City of Newport Beach Junior Lifeguard Program
Program Overview
The Newport Beach Junior Lifeguard Program is an ocean-based program for youth ages 9 to 15. It focuses on educating participants to recognize potential hazardous conditions associated with an ever-changing aquatic environment. Activities will center on ocean skill building, physical fitness, and lifeguarding skills.
Lessons, skills, and events JGs accomplish each summer include:
- Learning and exemplifying the 3 R's...Respect, Represent, Responsible
- Entering and exiting the water safely
- Negotiating the surf and shorebreak
- Buoy swims
- Long distance ocean swims
- Paddling
- Body surfing
- Long distance runs
- Identifying and swimming out of a rip current
- Lifeguard safety and skills
- Basic first aid and personal safety
- Team building and good sportsmanship
Each week staff teach JGs new skills to build their ocean abilities and prepare them for the activities that take place throughout the program.
At the end of summer, Junior Lifeguards will be tested on the skills and knowledge they’ve learned throughout the program.
How Much does the Program Cost?
Program Dates & Times
2025 Dates: June 17 - July 31
Hours of Operation: Monday through Thursday
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Morning Session: 9:00 a.m. - Noon (Highly impacted)
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Afternoon Session: 1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. (Most likely session for "New" JG Families)
Who Can Participate?
- AGE: The program is open to youth ages 9 to 15. Age deadlines are based on participant's age on June 30 of the current year's program.
- SWIM REQUIREMENT: All participants must pass the required NBJG swim test in order to enroll in the Program. Swim tests typically take place in March.
- Participants do not have to be Newport Beach residents to enroll in the program.
Age Groups
JGs are divided into four different age groups--Division D, Division C, Division B, and Division A. Age groups are based on participant's age on June 30 of the current program year. Instructor groups are primarily developed based on NBJG swim test times.
Participant Age on June 30, 2025:
- 9 years old = Division D
- 10 or 11 years old = Division C
- 12 or 13 years old = Division B
- 14 or 15 years old = Division A
Each age group has a different swim time requirement, so be sure your participant is preparing for the correct swim test time.
How & When do I Sign-Up?
- January 15: Create or update your NBJG account. Accounts must be updated annually.
- January 30: Log in to your NBJG account and reserve a swim test time for each of your participants.
- March: NBJG swim test tryouts. See swim test page for specific dates and additional details.
- April: Registration payment windows open for participants who passed a 2025 NBJG swim test.
Click here for information on how to enroll.
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