Junior & Little Guards

Program Dates for Summer 2025

Session 1: June 9 - July 3 (No Program June 19 and July 4).
Session 2: July 7 - August 1

Age Groups

Little Guards: 6 - 8 years old
Junior Guard C's: 9 - 11 years old
JG B's: 12 - 13 years old
JG A's: 14 - 15 years old
JG AA's: 16 - 17 years old

Instruction and Supervision

Little Guards and Junior Guards are instructed by qualified ocean lifeguards. All of the instructors have successfully completed an intensive United States Lifesaving Association (USLA) certified Open Water Lifeguarding training course and most have worked in the field as lifeguards for more than one year.

Instructors are also certified in emergency first aid and CPR for the professional rescuer. Many of the instructors are graduates of the Junior Guards program and have teaching and interpretation experience with children. The program is held on Cowell Beach adjacent to the Municipal Wharf in one of the calmest areas of ocean in Santa Cruz. During the program, Junior Guards are also always under the watchful eye of on-duty beach lifeguards in addition to the supervision provided.

Beach Safety Information(PDF, 64KB)

Junior Lifeguard Requirements

The Junior Guard program requires participants to be able and willing swim a minimum of 200 to 300 yards in the open ocean, run a minimum of 500 yards and participate in paddling races and other beach competitions daily. No refunds less than 4 business days before class starts. C's - must swim unassisted around the 1st buoy on the first day. B's - must swim unassisted around 2nd buoy on the 1st day. A's & AA's - must swim unassisted around 3rd buoy on the 1st day. The Little Guard program requires daily participation in entering and exiting through ocean waves and conditioning activities including calisthenics, running and beach games.

Recommended Preparation and Skill Levels

Little Guards: Practice swimming 25 - 50 yards continuously and treading water for 1 - 2 minutes. Red Cross Swimmer Level 4 and up is strongly encouraged.

Junior Guards: Practice swimming a minimum of 200 - 500 yards continuously (8 - 20 laps) and treading water for 3 - 5 minutes. Red Cross Swimmer Level 6 and up is strongly recommended.

JG Booster Club

SCJG Booster Club volunteers are needed to help with local competitions, the Regional JG competition, snacks, raffle prizes, fund-raising and the JG banquet.

Join the JG Booster Club(PDF, 347KB) follow their Instagram account or the JG Booster Club website to get information about upcoming JG events, important dates, competitions, picture days, etc. The JG Booster Club maintains a mailing list that provides notification of events during the season.

Scholarship information: Visit our Scholarship Page for more information and information on how to apply.

Donate online to the JG Boosters (FOPAR). Jr. Guard Boosters are parent volunteers who fundraise to support the Santa Cruz Jr. Lifeguard program. Donations provide scholarships, equipment, supplies, competition snacks, and support program events.

JG Forms and Handbook

JG USLA Membership included in JG registration - do not renew directly through USLA. Please note this is the standard JG Membership not the Gold Membership Tier for JGs. You can register for Gold and see the benefits.

Captain Corps I 2025

Volunteer Jr. Guard Program for 15 - 17 year olds

Captain Corp volunteers function as role models for Junior and Little Guards participants and assist instructors with aquatic safety through participation, education and creating a positive learning environment.

Requirements

Minimum 1 year as a SC City Junior Guard participant
Must attend five mornings a week and volunteer three afternoons a week per session (dependent upon school year schedule
Uniform provided (t-shirt and sweatshirt). Black trunks or swimsuits required by participant
Completed Captain Corps Application Packet(PDF, 1MB) due at tryout check-in
Applicants must be registered as a morning Junior Guard A or AA in the session you are available to volunteer to be eligible to tryout. Successful candidates will receive a refund if selected as a Captain Corps I. Applicant must be available to volunteer for at least two sessions - Either June 9 - July 3 or July 7 - August 1.

Tryouts

Saturday, April 26, 2025
- Check-in: 8:00am at LGHQ.
- Physical Test @ 8:30am
Monday, May 5, 2025
- Check-in: 4:30pm at LGHQ.
- Physical Test @ 5:00pm

Interviews

Candidates who successfully pass the physical test will be scheduled an interview.
Interviews will be scheduled after tryout and will be held in person at Parks and Recreation Admin

Mandatory Training

Training dates: Week of June 2

2025 - Captain Corp Application Packet(PDF, 1MB)

Fundraiser Disclaimer

Periodically community groups and individuals advertise fundraising events for the benefit of Santa Cruz Junior Lifeguards (“Junior Guards”). Please note that the only such organization which has an affiliation with, and which reports to, the City of Santa Cruz is Friends of Parks and Recreation Junior Guard Boosters, (“FOPAR”). No other community-based or individual fundraisers are affiliated with, or report to, the City. Accordingly the City does not warrant that the proceeds, or any given percentage of the proceeds, raised by non-FOPAR fundraising events will ultimately be donated to the Junior Guards program. In addition, it should be noted that a child’s participation in, or eligibility for, the Junior Guard program is never predicated on his or her parents’ or guardians’ patronage of any such fundraising event, including fundraising events conducted by FOPAR.