.
“I like the swimming and exercise and the thought of maybe saving someone’s life. I’ve learned so many ways to save people,” Castleberry said. “We were going to learn CPR, but the rain stopped us. Being able to save people is why I want to be a lifeguard,” Castleberry said.
Danica Allen, 10, of Cape Coral, said she only found out about the pool a few weeks ago. She was told about the program by a swim coach who was impressed by her swimming ability.
“We’ve learned how to use the lifeguard flotation to save people. It’s fun. We learn something new and it’s a new experience,” Allen said. “I’d like to do this next year, too.”