Junior Lifeguards in Sunny Isles Beach, Summer 2004
By Sylvia Arias

For the first time ever in Sunny Isles Beach, the city offered a Junior Lifeguard Summer Camp program. Children from the area were given the opportunity to study with certified lifeguards with the city of Sunny Isles Beach, and learn ocean rescue techniques, marine life and water hazards, and other valuable skills in the ocean rescue field. The camp ran for one week, from August 9 - 13, 2004, from 9:30 AM - 2:30 PM, and was open to boys and girls between the ages of 9 and 16.

Interested participants were required to pass a swim test in order to gauge the different skill levels of the campers. After that was completed, campers enjoyed a week filled with unique experiences and enjoyable opportunities. They were trained in physical conditioning for lifeguards, different emergencies that can occur and the necessary reactions for each case, prevention techniques, and were introduced to information on different marine life including hazards.

The campers were also honored with a visit by staff members from the Miami-Dade Parks & Recreation Sea Turtle Nesting & Relocation Program. Bill Ahern, Recreation Specialist with the Haulover Beach Park & Marina, and his staff prepared a presentation for the campers on information about protecting populations, nests and nesting beaches of endangered marine turtles, and the importance of a balanced eco-system. They also brought a group of turtle hatchlings that were discovered a few days before and allowed our junior lifeguards to swim the hatchlings out into the ocean. The campers are still raving about their experience with the turtles.

The week went very quickly, and on the last day, all the campers received certificates for their participation and ribbons were awarded for special recognition. This is only the beginning of the expansion of our recreation programs. Stay tuned with the newspaper and also with our cable access channel 20 for more information when new programs are approaching!










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