Long Beach Fire Department
Junior Lifeguard Program
Frequently asked questions
The cost of the 2026 Program is $606 per junior lifeguard. Scholarships are available through Long Beach Unified School District to those who qualify. Please contact us at LBJG@longbeach.gov for more information.
Yes, we offer full and partial scholarships based on household income. If you are interested in applying for a scholarship please email LBJG@longbeach.gov.
We issue full refunds of $596 (there is a $10 non-refundable processing fee), but we do not issue refunds for the AAU insurance. The last day to request a refund is Friday, June 28th (Friday of the first week of the summer program). You can send an email to LBJG@longbeach.gov and we will reach out to Parks & Rec to issue the refund. The refund will be credited to the card used to pay for the program.
Summer 2026 registration deadlines are TBA.
There are three separate registration deadlines. Please see below for tentative dates:
Early April: Priority Registration (JGs that participated in 2025)
Late April: Morning Lottery Registration
Late May: Last Chance Registration
Due to the high demand for our morning session, we have a strict policy for the selection of the morning group through Priority Registration and Lottery Registration.
Priority Registration: RETURNING Junior Lifeguards are given priority for the selection of their preferred session but MUST submit registration packets by the designated registration deadline.
Lottery Registration: All other junior lifeguards (including returning JGs that have NOT submitted registration by the priority deadline) who would like to be in the morning session will be placed in a lottery to determine which session they will be in. To be placed in the morning lottery, registration packets must be submitted by the Lottery Deadline. Families will be notified of their session placement via email.
No. Only your returning JG qualifies for priority registration and ONLY if their registration packet is submitted by the priority registration deadline. Your child who will be participating for the first time this year will be entered into the lottery for session preference.
The program fee includes one t-shirt and one pair of swim trunks. If you would like to purchase additional uniform items you will need to pay for those separately. We highly recommend purchasing additional uniform items before the summer program. The link to our online store will be available before the 2026 summer program begins.
Returning JGs can request to move up/down a group pending approval from the JG Coordinator. If your JG is requesting to move age groups in the morning session, you must request the switch BEFORE the priority registration deadline. For new JGs, you are encouraged to remain in your true age group.
We recommend a well-fitted, competitive style, one or two-piece swimsuit. Solid navy blue in color is highly preferred. Any brand is acceptable, however the suit must be full coverage. Our paid lifeguards are issued JOLYN suits. On a two-piece, it's best if the bottoms have a drawstring. For tops and one-pieces, both fixed and tie-back are permitted. If purchasing from JOLYN:
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Yes, the program does not have a strict attendance policy. All absences must be submitted via the "ABSENCES" page of the JG website. We do not accept excused absence notifications through email or phone call.
The Ironguard is a 4 mile run and 2 mile swim that covers the entire Long Beach oceanfront. It starts at 1st Place and goes all the way to 72nd Place. Participants run the beach and swim almost every buoy, as well as the pier. Our goal is for every Junior Lifeguard to finish the Ironguard, but to complete it in under 2 hours is considered to be the ultimate JG accomplishment.
YES, if.....
They did not participate in Summer 2025 (regardless if they have participated in summers prior)
NO, if...
They participated in the Long Beach Junior Lifeguard Program in 2025
No, if your child passed the swim test and participated in the program in 2025 they DO NOT need to tryout again. When summer registration opens, you're able to register them without having to attend a tryout. However, if your child has not participated in the program before or took a year off of the program (e.g., due to traveling, injury, etc.) they will need to tryout again in order to register.
YES! We allow 3 attempts at each tryout, but even if you don't make it after 3, you are more than welcome to attend the next scheduled tryout! Our instructors are happy to provide coaching on ways to improve.
Prospective JGs must swim 100 yards (4 laps in a standard sized pool) in under 2 minutes. If the pool is 25 METERS, the time standard is 100 METERS in under 2 minutes and 13.2 seconds. You must pass the swim test BEFORE registering for the program.
The JG program does not provide transportation between the finish and the start. If you want to run the course with your child, one option is to find a friend in the program and drop one car off at 72nd Pl and leave one at the start. Or, you can get your child checked in at the start then drive to the pier or finish area to cheer them on!
The Start line is at the 1st Place Lifeguard Tower located south of the Alamitos Beach Parking Lot (380 E Shoreline Dr. 90803). We will have separate start funnels and first buoys for A's, B's, and C's. The C's will be closest to the rocks on the west side, B's will be in the middle, and A's on the east side. Each funnel will be marked with the corresponding age group. If parents are planning to do the event with their JG, we ask that they skip the first buoy.
The JG team is all hands-on-deck for coordinating this event and we are unable to offer gear transport from the start to the finish. If your JG has a backpack or other gear - you are responsible for getting it down to 72nd Place! Please be sure to coordinate this ahead of time.
There will be water stations at Beach Operations, the east side of the Pier, and the JG station. The water stations are for JGs only! Please do not fill your water bottle at the JG water stations.
Be sure your child is listening for their time as they cross the finish line. After they cross the finish line there will be tables for each age group where they report their time.
Yes, parents are welcome to run alongside their junior lifeguards! If you do decide to participate, please be sure to stay out-of-the-way of other JG competitors.
Many seasoned parents or other supporters will run the course with their child (don't worry you get to rest while they swim). If you do so, it helps to have water, as well as mints or small candies for your child, as the salt water can dry out their mouths.
Most importantly: this event is hosted for our junior lifeguards. Be sure to leave space on the hard pack sand for our competitors to run past you.
The top 3 male and female finishers in each age group will receive a medal at our annual Awards Ceremony. Those individuals will also have their names added to our perpetual top 3 trophy that was created in 2009.
All participants that finish the event under 2 hours will receive an event hat.
Our JG instructors spend the whole summer preparing the JGs for this challenging endurance event. Below are a couple of helpful tips for race day:
-Applying Vasoline or Aquaphor on your child will help prevent chaffing
-Apply sunscreen prior to arriving on the beach
-Be sure your JG eats a nutritious breakfast