Junior Lifeguards receive Pacific Coast Sea Shores Science Guides

Pacific Coast Sea Shores science guide – front & back covers
Click photo to enlarge

On June 15, 2018, the City of Los Angeles, Los Angeles Fire Department’s Lifeguard Division – Junior Lifeguard Program began their 2018 season. The workshop included a presentation by Pepperdine Professor of Biology Karen Martin. Martin presented a slide show and a hands-on grunion fish hatchling demonstration, during which the Jr. Lifeguards watched tiny hatchlings take their first swim in small lab containers.

Each Junior Lifeguard also received a free copy of the Pacific Coast SEA SHORES science guide, created by Dawn Ericson of Manta Publications. Professor Martin wrote the text for the science guide. Our Santa Monica Bay Audubon Society contributed funding for this project and helped with the ornithological aspects. The science guide is a high-quality eight-page laminate which can be used in the field, and discusses birds, fish, invertebrates, kelp, tides and ecological zones.

Each Junior Lifeguard series lasts five weeks, and the enrollees get to keep the science guides and other materials after they finish. Participants are in three age groups: 9-11, 12-13 and 14-17 years old, with depth and format of instruction dependent upon the age and skill level of group. The program also includes instruction in water safety, swimming, body surfing, paddling, surfing, physical conditioning, competition skills, first aid, CPR and rescue techniques. The Junior Lifeguard program began fifty years ago with 150 enrollees. For 2018, it has grown to over 4,300 Junior Lifeguards enrolled. The second summer session ended August 17, but they’ll be doing it again next year.

For additional information visit:
Junior Lifeguard program slide show
Information and sign-up forms
Los Angeles County Junior Lifeguard page
Manta Publications blog on the science guide
[Chuck Almdale]

Pacific Coast Sea Shores science guide – seashores, kelp, ecological zones & tides – Click photo to enlarge