Junior lifeguards back to longer sessions

Newport Beach’s junior lifeguard program will return to one eight-week course with limited enrollment in 2007, after this summer’s trial of two shorter programs was determined to be less than ideal.

It was far from a flop — the program’s soaring enrollment is why city officials decided to split it into two four-week sessions. But many of this year’s participants and more than 90% of the instructors said the shorter program just wasn’t the same.

The junior lifeguard program, run by the Newport Beach Fire Department, teaches ocean and water safety to children from 9 to 15.

Lifeguard officials had capped the program at 1,200 kids for safety reasons. Too many wanted to enroll in 2005, and 300 kids had to be turned away.

So officials decided to split the 2006 program into two shorter sessions to allow more participation. Lifeguard Battalion Chief Reenie Boyer, who heads the junior guard program, told the City Council on Tuesday that 1,427 kids enrolled this year.

With Fridays off and a number of special events included, the original eight-week session only gave seven more days of instruction than the four-week sessions, but many people weren’t satisfied with the short courses.

A survey filled out by 669 participating families showed that 60% preferred the longer program, Boyer said.

Families said the four-week course was too condensed, and most instructors said they were exhausted from teaching five days in a row and they didn’t have as much time to bond with kids.

Boyer told the council that officials have decided to offer the eight-week program to a maximum of 1,200 kids in 2007. To limit enrollment, swim test qualifying times will be shortened by five seconds, and kids will be allowed five attempts to pass the test rather than seven tries.

Although Mayor Don Webb said he was concerned that limiting the program will shut out the kids who need ocean safety training the most, two other council members said they favor returning to the long program.

“Yes, there’ll be kids who probably won’t be able to participate,” Councilman Tod Ridgeway said, but, “there are other summer programs.”

Newport Beach residents still will get priority when registering for the junior lifeguard program. Boyer noted that nearly 90% of this year’s participants were city residents.

She also told the council the lifeguards will need about 10 more seasonal staff members to effectively run the program and manage other lifeguard duties in 2007.

Enrollment information and 2007 program dates will be available in January.