Junior Lifeguard Camp offers team building and life skills
By ANDREA GALABINSKI
nfmneighbor@breezenewspapers.com
It’s two weeks of learning life-saving skills and fun at the Junior Lifeguard Camp going on now at North Fort Myers Community Pool.
“Basically we start at the beginning and teach them how to react to emergencies while having fun,” said Senior Recreation Specialist Trever Snearley who works with the camp.
“We’re doing basic water rescues, CPR, and using equipment like oxygen and an Automated External Defibrillator,” said Christie Davis, Aquatics Specialist. “With swimming, we do basic stoke enhancement. They have to be swimmers when they come in to the class.”
Besides lifeguard skills, they are learning more, she continued. “It’s also team building and confidence. They are having fun but its educational. These are life skills. Twenty years from now in the future, if they remember one aspect of the class it could save a life.”
Participants this year include Laney Trammell, Logan Guy, James Trammell, Kaitlyn Hauser, Jaret Whitney, Marjorie Conner, Abbie Brewster, Josalin Dunn and Addison Keenan.
“Seven out of the nine kids have repeated the class two or three years in a row,” Davis said. “That shows they enjoy it.”
Davis said if they’ve taken the classes for several years in a row, she’d consider hiring them at the pool once they are 16 if they show interest.
Camper Abbie Brewster said she’s enjoying the event. “We’re learning CPR and how to rescue, which is important.”
“I also think it’s important to know this,” said Josalin Dunn. “These are life skills we can use, especially when babysitting.”
The kids aren’t the only ones enjoying the camp. “For instructors it’s terrific,” said Davis. “It reminds us of when we grew up at our local community pools.”
The camp lasts for two weeks, Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., so it’s a full schedule. The kids need to be dedicated.
Meanwhile at the pool, it is more than busy with the hot summer temps.
“Classes are busy, we have definitely shown an increase in attendance since we reopened,” said Davis.
The pool recently went through a several month remodeling with the addition of more pavilions and a more modern look.
There are morning aerobics classes everyday, Monday through Friday at 10 a.m. Arthritis Aquasize is held on Tuesdays and Fridays at 10:45 a.m. “We have a new session starting every two weeks,” said Davis.
She said to check the Web site at: leeparks.org for specific information and times for all activities.
Admission is $1.50 for children 18 and under, $2.50 for adults and $2 for seniors 50 and older.
Summer hours are Monday, Wednesday and Friday 8:30 a.m. to 4:45 p.m.; Tuesdays and Thursdays 8:30 a.m. to 7:45 p.m.; Saturdays 9 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. and Sundays 1 to 4:45 p.m.
The pool is located at 5170 Orange Grove Blvd. The phone number is 656-7763.