Junior Lifeguard program

Beach Explorer Program

The Beach Explorer program was established after it was evident there was a need to bridge the gap between the Junior Lifeguard program and becoming a county employee as an ocean lifeguard. The program is a branch of Conservation & Water Safety follows the Learning for Life criteria. There are five areas of emphasis to the explorer program: career opportunities, citizenship, leadership experience, life skills and character education.

Career opportunities: The program serves as a recruitment tool for future beach patrol staff. Explorers gain the knowledge to transition into different positions and spend time shadowing beach patrol law enforcement officers, emergency medical technicians (EMTs) and ocean rescue lifeguards. Program participants are never placed in rescue situations, but are encouraged to assist with equipment preparation and support functions.

Citizenship: The program is designed to encourage the skill and desire to help others and gain a keen respect for the basic rights of others. Many community service opportunities are offered which supports school graduation requirements as well as church groups.

Leadership experience: The Explorers will develop leadership skills to fulfill their responsibilities in society. It provides exposure to different leadership traits as well. This diverse group of teens has learned to bond, use common sense and have long-lasting friendships from different schools and backgrounds.

Life skills: Developing physical and mental fitness is very important in life, as well as experiencing positive social interaction. Topics such as peer pressure, date rape, credit debt, and computer fraud are just a few topics that are approached to guide in the right direction.

Character education: Defined as helping to make ethical choices and fulfilling one’s responsibility to society as a whole; explorers will leave the program and have the sense of who they are and know right from wrong.

Requirements

Admission to the Beach Patrol Explorer program is competitive and limited to 40 Explorers at this time. A larger facility is in the future, that would allow us to grow and expand in each area. Each admission is voted on annually in September by returning Explorers and instructors. A waiting list exists as well.

To apply, applicants must:

• Be 14 years old by Nov. 1 and have completed the eighth grade

• Have participated in the Junior Lifeguard program for at least one session

• Be enrolled in an academic institution with a 2.0 GPA

• Attend the Explorer open house night

• Submit a 100-word typed essay about their wishes/views of becoming an Explorer

Calendar of events

The Explorer season is from the fall through the spring (August to April) and there are no program fees.* Each event is not mandatory. However, the Explorers are encouraged to participate in as many activities as their schedule permits. Each Explorer is responsible for calling and/or emailing if unable to attend an activity.  

There are three Tuesday night meetings (approximately one hour) per month and four Wednesday evening swim practices (approximately two hours) per month. Community service and training are generally on the weekends (hours vary).

A uniform, backpack, hat and notebook are provided. Each Explorer will be provided an identification card.  

*The scuba diving certification is the only optional training opportunity that has a fee.

Explorer physical agility and training

A big part of being a lifeguard is the ability to make rescues. A lifeguard is required to run down the beach, swim out to a victim and then swim the victim back to safety.  Part of being a Beach Patrol Explorer is learning the skills to first recognize a victim and secondly safely rescue them. In order to maintain the physical abilities required for the job, monthly swim practices are held in the ocean and at the local YMCAs. Frequent testing of the 500-meter and 50-yard swim requirement to be a lifeguard also is encouraged during these sessions.

Swim practice in the pool normally consists of an hour and a half of swimming. Different drills are worked on to improve stroke and technique. The total number of yards and types of sets vary each practice but the goal is to build stamina and endurance, as well as to improve stroke mechanics.

The Explorer program is fully beach oriented and because the ocean changes constantly, practices also are held in the ocean. The ocean swims are held at five different lifeguard stations. This allows each Explorer to become familiar with each station and its crews. The drill done in the ocean mimics what a lifeguard does every morning -- swimming out to buoys and running to a specified location. After the physical workout, lifeguard tower equipment familiarization is assessed.

The ocean swim is occasionally accompanied by a pier jump. This is not a requirement, but an optional event. Water safeties on jet-skis and paddle boards are present and each Explorer jumps one at a time, feet first. After touching the top of their head (this indicates everything is okay), they swim away from the pier. Experienced lifeguards also are on hand to assist the Explorers as they stand on the pier railing prior to the jump.  

All Explorers are encouraged to come to as many practices as their schedules permits and most of all to have fun!

Community service

The Beach Patrol Explorers are committed to community service throughout the year. Community service helps the Explorer develop hours towards scholarships and instills a sense of self worth, pride, and status in the community. Some of the community service activities that the Explorers have participate in  a 5K run to benefit the Beaches

At Family Days, the Beach Patrol provides a free jet-ski ride service to the public.  The Explorers set up an information booth to promote beach safety tips and information about the Explorer program.  They also sold t-shirts to raise funds for future Explorers trips. However, one of their most important jobs during the event is to help children put on life jackets, stand in a line, and safely enter and exit the floating jet-ski dock on the lake. This event is one of the favorites in the community and also among the Explorers because of the carnival atmosphere and time spent interacting with the community and each other.

The Explorers helped set up tents and tables, mapped out strategically placed heart disease statistic signs on the course, and distributed water. The Explorers set up themed water stations -- one was a pirate theme and the other was a tropical theme. The participants at the stations dressed accordingly, played music and had a great time.  They set up a fun and inviting atmosphere for all participants and received nothing but compliments from the walkers.

The Beach Patrol Explorers also are committed to providing services to help clean up the community. Every year they participate in the International Coastal Cleanup – an event that involves the world in an effort to clean the beaches and/or its coastlines. Explorers cleaned up cigarette butts and countless bottle caps, straws and trash from the beach. In order to make this fun for the Explorers, contests are held to see who can find the strangest items.

The Beach Patrol Explorers always enjoy providing their services to the community.  They are committed to helping and having a great time at the events.  Everywhere they go they are always receiving compliments and asked to help again and at new events.

Certifications

Open water safety course: This course is a step up from the junior lifeguard skills and offers the Explorer a chance to become familiar with equipment, physical testing and a one-hour, double tower with an on-duty guard. The Explorer then will be rotated to different aspects of each area of the beach such as: dispatch, the jet-ski zone, environmental and law enforcement.

(ERAP) Explorer Ride Along Program: This is an internship program that allows each Explorer to observe true emergency conditions and day-to-day station life. The Explorer may assist at a rescue scene by performing support functions outside of the rescue zone. A ride permission sheet is required with parent signature.

Medical: Each Explorer is certified in CPR, defibrillator and first aid. The certification is from the American Heart Association. This is a required course offered twice during the Explorer season and lasts approximately one day. There is no fee for the certification.  

Boater identification course: This course is given by the United States Power Squadrons, an organization dedicated to making boating safer and fun. This is a one-day (eight-hour) course offered one time each season. All ropes and books for the course are provided at no cost.

Scuba diving: This is an optional training opportunity. The Aquatic Alternative gives the scuba class and the National Association of Underwater Instructors (NAUI) certification is the preferred card. The course cost is the responsibility of the Explorer. However, the masks, fins, snorkel and wet suit are provided, unlike many other dive shops. There are three classroom sessions and two water-training days along with two checkout dives. The water training days are at the DeLeon Springs State Park and Blue Springs.  The checkout dives are up to our group reference location. Peanut Island in South Florida is a group favorite.

Parent feedback

When parents were asked about what they expect their child to gain from the participation in the program, the top answers were:
1. Self-confidence
2. Fitness
3. Group involvement
4. Knowledge/understanding of marine environment
5. Handling situations in marine environment

Comments from parents:

“I just wanted to let you know how much our son has enjoyed the Explorer program this year. Chris has been AMAZING!!! You could not have picked a better person for this job. She is dedicated, professional, supportive and so sweet. All of the instructors have made the program exciting and the kids have learned so much. The most important thing they learned was the importance of community service and giving back to the community. Our son plans on making a career in Beach Services and has already looked into duel enrollment for the EMT program (and he is only 14!) The instructors are great role models and great people. Your department is lucky to have them!”

“The Beach Explorer program has more than exceeded my expectations. My hopes were that my daughter would gain more respect for the environment, become more conscious of beach safety, and gain self-confidence and leadership skills as well become involved in her community. Chris’ outstanding role as mentor to these teens and her meeting their needs and interests has given me more respect than I had before to the  County Beach Patrol. As a parent of a child that soaks up whatever knowledge Chris and her fellow instructors impart, my husband and I thank you.”