Pictured left to right in top-middle photo:
Ryan Camps, 1st year hired as a lifeguard: 2007 | Number of years as an instructor: 8
Tony Morelli, 1st year hired as a lifeguard: 2012 | Number of years as an instructor: 4
Mike Eich
Greg Luttrell -1st year hired as a lifeguard: 1987 | Number of years as an instructor: 26
of Huntington Beach Junior Guard Program.
 

Huntington Beach Junior Lifeguard Program

27th annual Huntington Beach Junior Lifeguard Pancake Breakfast at Lake Park on August 4, 2018 juniorguard.com

Huntington Beach Host Lions Club made 1200 pancake meals with proceeds benefitting the Junior Lifeguard program. The Lifeguard Band performed rock music to get things going.

The program which was established in 1964 (54 years ago) to educate children in ocean environments, First Aides, C.P.R., mutual cooperation, competition techniques, and lifesaving methods, began with 24 students and has blossomed to average of 1,100 students per year. The Huntington Beach Junior Lifeguards is world renowned, having had students from other countries such as Germany, France, England, Ireland, Japan, New Zealand, Australia, Mexico; and other states such as Oregon, Washington, Alaska, Hawaii, New York, Utah and Florida. Holding tryouts each May for the summer program, Qualified students age 9 to 17 years are selected by ability to swim underwater 10 yards, tread water for 5 minutes and swim 100 yards in less than 2 minutes.

Mike Eich, City of Huntington Beach Fire Department Marine Safety Division Junior Lifeguard Program Coordinator, has taught junior lifeguards for more than 41 years, said that they introduce a new program, Sand Crabs, for ages 6 to 8. It is designed to acquaint youth with the experience of the beach and its hazards, while teaching courtesy, respect, discipline and good sportsmanship.

Flipping pancakes is Lions Club event organizer Steve Christy. He said this is their favorite club project every year because they get help local youth by raising money for equipment and progr

Host Lions Club President Carol Van Holt, said "We have a ball doing this, helping youth become lifeguards."

Mike Baumgartner, Marine Safety Chief,

The City of Huntington Beach Jr. Lifeguards has had an ongoing educational exchange with New Zealand since 1979. The purpose of the exchange is to share common interests and differences as they apply to lifesaving.