Long Beach Fire Department
Junior Lifeguard Program

ANNOUNCEMENTS Click on the image below to view the email announcement.

UNIFORMS UNIFORM PICK-UP UNIFORM POLICY When a JG is in uniform, they are highly visible within the community and should act as proper, respectful representatives of the Marine Safety Division. This also applies outside of program hours and when transitioning to and from the program. All JGs are required to arrive in full uniform each day. No other outerwear is approved to be worn during the program All participants should arrive ready to swim each day with their preferred swimsuit on underneath their uniform. BOYS' SWIMSUITS Boys may choose to wear JG issued trunks, or a well-fitted, competitive style suit. Common styles include speedos and/or jammers (to be worn under JG uniform trunks). If wearing a speedo or jammers under trunks, solid navy blue is highly preferred. GIRLS' SWIMSUITS We recommend a well-fitted, competitive style, one or two-piece swimsuit (solid navy blue is highly preferred ). Any brand is acceptable, however the suit must be full coverage. Our paid lifeguards are issued JOLYN suits. If purchasing from JOLYN: Recommended bottoms include, but are not limited to: Andy , Ally , or Bali . Recommended tops include, but are not limited to: Ryan , Tomcat and Heidi . Both fixed and tie-back are permitted. Recommended one-pieces include but are not limited to: Chevy , Brandon , and Jackson . JOLYN suits can be ordered online or at The Swim Guy (4107 N Viking Way, Long Beach, CA 90808) The Swim Guy, a local swim shop near Long Beach Community College, has partnered with us for a swim suit fundraiser! If you purchase your red or blue athletic suit from The Swim Guy and mention Long Beach Junior Lifeguards at checkout, 20% of your purchase will be donated back to the program's nonprofit! The nonprofit provides support to the JG program in the way of scholarships, additional equipment, and supplies! UNIFORM PICK-UP JGs receive 1 shirt and 1 pair of trunks with registration. Families can purchase additional uniform items if they would like. The JG Team schedules 4 different uniform distribution days prior to the start of the program. All JG families should plan on picking up their uniform items on 1 of those 4 days. If you can't make it to any of these pick-up days, your JG will receive their uniform on their first day of the program. These are the only pre-program pick-up dates Please note: online orders will not be available for pick-up right away, and we do not offer shipping. Additional items can be picked up on the above uniform distribution dates. ONLINE STORE Uniform Pickup Dates: June 5, 2026 - 3:00PM-6:00PM June 6, 2026 - 9:00AM-12:00PM June 7, 2026 - 9:00AM-12:00PM June 17, 2026 - 3:00PM-6:00PM *We have a designated exchange date. We will not be exchanging items prior to this date to allow all JGs to receive the size their ordered. Location: Junior Lifeguard Station 5374 E Ocean Blvd, 90803 What to Expect: Give the following information to the JG instructor at check-in JG's Age Group JG's Last and First Name

Frequently asked questions What steps should I take to become a JG? What is the cost of the program? 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. Are there scholarship opportunities available? 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. What is the program's refund policy? 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 26th (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. When are the registration deadlines? Summer 2026 registration deadlines are TBA. There are three separate registration deadlines. Please see below for tentative dates: April 17th: Priority Registration (JGs that participated in 2025) April 26th: Morning Lottery Registration May 24th: Last Chance Registration What is the difference between Priority registration and Lottery 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. I have one child who is a returning JG and one child who will be new to the program this year, do both of my children qualify for priority registration? 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. Are uniforms included in the program cost? 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. My child is young/old for their grade and we would like to move them down/up to a different age group (age group change request). Is this possible? 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. For female junior guards what type of suit do you recommend? 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: Recommended bottoms include, but are not limited to: Andy, Ally, or Bali. Recommended tops include, but are not limited to: Ryan, Tomcat and Heidi. Recommended one-pieces include, but are not limited to: Chevy, Brandon, and Jackson. Our family is planning a trip during the program. Can my child still participate in Junior Lifeguards? 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. What is the Ironguard? 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. Does my child need to attend a tryout? 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 My child passed the swim test and participated in the Junior Lifeguard Program last summer, do they need to tryout again to participate this summer? 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. Can my child tryout again if he/she does not make it on his/her first try? 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. What are the tryout requirements? 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. How do we get back to the start once the event is over? 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! Where is the start line? 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. Is there gear transport from the start to the finish? 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. Are there any water stations along the event route? 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. How will my JG get their Ironguard time? 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. Can I participate with my Junior Lifeguard? 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. Can I run alongside my JG to cheer them on during the event? 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. Are their any prizes for the Ironguard? 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. Any recommendations to prepare my JG for the Ironguard? 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

REPORTING ABSENCES Please use the buttons below to report absences. You can use the same google form to fill out multiple absences. Absences sent over email will not be recorded. If your child is running late or needs to leave early, they must bring a note to be submitted to their instructor. If your JG needs to leave early, please send them with a note specifying what time they need to be picked up. Your JG should give their early release note directly to their instructor at the beginning of the session. Advanced notice is required because there are occasions when Instructors plan activities away from the station. On those days, arrangements need to be made for early release requests before the Instructor takes their group to their designated area. Please be aware of the following considerations regarding Early Release: If your JG's Instructor has scheduled activities away from JG HQ, and your JG needs to be picked up early, your JG may be asked to stay with another group or may be on standby at the JG station. If the JG instructor / JG team is not made aware of the early release request at the appropriate time, your JG may not be ready for pick up at the requested time. Early release requests made over the phone or email are not guaranteed.

FORMS Click on each title to access the document. Registration Documents Scholarship Application AAU Registration Directions 2025 LBJG Code of Ethics LBFD Waiver of Liability Online Registration Directions 2025 JG Resources JG Family Handbook A Group Resource Guide B Group Resource Guide C Group Resource Guide Fundraiser Documents Buoy-A-Thon Sponsorship Form Picture Day Order Form Regionals Schedule of Events Event Map

Catalina Field Trip Join us and our friends from the Aquarium of the Pacific for an unforgettable adventure to Catalina Island! This special trip is open only to A’s and Cadets and gives participants the chance to explore the island, learn about marine life, and connect with the ocean in new ways. RSVP is required. Address TBD Hours 6:00am-6pm Both Sessions All Day! Drop Off / Pick Up The JG team will be providing transportation to Two Harbors, Catalina Island via Catalina Cruises, but PARENTS/GUARDIANS will be responsible for dropping off and picking up their JGs at the Catalina Cruise Terminal. Please note that Two Harbors does not have places for the junior guards to purchase food, please be sure they bring lunch, snacks, and plenty of water. WHAT TO EXPECT AND WHAT TO BRING: Activities will include but are not limited to snorkeling, hiking, and exploring on Catalina Island Uniforms: ALL JGs must be in UNIFORM (red JG shirt, blue JG trunks, navy JG sweatshirt) One carry-on per JG is allowed. We recommend bringing a duffle / backpack with the following items: towel sunscreen water (lots of it) snacks Lunch sunglasses & hat mask, snorkel, fins (for snorkeling) closed-toe shoes suitable for walking / hiking Please Note Seasickness: The company recommends that individuals prone to motion sickness wear anti-seasickness bands or apply a patch before departure. If you begin to feel seasick during the trip, we encourage you to go to the second deck and get some fresh air—this often helps alleviate symptoms.

LBJGs and the Aquarium of the Pacific The Long Beach Junior Lifeguard Program and the Aquarium of the Pacific’s collaboration serves as a powerful model for youth engagement in conservation, inspiring young people to take responsibility for their environment while building lifelong connections to the ocean and their communities. Aquarium Field Trip This collaboration engages the Long Beach Junior Lifeguards in exploring the ocean and becoming stewards of our beaches. Through hands-on experiences and guided learning, these future leaders explore their role in the future of our beaches and ocean habitats. Learn More Catalina Trip Our Catalina field trip offers our A and Cadet Groups a unique opportunity to deepen their understanding of ocean stewardship and conservation. Through hands-on experiences and guided exploration, participants engage directly with marine environments, fostering a strong connection to the ocean and a commitment to protecting our coastal habitats. Learn More Environmental Stewardship Essay Contest As a capstone to the program, LBJGs participated in an essay contest where they reflected on their experiences as Junior Lifeguards and their time at the Aquarium. The essays explored the relationship between environmental stewardship and community responsibility, encouraging participants to articulate their personal growth and insights gained from the program. Learn More No events at the moment