Juneau Pools is offering two certification courses this spring for those interested in working in aquatics: Water Safety Instructor (WSI) Certification and American Red Cross Lifeguard Certification. Both courses are hosted at Dimond Park Aquatic Center and offer opportunities to earn nationally recognized credentials—and are free for participants who apply for employment with Juneau Pools.
The Water Safety Instructor (WSI) Certification Course will be held Monday through Friday, June 2–6 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily. This course prepares participants to teach Red Cross swim lessons and water safety education. To participate, individuals must be at least 15 years old by the last day of class and must complete a pre-course swim test, which includes a series of swim strokes, floating or sculling for one minute, and treading water. To schedule a test, contact Ellen Johnston at (907) 586-0839 ext. 4148 or ellen.johnston@juneau.gov.
Full attendance at all sessions is required for certification. Registration is open now through Tuesday, May 27, and space is limited to 6 participants.
The Lifeguard Certification Course runs Tuesday through Friday, May 27–30, from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Participants who successfully complete the training will receive an American Red Cross Lifeguard Certification, valid for two years. The class is open to individuals 15 years or older (by the last day of the course) and includes a mandatory pre-course swim test consisting of a 200-yard swim, a 10-foot brick retrieval, and two minutes of treading water.
Registration is open now through Tuesday, May 20, and space is limited to 10 participants. Juneau Pools is currently hiring part-time lifeguards for both Dimond Park Aquatic Center and Augustus G. Brown Swimming Pool, with flexible shifts available throughout the day.
Both courses are offered at no cost to participants who apply for employment with Juneau Pools by the final day of the class. For all others, the standard fee is $250 for Lifeguard Certification and $400 for Water Safety Instructor Certification.
Registration for both courses is available through the CBJ Parks & Recreation Registration Catalog at bit.ly/registerCBJparks (look under the “Juneau Pools” tab).
For more information or questions, please contact Aquatics Programming Coordinator Ellen Johnston at (907) 586-0839 ext. 4148 or ellen.johnston@juneau.gov.