The call of duty sounds in Chicago as the Park District scrambles to bolster its ranks of summer lifeguards at city beaches and pools for the upcoming sunshine season. Hitting the waters early, the district has cracked open the application window, giving would-be lifeguards a head start on the summer hustle that kicks off in May and stretches till early September, as reported by CBS Chicago. Candidates aiming for a beach chair will need to blow past their 16th year by next July and prove their mettle in a skills trial to snatch that much-coveted certification.
A series of free skills tests are scheduled to ensure applicants have ample opportunity to demonstrate their aquatic prowess, with sessions marked on the calendar for December 22, February 3, and March 9 at various locations across the Park District's domain. Applicants must show off a timed 200-yard swim, go the distance for a 20-yard underwater swim, and dive into the depths to retrieve a bottom-dwelling object before being deemed fit for the watchful eye of the lifeguard.
In preparation for the trials, the Park District is pulling back the curtain on the Lifeguard Explorers Training Program, designed to coach hopefuls on the essentials needed to clear the lifeguard skills barrier. The 15-session regimen is due to roll out from January 8 through March 1 at select community havens, including Austin Town Hall Park, Nash Park, Homan Square Community Center Park, and LaFollette Park, with days and times accommodating a span of availability, as per CBS Chicago. Enrollees who see the training through can snag a $475 stipend for their commitment.
Besides beachfront vigilance, the Park District is not wading shallow in its contributions to swimming literacy, offering classes that embrace all ages, starting from the infantile 18 months. Registration opened this past Monday, with the winter session poised to immerse participants beginning the week of January 8, as indicated by WGN-TV. This effort underscores the importance of water skills that cascade beyond the lifeguard's chair, nurturing a community fluent in the strokes of safety and sustainability.
