The Refugio JG Program's Daily Web Log

Final week of JGs

2011-08-08T08:53:00.000-07:00

Last week marked the culmination of the JG sprogram. :(

On monday, Instructor Steven Krause gave a very well-thought out presentation on marine life and included many facts about common and strange/unique marine organisms that even many of the JG Instructors did not know.

On Tuesday, Instructor Alex Hauck talked about marine mammals that the kids are likely to encounter at or near our local beaches, and went on to discuss the different types of marine mammals around the world. As surfers and travelers, several members of the Instructor staff have a unique perspective on marine life and were able to contribute to the presentations citing unique creatures like pink river dolphins in the Amazon and giant seals in the Pacific Northwest.

On Wednesday, the focus was on how to protect the natural environment against pollution and other man-made activties that can harm the ocean environment. Beach clean-ups are a regular occurance at JGs, but Wednesday's presentation about how long common forms of trash take to biodegrade really made an impact on many of the kids who could be seen picking up trash along the beach even after the program was over for the day.

Thursday was a much needed day of fun and relaxation as the kids had the opportunity to participate in the much-anticipated JG Fun Comp! The Fun Comp included activities and team events such as an obstacle course, tug-o-war, JG Jeopardy, and bunker ball!

And last but certainly not least, Friday marked the culmination of the second session of JGs with the dreaded "Iron JG" (a very long and tiring running and swimming event that tests the JGs ocean safety and physical endurance skills). At JGs, we strive to produce ocean-safe kids and the Iron JG or "Patch Swim" as it was formerly known, demonstrates to the kids how far they have come in terms of their ability in the ocean. Following the luncheon was a pizza party and awards ceremony in which the JGs were honored for their excellent performance this summer!

Gaviota Pier jump Thursday, Fiesta Competition Friday!

2011-07-29T20:39:00.000-07:00

On Thursday, the JGs went on a field trip to Gaviota State Beach. Gaviota is a highlight for many of the JGs as they are given an opportunity to perform a simulated pier rescue which requires them to leap from the railing of the pier into the water below. The kids did an excellent job and many said that they thought they would be to scared to jump but were able to face their fears and do it! The day also included a presentation on heat and cold-related emergencies like hypothermia, heat stroke, and heat exhaustion, as well as a short lesson on what to do if you encounter or are bitten by a variety of poisonous animals such as snakes, insects, stingrays, and jellyfish.

On Friday, the kids attended the much anticipated "Fiesta" JG Competition held at East Beach in the City of Santa Barbara. The JGs competed with over a half dozen other programs from arounf the state in events like the distance run, distance swim, run-swim-run, paddle relay, distance paddle, taplin (run-swim-paddle), and more. The kids demonstrated their competitive nature as they excelled in a number of events and demonstrated good sportsmanship along the way. The instructors were very proud of their efforts at the competition and during the two previous weeks of JGs!

Buoy-A-Thon Fundraiser & SB County Fire at JGs today!

2011-07-27T21:22:00.000-07:00

The day began with the 4th annual Buoy-A-Thon Fundraiser! The Buoy-A-Thon helps raise funds for the program's tuition assistance/scholarship fund which assists families who face financial difficulties and cannot afford the programs tuition fees. The kids swim around buoys in the ocean (each time returning to shore and rounding a cone) for a period of 30 minutes. The kids did an outstanding job and completed more laps than previous years.

Afterwards, Santa Barbara County Firefighters came by JGs to talk about scene safety and what to do in an emergency. The kids got an up close and personal view of the Department's water rescue equipment and fire engines, and received thorough presentation by Captain Thaddeus King and his crew of firefighters.

Later on, the kids finished preparing for the JG competition this Friday and were looking forward to the Gaviota field trip and pier jump tomorrow.

It's First aid week at JGs!

2011-07-26T21:44:00.000-07:00

The 2nd week of JGs is normally dedicated to teaching the kids about what to do in an emergency. On Monday, Instructor Ian Schroeder gave a presentation on basic first aid, covering topics such as how to control bleeding, wound types, burns, and splinting suspected fractures.

On Tuesday, the Founder of the Refugio JG Program came by to teach the kids about CPR, rescue breathing, and what to do if someone is choking. These basic but very important skills serve as a foundation for future first aid presentations and arm the kids with valuable knowledge in the event of a medical emergency.

In the afternoon, the kids either kayaked and went snorkeling in the cove at Refugio. The warm water and increasing swell made these challenging yet fun activities and really kept the Instructors on their toes!

Survival at Sea, Mock Rescues, and El Capitan State Beach

2011-07-25T21:47:00.000-07:00

Survival at sea was the main topic at JGs on Thursday. Instructor Aaron Schu gave a very interesting presentation about how to survive at sea for long periods of time. He also talked about potentially dangerous weather phenomena like hurricanes, dense coastal fog, tsunamis and more. Later in the day, the kids practiced mock rescues and each child had the opportunity to be both a "rescuer" and a "victim". The day culminated with paddling skills practice, a game of beach flags, and free play.

Friday's field trip was a welcome change of pace at JGs. The kids were intriduced to a new beach and completed a series of beach runs and ocean swims before being treated to a tidepool walk and nature trail hike by Instructors Alex Hauck and Adrian Evarts. Afterwards, the kids were given the opportunity to surf, bodyboard, bodysurf, play beach games, or just relax in the warm summer sand. It was a great end to a wonderful week!

Tides, waves, rip currents and more!

2011-07-20T13:39:00.000-07:00

Potentially dangerous ocean conditions was the topic of the day at JGs on Tuesday. The day began with a run-swim-run out around an off-shore buoy. The kids completed the event in excellent fashion and put forth a strong effort. Later on, JG Instructor Adrian Evarts gave each group a very informative presentation on ocean conditions such as tides, waves, and rip currents. He explained how waves are formed, why waves at different beaches are shaped differently, how to read tides and tide books, and how to identify and escape from rip currents. Later in the day the kids had the opportunity to put their new ocean skills to use while they surfed, paddled, and kayaked.

On Wednesday the kids were treated to a presentation about lifesaving "tools of the trade". Instructor Alex Hauck and Coordinator Brian Uhl explained how the lifeguard towers, patrol vehicles, and rescue jet skis (PWCs) are used to rescue people in distress. The kids were able to inspect the tower and vehicles for an up close and personal view, and then were taught how to perform an actual rescue using a tube (rescue buoy) and fins.

The day culminated with paddleboarding practice, beach games, and other fun activities. It was a great end to a hazy day!

Session 2 begins today!

2011-07-18T20:26:00.001-07:00

The weather was absolutely awesome for the first day of the new JG session!

To begin the day, the kids split up into their groups (A, B, C, & Little Guard) and discussed the program's safety rules and procedures for the 2nd session of JGs. Afterwards, the groups completed their first daily "vitamin" (or physical fitness activity) which included a short warm-up run and a 250-300 yard swim around 2 salmon egg buoys positioned just outside the surfline. Later on, the kids played games like "surfballs" or practiced high-stepping and dolphing in order to learn how to enter the water quickly and safely. The day concluded with a lunch break in the steamy sand and an afternoon session of free play.

All in all, a great first day!

"Iron JG", Pizza Party & Awards Ceremony

2011-07-10T18:53:00.000-07:00

Friday marked the end of the first session of the Refugio Jr. Lifeguard Program. :(

The morning was dedicated to completing the first annual "Iron JG" workout which included a very long run and swim that spanned the entire length of the beach and then some. Each child who completed the challenging workout was awarded with a Refugio JG Patch (the patches are considered somewhat of a "badge of honor" among the kids).

Afterwards, the waterlogged JGs refueled with a truckload of pizzas (literally) and geared up for the awards ceremony. At the awards ceremony, a number of JGs were honored for their excellent performance over the course of the session and each child who successfully completed the program received a certificate of completion and some much deserved praise from their instructors.

It was a great end to a fun session!

Environmental awareness and JG Fun Comp!

2011-07-07T20:45:00.000-07:00

The natural environment was the topic at JGs on Tuesday and Wednesday. The Kids were treated to a presentation about marine life by Instructor Kody Ogan. Kody covered a range of animals including shorebirds, tidepool life, near shore life, and creatures of the deep sea. Of special note were deep sea creatures with special characteristics such as bioluminescence and unusual adaptations. These really got the kids excited to learn about local and regional marine organisms.

On Wednesday, Instructor Steven Krause gave a presentation about environmental awareness, pollution, and erosion. As part of this presentation, the kids participated in a beach clean-up that cleared the beach of all the trash that had accumulated after the 4th of July. Both days ended with fun aquatic activities such as kayaking, snorkeling, and surfing.

Thursday was the much anticipated JG Fun Comp! The Fun Comp is a day of non-traditional activites such as a Tug-O-War match, obstacle course, bongo bll, and Jr. Guard Jeopardy. The kids really enjoyed all of the fun and unique activites and look ready for the final day of the session and the challenging "Patch Swim".

Gaviota Pier jump on Friday!

2011-07-05T17:31:00.000-07:00

Jumping off the Gaviota Pier was the highlight of the day at JGs on Friday. The kids first received a presentation about dangerous marine life and environmental emergencies from Instructor Aaron Schu. Aaron spoke about encounters with marine organisms such as stingrays and jellyfish, as well as what to do when confronted with land-based creatures like snakes and spiders. He also touched on topics such as how to treat heat-related emergencies like heat exhaustion and heat stroke, and taught the kids how to recognize and stave off hypothermia.

Later on, each JG had the opportunity to jump off the Gaviota Pier; a fun activity that simulated the need for a lifeguard to quickly rescue swimmers in distress underneath and next to piers. Overcoming fear in order to jump the 15-25 feet was a major test for the JGs, the vast majority of whom lept fearlessly into the water and came up with a huge smile on their faces! Those that chose not to jump swam the length of the pier to shore. The day ended with fun water activites like boogie boarding and surfing at Gaviota!

CPR & kayaking today at JGs

2011-06-30T16:36:00.000-07:00

CPR, kayaking, and paddling around the kelp beds were on the agenda today at Jr. Guards.

Former Lifeguard Supervisor and founder of the Refugio JG Program Greg White was on hand today to teach the kids about CPR, rescue breathing, and what to do if someone is choking. To develop their skills, each JG had the opportunity to practice compressions and ventillations on lifelike manikins.

Later in the day, Instructor Adrian Evarts and a group took the kayaks north around Refugio point to a sandy cove where they rested and recovered for a few minutes before returning to Refugio. At the same time, Instructors Alex Hauck, Ian Schroeder, and another group of JGs could be seen far offshore exploring the kelp beds on paddleboards and rounding an offshore buoy in order to complete their daily workout (a.k.a. the daily "vitamin"). The remainder of the day included a session of free play and a chance to relax in the warm sand.

Buoy-A-Thon & Spinal Injury Prevention

2011-06-30T08:03:00.000-07:00

Wednesday marked the 4th annual Buoy-A-Thon fundraiser at JGs. The Buoy-A-Thon helps raise funds for our tuition assistance program. With music playing in the background for motivation, the children swim around buoys in the water (each time returning to shore and rounding a cone) for a period of 30 minutes. The kids who participated did an outstanding job and many completed more laps than in previous years.

Later in the day, Instructor Alex Hauck gave a presentation on the importance of preventing spinal cord injuries while at the beach and then went on to discuss how to treat a victim/patient with a suspected spinal cord injury. Finally, the very clear water and warming gave the kids an opportunity to snorkel in the kelp and catch a few waves at the point. The day ended with some fun in the sun beach activites like beach flags and volleyball. It was another great day!

Basic first aid, kayaking, kelp bed paddles and more!

2011-06-28T09:20:00.001-07:00

Today was another great day at JGs!

The sunny skies and warming water made getting in the ocean for water activites a blast today at JGs! Instructors Adrian Evarts and Aaron Schu took a large group of kids out to the kelp beds on kayaks and paddleboards to receive a presentation about the kelp canopy and the marine life that thrive among it. Meanwhile, Instructor Ian Schroeder gave a presentation about basic first aid. He covered topics such as how to control bleeding, different wound types, how to treat burns, how to splint a suspected fracture, and much, much more. The day ended with free play in the ocean, which gave the kids an opportunity to surf, boogie board, snorkel, and swim. It was a great ending to another beautiful day at Refugio.

Surf's up at El Capitan!

2011-06-24T17:37:00.000-07:00

The surf was up today just in time for the session's first field trip at El Capitan State Beach!

The day began with a beach safety orientation by Lifeguard Jim West and a long distance swim along the coast. The kids did a great job during the swim, and many stated that they had never swam quite that far before. After the workout, the JGs took a blufftop hike up to the El Capitan lifeguard headquarters where Lifeguards Brian Uhl and Chris Holmblad explained the role that the headquarters has played in the lifeguard operation for over 30 years. The expansive views from the bluff gave the kids the opportunity to spot several pods of dolphins and even a few seals and sea lions. The day concluded with free play and surfing and boogie boarding lessons and practice in the surfline.

It was a great end to a outstanding first week!

US Coast Guard Cutter & Survival at Sea

2011-06-23T18:44:00.001-07:00

On Wednesday, the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Blacktip came out to JGs and anchored about 1/3 of a mile off shore. The kids paddled out on paddleboards (many of which had never been that far from shore) and were treated to a presentation by the U.S.C.G crew about the capabilities of the vessel and the mission of the U.S.C.G. The kids really seemed to enjoy the activity and presentation and did an excellent job of paddling out.

On Thursday, JG Coordinator Brian Uhl provided a presentation on topics related to survival at sea. The kids learned how to prepare for a voyage at sea, different types of survival gear and how to use them, how to stave off hypothermia, and some cool survival tricks such as finding direction using a stick in the sand or a wristwatch. Later obn the kids took part in mock rescue training in which each child actually got the opportunity toperform aquatic rescues on each other using a lifeguard buoy and fins. The day concluded with surfing and boogie boarding instruction and practice in the surf and shorebreak.

2011-06-21T18:12:00.000-07:00

Today was another fun and exciting (yet foggy) day at Refugio JGs.

Instructor Adrian Evarts gave an informative presentation on ocean conditions to start the day. He explained how waves are formed, how the moon affects the tides, and how to read a tide book. He also taught the kids how to identify rip currents and how to escape from them when swimming, boogieboarding, or surfing. Later in the day, each group took part in either a short-to-moderate length swim or a long distance run to the point and back (1.5 miles roundtrip). Instructor Ian Schroeder challenged the "B" group to a race back from the point and was pleasantly surprised to see the runners show their stuff (several of the JGs gave him a real run for his money). After a much needed rest during lunch, the day ended with fun beach games like volleyball and a brief session of free play.

All in all, another great day!

A great 1st day!

2011-06-20T21:43:00.000-07:00

Hello JG Families,

Well, after a chilly morning, the sun finally poked its head out of the fog for the first day of JGs (session 1). It was good to see so many new and returning faces on the beach at Refugio. The day started with group orientation runs and a brief swim along the beach. This led into activities such as surf balls, which teach the kids how to enter the water quickly and safely. Afterwards, the new JG class sat down for lunch in the warm sand and ended the day with a session of free play. The kids really seemed to enjoy the beach and hanging out with old and new friends.

All in all, it was a great first day!

The summer JG season is finally here!

2011-06-07T14:24:00.000-07:00

Hello JG Families,

Summer is finally here (woo hoo!) and we are looking forward to another fun and exciting JG season. The water is a bit on the chilly end, but as we move into the summer months, things should begin to warm up.

We have lots of fun and unique activities lined up this summer and we look foward to seeing each student progress into excellent young watermen and waterwomen.

Please check back with us often as this blog will be updated daily while the program is in session!

Sincerely,

The Refugio JG Program Staff

Enrollment has begun! Submit your application now!

2011-04-09T12:31:00.000-07:00

Hello Refugio Jr. Lifeguards past and present, Enrollment for the 2011 Refugio Jr. Lifeguard Prgram officially began on April 1st! All returning Jr. Guards can submit their application and payment anytime. All new Jr. Lifeguard candidates can attend any of our tryouts and will be able to submit their application and payment at that time. So JGs & parents, tell your friends, family, neighbors, co-workers, friends of friends, and anyone else you can think of about our program. We have plenty of spots availible and we are ready for another fun and exciting program this summer! We hope to see all of you at the beach! -The Refugio JG Staff

2011 Refugio JG Program info is here!

2011-01-01T15:35:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year everyone!

2011 is here and the Refugio JG Program's website has been updated with the new year's information. Program dates are set and tryout information will be available in the coming months. In the meantime, if you or someone you know is interested in learning more about our program, please feel free to contact Brian Uhl (JG Coordinator) at refugiojrguards@parks.ca.gov.

Thanks!

End of Session Two!

2010-08-05T18:11:00.000-07:00

The last few days of JGs have been a blast, and have included the Gaviota pier jump, the Fiesta competition, a fun competition with UCSB, and activities such as kayaking, paddle boarding, nation ball, and various power guard workouts.

Congratulations to everyone who competed in the Fiesta competition!! Everyone did an excellent job. Kudos also to everyone to jumped off the pier!!!

Today, lifeguards Steven Krause and Terra Dressler presented a lecture on local marine life. We were lucky enough to have several animal skull replicas for the JGs to observe.

Sadly, tomorrow is the last day of an excellent session of JGs. Parents are invited to attend lunch at noon, followed by an awards' banquet. Parking will be free, but if the parking lot fills up, parents must park outside and walk in. Thank you all for a wonderful summer!!!

Buoy-a-Thon!!!

2010-07-28T19:34:00.000-07:00

We were lucky enough to have a nice, sunny day for the buoy-a-thon!! Great job to everyone who participated! Remember to collect pledge money and have it in by the end of the session!

The remainder of the day was spent practicing competition skills for the Fiesta Competition on Friday. We are excited to have a great team this year!

Tomorrow is the Gaviota pier jump! Remember that "little guards" must have a parent present in order to jump. A fun day is anticipated for tomorrow!

Week 2 begins!

2010-07-26T20:48:00.000-07:00

It was a fun day at El Capitan on Friday! Although the water was very cold, each group completed a long swim in the morning, and had hard-earned free time for the remainder of the day. The JGs got to practice their surfing, boogie boarding, and body surfing.

Today, the unfavorable weather continued, though the water warmed up. The groups each completed a power guard workout. Lifeguard Alex Hauck then presented an engaging lecture on first aid. In the afternoon, activities such as beach flags, mock rescues, run relays, and paddle boarding took place. Hopefully the weather will warm up for the rest of this week!

Remember that the buoy-a-thon is on Wednesday, so get those pledges! Again, money goes to tuition assistance candidates, so it is worth your while!

Another great beach day!

2010-07-22T19:01:00.000-07:00

Let's hope for more sunny days like these! Though the water was cold, each group charged a morning "power guard" workout. The JGs were then instructed on proper technique used during body surfing and boogie boarding to ensure safety while playing in the water, and will have the chance to practice this at El Capitan tomorrow!

In the afternoon, the "B" group participated in mock rescues, while the "C" group played flags and the "little guards" were given a paddle boarding lesson. Remember to come to El Capitan State Beach tomorrow instead of Refugio! We look forward to a fun day!

PWC and Rip Current Education

2010-07-21T17:13:00.000-07:00

Today, the JGs had the opportunity to ride on the jet ski!! Then, lifeguard Adrien Evarts presented a lecture on rip currents and tides.

The sun came out in the afternoon, and the "C" group practiced paddle relays while the little guards practiced their water entries by playing water flags. The "B" group played beach flags and the "A" group charged a workout. There was big surf at free time, and many JGs got the opportunity to surf!!!

Remember that the buoy-a-thon is next wednesday!! Go out and get pledges!!

2010-07-20T16:42:00.000-07:00

Another great day at junior lifeguards! Though foggy in the morning, the weather cleared up in the afternoon just in time for activities such as paddle boarding, body surfing, flags, and relay races.

Parent handbooks and buoy-a-thon materials were handed out today. Money from the buoy-a-thon goes to tuition assistance candidates for the program, so make sure to go out and get pledges!!

First Day of Session 2!!!

2010-07-19T23:22:00.000-07:00

We could not have asked for better weather for the first day of the session! After orientation, each group completed a swim workout to beat the heat.

There was also some big surf! The "B" group got to surf at the point in the afternoon, while the other groups body surfed and boogie boarded.

We hope this weather and great surf continues! We look forward to a great session!

Fun Comp and Banquet Day!!

2010-07-09T19:44:00.001-07:00

The last two days of the first session of JGs were full of fun! Thursday was the "Fun Competition," in which the entire program is split up into 8 teams and compete with one another in an obstacle course, bunker ball, tug-o-war, and special "JG" jeopardy. The enthusiasm that the JGs brought(as well as hard work from our assistants to set up the events) made it a great day!

Today was the last day of session one, and each group completed a "patch swim," which consisted of a long swim across the cove. Everyone who completed it earned a patch which can be worn on the JG's shorts. The water was cold, but everyone stuck it out and did a great job.

The sun finally came out for parents' beach flags, pizza lunch, and the awards ceremony. Congratulations to everyone who received awards!

We would like to thank you for all for such an awesome session! Hope to see you in second session!

Marine Life

2010-07-07T19:59:00.001-07:00

It was another cloudy day at JGs, but nonetheless a great one! Lifeguards Steven Krause and Terra Dressler gave a lecture on local marine life, and we were lucky enough to have replicas of different animal skulls for the kids to look at!

Following their workouts, each group got to participate in land activities such as nation ball, run relays, and flags, as the water was cold. Then, the "A" and "little guard" groups went kayaking, while the "C" group got to practice paddle boarding skills!

Friday is the awards banquet, and parents are invited to lunch at noon with presentation of awards to follow. Remember that parking is free until the park fills up, then parents must begin to park outside the park and walk in.

Power Guards and Pollution Prevention

2010-07-06T19:47:00.000-07:00

Today, volunteer Celia Griguoli presented a lecture on ocean pollution and actions that can be taken to help prevent it. Each group then completed a "power guard" workout, toughing out cold water temperatures. Props to the "C" group for completing an extra long swim!

The "B" group went kayaking today and got to observe life in the kelp beds! The "little guard" group did an excellent job on their mock rescues, while the "A" group completed a long paddle out to the kelp!

It was another excellent day at JGs! Hopefully the weather will warm up for the last 3 days of the session!

Holiday Fun-Day!

2010-07-05T15:51:00.000-07:00

As it is a national holiday, many kids were absent from JGs today. We had a relaxed "fun day," where the JGs got to play games such as dodgeball and volleyball in the morning, and were allowed to play in the surf in the afternoon.

The "C" group and the "little guards" participated in an epic game of "survivor," in which they sprint from one end of a set court to the other while dodging squishy dodgeballs. Later, the "little guards" also got to paddle out the the kelp beds to observe the life there.

Members of the "A" and "B" groups braved the cold water to go paddling and surfing in the morning while others played volleyball. Later, the whole program united to play a giant game of dodgeball before free time.

It was a great start to the week! Remember to get buoy-a-thon money in by Friday!

2010-07-02T22:13:00.000-07:00

It was a wonderful day at Carpinteria State Beach! The water was warm and each group completed a morning workout followed by plenty of free play!

This field trip put a great end to another week at JGs. For those who will be attending JGs on Monday, we will be down the beach by group camp as it is a holiday. We hope you all have a great 4th of July weekend!

Gaviota

2010-07-01T20:01:00.000-07:00

The sun finally came out today for our field trip to Gaviota State Beach. Congratulations to everyone who did the pier jump!

The surf picked up in the afternoon, perfect for body surfing and boogie boarding. After morning workouts and pier jumps, the JGs got to enjoy the great conditions with free play.

It's been an awesome week, and tomorrow we visit Carpenteria State Beach! Hopefully this weather will continue!

Buoy-a-thon!!

2010-06-30T16:23:00.000-07:00

The JGs did an excellent job in the buoy-a-thon today! Remember that money is due before the end of the session. After the swim, lifeguard Alex Hauck gave a lecture on bleeding control and shock-related emergencies.

Tomorrow is the Gaviota pier jump!!! JGs in the "little guard" group must have a parent present to jump.

Also, note that we will be in Carpenteria on Friday. The Lompoc bus will make an extra stop at Refugio and the Santa Ynez bus will also stop at San Marcos High School in Santa Barbara. We look forward to a fun day at the beach!!

CPR!

2010-06-29T23:33:00.000-07:00

Today, we were lucky to have lifeguard Greg White come to teach the JGs about CPR skills and provide the opportunity for hands-on practice! The kids were eager and attentive, and it was great to see so many young minds becoming aware of how to respond in an emergency.

Though the weather remained foggy throughout the day, the water warmed up quite a bit in comparison with the last week. Each group performed very well in their "power guard" workouts. Each week the top performers in these workouts receive prizes for qualities such as persistence, positive attitude, improvement over time, and sportsmanship. A special shoutout to the "B" group for toughing out an extra long swim!

Warmer water and decent surf made the day perfect for surfing lessons, which the "A" group and the "little guards" had the opportunity for. It was a great day to be in the water!

Picture day will take place tomorrow morning , make sure kids show up in uniform.

THE BUOY-A-THON IS TOMORROW!!! Remember that money is due by the end of the session!

Parents, please note: Costco is now selling kids' wetsuits for only 17 dollars! This is a great deal, and it really helps the JGs to have wetsuits on cold days.

Surf at Refugio!

2010-06-28T20:08:00.000-07:00

Though there was gloomy weather most of the day, the sun came out and the surf picked up just in time for free time!

In the morning, lifeguard Sam Boysel lectured each group on environmental emergencies. The kids learned about treatment of bites and stings, hypothermia, diabetic emergencies, and other potential issues.

The A and B groups had the chance to practice paddling and surfing skills at the point, while the C and Little Guard groups charged a long swim, followed by an epic battle of "snowy plover wrestling."

The sun finally came out in the afternoon and each group got to have free play in the surf, practicing their surfing and body surfing skills. Overall, it was a great day at the beach and we look forward to an awesome week!

First Week of Junior Lifeguards!!!

2010-06-27T13:10:00.000-07:00

Hello JG families,

The past week was a great way to kick off the 2010 Refugio JG program! We are glad to have such a great group of kids, and are excited for an awesome summer!

Though the water temperature has been fairly cold the last few days, the kids have had great attitudes and have completed workouts, water entry and mock rescue training, paddle boarding, snorkeling, nation ball, and many other activities with enthusiasm.

Throughout the week, the kids have learned about ocean conditions and potential safety hazards in the water. On Tuesday, lifeguard Adrian Evarts presented an informative lecture on tides and rip currents. The JGs also learned about spinal injury prevention and recognition of safety hazards within their groups.

On Thursday, the JGs had the exciting opportunity for PWC rides with lifeguards Rich Grigouli and Ian Schroeder. Friday was spent at El Capitan State Beach where they had a workout followed by "free time" to spend body surfing, boogie boarding, and surfing.

More updates to come! We are so excited to have such a fun group of kids, assistants, and instructors for what is shaping up to be a great summer!

2010 is here!!!

2010-02-03T10:26:00.000-08:00

Hello Refugio Jr. Lifeguards, parents, and community partners,

2010 is here and planning for this summer's Refugio Jr. Lifeguard program is well underway!

Please keep in mind that we will be maintaining our blog throughout the year with current, relevant, and important information that will help keep parents and participants informed of our Program's many activities and events.

The blog will be updated at the end of each JG Program day (June-August) and as the need arises during the off-season.The Refugio Jr. Lifeguard Program strives at keeping parents and participants informed, therefore, if you have any questions or would like more information regarding this blog, the JG Program, and/or our activities, please feel free to email us anytime at Refugiojrguards@parks.ca.gov.

Thanks! I hope to see you on the beach again this summer!

Sincerely, Brian Uhl - Refugio JG Program Coordinator

P.S. Don't forget, the application process begins on April 1st 2010 for all new Jg program participants and March 1st for returning participants!!!

Final Day at JGs!

2009-08-08T14:35:00.000-07:00

Sadly, yesterday was the final day of the 2009 Refugio Junior Lifeguard program. The kids completed a long swim to earn a patch in recognition of their achievement at junior guards.

After swimming and playing a game of "snowy plover" wrestling, the kids were treated to pizza and watermelon while instructors from each group presented awards to top achieving junior guards. Everyone recieved a certificate of completion, along with stickers which we love to see on cars around town!

Thank you to all parents and kids for an excellent summer, and we hope to see you all next year!

Ventura Competition

2009-08-06T18:22:00.000-07:00

Today's competition, held at San Buenaventura State Beach, was lots of fun, and all the kids did great in their events! Refugio ended up taking third place overall! Great job everyone!

Special congratulations goes out to our paddle teams, who braved relatively high surf and strong currents which are not typically found at Refugio. Though our teams had not had the opportunity to practice in such conditions at our home beach, they braved the wind chop as well as the cold water, and many placed in the top five!

The closing banquet and patch swim are tomorrow, make sure to bring in any last buoy-a-thon money and get ready to have fun on our last day!

fun comp!

2009-08-05T17:21:00.000-07:00

The last two days at jgs have been loaded with warm water and great surf, and this whole week has been filled with surfing, body boarding, kayaking, and snorkeling. The visibility has been awesome, so trips out to the kelp beds to snorkel have been lots of fun.

Yesterday, lifeguard Aaron Schu presented an excellent lecture on local marine life. It was very engaging and entertaining for the kids, and was full of cool and relevant facts about ocean and beach dwelling organisms.

Today was the fun comp, where the whole program was divided into eight teams and played games such as jeopardy, dodge ball, and tug of war against each other. It was a lot of fun, great job to everyone! The day ended in free time to enjoy the beautiful weather.

Remember to get buoy-a-thon money in by Friday! Thank you to all who have gotten yours in!

The Ventura competition is tomorrow! We encourage all the kids to participate, it is always a fun day and an awesome experience. Good luck to everyone tomorrow! Hope to see you there!

Coast Guard and Mobile Reef!

2009-08-03T20:05:00.000-07:00

Today, the Coast Guard vessel Blackfin came to Refugio. Groups got to paddle out and tour the boat, learning about the Coast Guard profession and its similarities and differences with lifeguarding.

UCSB's mobile reef also visited today, and the kids listened to and engaging and educational lecture about marine life while getting to handle specimens of common local sea life. A marine biologist and two interns taught the kids many useful facts about animals they may encounter in the ocean.

The surf picked up today! There was lots of free time for boogie boarding and body surfing in the waves!

It was a fun day today, good job to everyone! See you all tomorrow!

Fiesta Comp

2009-08-02T10:12:00.000-07:00

Junior Lifeguard programs came from up and down the coast to compete in East Beach's annual Fiesta Competition on Friday. Events included paddle and run relays, individual runs and swims, and flags. The kids did an awesome job and had tons of fun. Congratulations to our top finishers and to all who competed! See everyone back at Refugio on Monday!

JG ready!

2009-07-30T20:33:00.000-07:00

Today's field trip to Gaviota was a fun time for everyone! Each JG got the opportunity to jump off the pier, which was exciting for everyone, whether it was for the first time, or the fiftieth.

Lifeguards Austin Cappon and Steven Krause gave lessons on recognizing and treating heat and cold emergencies as well as poisonous bites and stings.

The rest if the day consisted of fun games such as nation ball and free time. Despite the cold water, the kids were very enthusiastic about paddle boarding, boogie boarding, and body surfing.

The Fiesta Competition is tomorrow at East Beach in Santa Barbara! Be there at 8:30, it should be fun day!

Buoy-a-thon!!

2009-07-29T21:23:00.000-07:00

The buoy-a-thon was today and the kids all did very well, continuing to perform their best despite colder weather compared to the rest of the session. Remember that whoever collects the most money from each age group wins a surf board!

The A group got certified in CPR with lifeguard Greg White, getting lots of practice to have the ability to help out in an emergency.

The surf picked up in the afternoon! The B group got a chance to go surfing at the point and everyone got have fun in the waves at free time.

Gaviota and the pier jump are tomorrow! See you all there!

CPR and competition skills

2009-07-28T20:26:00.000-07:00

Hello JG families!

Today was photo day, and all the JGs posed together to represent the 2009 second session.

Each group had the opportunity to work with lifeguard Greg White to learn valuable CPR skills. This included proper techniques for giving effective chest compressions and rescue breaths, as well as remembering essential details such as calling 9-11 and getting backup. These skills are important for being an effective lifeguard, and also enable the kids to help during an emergency in any setting.

The kids continued to perform competition-related vitamins and power guards in order to practice for Friday and discover which events they are best at.

The buoy-a-thon is tomorrow! Remember to get pledges! Money is due by the end of the session. Get ready to swim hard!

Climbing wall at JGs today!

2009-07-27T17:25:00.000-07:00

The climbing wall came once again to JGs today! Everyone had at least one chance to reach the top, and everyone did an excellent job.

Lifeguard Trent Ogan gave an excellent presentation on scene safety, personal protection equipment, and communicable diseases. The kids were a great audience and resopnded with great questions and input. Afterwards, each group watched a video created by Newport lifeguards about spinal injuries. The film explained the common ways that people acquire spinal injuries in the ocean, as well as how to avoid these injuries while still having fun. It also explained how to help a person suspected to have a spinal injury.

Since our first competition of the summer is this Friday, physical focus of this week is competition skills. Time trials, paddle board practice, and other competition-related activities will be going on this whole week.

Don't forget the buoy-a-thon is this wednesday! Keep getting those pledges! Also, team photo day is tomorrow so make sure to bring your uniforms!

A Day at the Ty Warner Sea Center

2009-07-24T23:02:00.000-07:00

It was an awesome day at West Beach today! The kids had the opportunity to visit the Ty Warner Sea Center, which features activities such as touch tanks, bird watching, and analyzing sea water for different types of life.

In addition to the sea center, each group got play beach flags, a game which involves racing for pieces of garden hose in soft sand. The game is designed to condition the kids to spotting things quickly and getting to them as fast as possible, as lifeguards must be able to do with rescues.

The day ended with free time in which many of the kids engaged in soccer, nation ball, and cooling off in the water.

Have a great weekend!

El Cap Day!

2009-07-23T22:00:00.000-07:00

Each group completed an especially difficult workout at El Capitan beach today. The kids all charged their hardest with awesome attitudes, truly earning their free time for the remainder of the day.

With warmer water in comparison to the last couple days, activities such as body surfing and paddle boarding were popular, with many kids practicing their surfing skills in the shore break. It was a fun day for everyone!

Don't forget to continue getting those buoy-a-thon pledges! Looking forward to West Beach tomorrow!

Rip currents and ocean conditions

2009-07-22T17:35:00.000-07:00

Hello JG families!

Today was a great day to be spending with the JGs at Refugio! First, the kids learned about ocean hazards courtesy of lifeguards Justin Pantchpakdi and Steven Krause. The lectures included information about the formation of waves and currents, why they can be hazardous, and how to recognize and avoid them when they become dangerous.

Special activities for the day included PWC rides for the B group as well as paddle board lessons for the C's and Little Guards.

Each session the kids complete the buoy-a-thon, which is scheduled for next Wednesday the 29th. The purpose of the buoy-a-thon is to raise money for the JG program so that we can maintain equipment and be able to have special field trips such as visits to the Ty Warner Sea Center, as well as scholarships to stellar JGs who cannot afford the program. Information packets were handed out after free time today.

Don't forget to get those pledges! See you all at El Cap tomorrow!

PWC rides!!

2009-07-21T20:55:00.000-07:00

Though cold winds somewhat disrupted the warm, sunny atmosphere of the week so far, the JGs continued to charge. Overall, it was a fun day of nation ball, buoy swims, sand castle contests, and paddle boarding!

In order to learn about the dangers of rip currents, the kids watched an educational film about Newport Beach lifeguards, which explained the proper techniques for recognizing a rip current and for rescuing someone who is caught it one.

To highlight the day, C's and Little Guards rode the PWC, which is essentially a jet ski designed to make rescues. The kids got to ride on the sled while a lifeguard drove, providing for a fun and exhilarating experience. In the meantime, activities such as sand castle competitions and nation ball commenced on the beach.

The B group took a paddle out the the kelp beds in the afternoon to learn about the types of life found in a kelp forest.

All would agree that this is shaping up to be a great session! We hope for continued sunshine!

Good Morning, Sunshine!

2009-07-20T19:03:00.000-07:00

To start off the second session we were greeted by warm, sunny weather and a great group of kids! After going over basic rules and regulations including beach safety information, each group enthusiastically charged its morning workout.

Instructor Alex Hauck provided an entertaining lecture on lifesaving equipment as well as the responsibilities taken on by lifeguards.

Afternoon activities included water entries, in which the kids learned proper techniques for entering the water quickly and safely. Some groups played water flags, a fun and competitive game which hones the important skill of spotting "rescues," represented by tennis balls, and reaching them as quickly as possible.

Well-earned free time concluded the afternoon. Thanks for a great first day!

Awards banquet culminates the 1st session of JGs.

2009-07-12T15:53:00.000-07:00

Sadly, Friday July 10th marked the end of the first session of JGs.

Each session of Jr. Guards culminates with a special day of activities including a family luncheon of pizza and watermelon, and an awards ceremony in which the kids are recognized for their outstanding achievements over the course of the session.

In keeping with JG tradition, the day started with calisthenics and stretching, followed by the much anticipated "patch swim". The patch swim is a long distance swim workout from one end of Refugio Beach to the other. In completing the patch swim, the kids earn a Refugio JG patch, which serves as a badge of honor for many of the program's participants. It is not uncommon to see JGs with 6-8 patches affixed to their uniform, signifying several years of program participation and completed patch swims.

After the swim, the kids participated in fun beach games and ocean activities until the luncheon. After lunch, the group gathered together to honor several of the JGs who stood out above their peers in a number of areas. The JG special honors fall into categories such as Most Valuable, Most Inspirational, Most Improved, and Best Lifeguard Attributes.

In addition, several Jr. Guards were recognized for their participation in the program's annual fundraiser, known as the "Buoy-A-Thon", which helps raise funds to support the program's tuition assistance program. The kids who earned the most pledge money within their designated age groups were awarded a soft surfboard for their fundraising efforts!

Then, the kids were divided into their individual groups where they received their patches and certificates of completion from their Instructors.

The remainder of the day was spent in the water for one last session of free play--a favorite activity for many of the program's participants.

All in all, it was a great group of kids and a great session!

Ledbetter Beach field trip today!

2009-07-09T21:35:00.000-07:00

Field trips to local Santa Barbara County beaches have always been a highlight of the Refugio JG program, and today's field trip to Ledbetter Beach was no exception.

Not only did the kids get to visit a different beach, but each child got the opportunity to take advantage of a few of Santa Barbara's most interesting and unique attractions and activities, including those offered by the Ty Warner Sea Center, the Santa Barbara Maritime Museum, and the Santa Barbara Youth Sailing Foundation.

The Ty Warner Sea center is a fun, engaging, and interactive marine education facility located on Stearn's Wharf. The primary aim of the Sea Center is to inspire passion for the natural world through education. There are interactive exhibits designed to help the JGs experience scientific discovery, opportunities for them to work like scientists, neat activities like sampling and testing ocean water, studying marine animal behavior, and examining microscopic marine life, as well as live tide pool animal encounters and even a theatre showcasing the wonders of the Santa Barbara Channel.

The Santa Barbara Maritime Museum offers a wide array of educational opportunities designed to engage the JGs and educate them about Santa Barbara's unique maritime tradition and history. Exhibits at the museum include tall ship models, navigating and piloting, survival at sea, shipwrecks, and educational programs that focus on topics such as the impact of whaling, seal and otter hunting, and our local Channel Islands. The museum offers a treasure of experiences centered on providing the JGs with an opportunity to experience the nature, beauty, and wonders of the California coast.

The purpose of the SB Youth Sailing Foundation experience is to develop in the JGs, through the sport of sailing, attributes of self-reliance, responsibility, teamwork and sportsmanship, together with the constant awareness of ocean safety. Many of the JGs got the chance to experience the sport of sailing on a 24 foot sloop (many for the 1st time ever).

The day's field trip ended with free play in the warm and kelp-filled water off of Ledbetter Beach, and the kids left looking ready for tomorrow's patch swim and awards ceremony at Refugio State Beach!

Fun comp day at JGs today!

2009-07-08T18:17:00.000-07:00

The Instructor and Assistant staff were up very early this morning in order to prepare the beach for today's special event known as the "JG Fun Comp"!

The last week of Junior Guards is marked by a number of fun days and special activities. Today's event, which included an obstacle course, bunker ball, tug-o-war, and Jr. Guard Jeopardy, was designed to reward the kids for their hard work over the course of the session, by creating a day of fun and unique activities. The kids were divided into 8 groups of various ages, and each group competed against the others in the following events.

Obstacle course: The obstacle course included a "snake pit" of seaweed and saltwater, boogie board hurdles, a slalom course, and other obstacles that the kids had to run, jump, and crawl through to reach the finish line.

Bunker ball: Bunker ball is a variation of the game nation ball, and includes pits and mounds that the kids can hide under and around as they try to evade and eliminate other competitors by tagging them with Nerf balls.

Tug-o-war: The JG tug-o-war event really helped to highlight the concept of team work as the kids dug in and tried to pull each other across the beach and into a moat of sand and seaweed.

JG Jeopardy: Finally, the kids competed against each other in a special version of the TV game show Jeopardy, which included categories such as ocean safety, lifesaving skills, first aid & CPR, and the environment.

Each group did an excellent job over the course of the day, and the kids really seemed to enjoy the day's special activities!

Climbing wall and snorkeling today at JGs!!!

2009-07-07T16:11:00.001-07:00

Today was another great day at JGs!

The Jr. Guard program was very happy to have the Lompoc Police Activity League's 30 foot climbing wall down to the beach today. Each child was given the opportunity to scale the wall for a period of time and a number of the kids proved to be excellent climbers! A big thank you was in order for Officer Phillip Dollman of the Lompoc Police Department and the other members of the Lompoc PAL.

Next, Lifeguard Terra Dressler gave the kids a very interesting presentation on local marine life, pollution, and erosion. Teaching the kids about local marine organisms and explaining the importance of protecting the beach and ocean environment is an important component of the Jr. Guard curriculum. The kids were very enthusiastic about learning how to protect their local beaches and many were already well-versed in the topic.

After the presentation, each group had the opportunity to go snorkeling off of Refugio Point, where the kelp canopy is flourishing thanks to last month's cold water (ideal growing conditions for the kelp). The kids were able to identify a number of local fish species, marine plants, and other animals who frequent the kelp forest and the rocky coastline.

The remainder of the day was split between kayaking out to the kelp forest, surfing at the point, and boogieboarding. With the recent sun and warm water, it is near impossible to get the kids out of the water at the end of the day. They are really taking advantage of our unique and beautiful environment and it will be sad to see them go at the end of the session.

1, 2, 3, JUMP!!!

2009-07-04T15:42:00.000-07:00

Friday's field trip to Gaviota State beach was a splash as the JGs got to special permission to jump off of the Gaviota pier!

For some of the program's participants, this was a new and unnerving experience, but for the veterans, nervousness was out weighted by excitement, and many of the kids leapt eagerly into the chilly waters below.

Afterwards, Lifeguards Dustin Alker and Steven Krause gave presentations on poisonous animals of the marine environment and touched on topics such as how to treat a stingray wound, snake bite, jellyfish sting, and bee sting (among others).

The rest of the day was spent relaxing in the warm sun, and boogie boarding, surfing, and swimming in the ocean.

The Gaviota pier jump is a highlight for many of the program's young participants, and a good time was had by all!

U.S. Coast Guard at JGs today!!!

2009-07-02T17:27:00.000-07:00

The United States Coast Guard Cutter Blackfin made an appearance down at JGs today!

The C.G. Cutter Blackfin, whose home port is Santa Barbara Harbor, is an 87 foot military patrol boat. The Blackfin's mission is to protect the public, the environment, and the nation's economic and security interests in the nation's ports, waterways, and along our local coastline. The Coast Guard provides a unique learning opportunity for the JGs because of its distinctive blend of military, humanitarian, and law enforcement capabilities, in addition to their role as ocean lifesavers. The Blackfin is often called into action alongside our local lifeguards during aquatic emergencies and other incidents that occur along the Gaviota Coast.

After a short swim out to the boat, the JGs got an up-close view of the vessel and its capabilities. They toured the interior of the vessel, got the opportunity to touch some of the unique rescue gear housed inside the cutter, and took turns exploring the vessel's outer decks and bridge. The Blackfin's crew were excellent tour guides and took the time to answer dozens of questions from the JGs and the Instructor staff.

The Coast Guard Cutter tour is a highlight for many of the program's participants, as well as the Instructor staff, and today's visit did not disappoint. After the tour, the kids played a variety of games that mimic traditional lifeguard competition events including beach flags and surf flags.

After a long week of first aid training, running, swimming, paddling, surfing, boogie boarding, and other exercises and activities, the kids have definitely earned tomorrow's field trip to Gaviota State Beach!

Cold water at the Buoy-A-Thon today...Brrrrr!!!

2009-07-01T16:22:00.000-07:00

The cold water stole the show as the kids participated in the Refugio JG Program's annual fundraiser known as the Buoy-A-Thon!

The purpose of the Buoy-A-Thon is to help raise funds to support the JG program's tuition assistance program, which provides scholarships to JGs who are unable to attend the program due to financial hardships. The event is held once per session and it was a smashing success in its first year (2008).

This year, the kids braved unseasonably cold water (60-62 degrees) as they swam around buoys placed 50-100 yards off shore (distances varied by age group) for a period of 30 minutes. Lifeguard Justin Panitchpakdi provided some inspirational music powered by a massive stereo system to help keep the kids going. It was a fun and exhilarating event, one that will not be forgotten anytime soon--mostly because of the chilly ocean temps!

After the kids had a chance to warm up and refuel at lunch, Lifeguards Trent Ogan and Linnea Jenkins provided lessons covering topics such as soft tissue injuries, how to control bleeding, how to dress and bandage wounds, and more!

The day wrapped with some free play--which gives the kids a chance to practice many of the ocean skills learned at Jr. Guards--and some fun beach games in the afternoon sun. The sun's early appearance made getting in the chilly water much more enjoyable for all of the program's young participants, especially those little guards with their extremely low body fat.

Today was another great day!!!

CPR day at JGs!!!

2009-06-30T15:18:00.000-07:00

Hello Jr. Guard Families,

Today was another fun and exciting day at JGs as the kids received hands-on training in CPR, rescue breathing, and airway obstruction (choking).

Retired Lifeguard Supervisor and Refugio JG Program founder Greg White graciously donated his time to teach the kids these valuable skills (ones we hope they will never have to use). Each child was given the opportunity to practice their skills on manikins, in order to make the exercise as realistic as possible (age appropriate precautions were taken to keep it from being too realistic). In the end, the kids exceeded the expectations of the Instructor staff as they performed near-perfect CPR drills for several minutes with little/no assistance from the staff! This is one of the most important skill sets provided by our program and the kids did a great job!

Later on, the children took part in a variety of activities including kayaking and paddle boarding from Refugio beach, around the point to Las Flores beach (a.k.a Lorraine's), and then back. They also participated in some rather unique run relays in which the kids donned all kinds of beach and ocean equipment before they took turn sprinting down the beach. The day ended with some surfing and boogie boarding near the point, in addition to a reminder to get a good night's sleep before tomorrow's Buoy-A-Thon fundraiser.

All in all, another great day!

Lots of first aid training today at JGs!!!

2009-06-29T16:13:00.000-07:00

A lot of things were happening today at JGs:

The day began with all of the kids getting together to take the Jr. Guard team photo, followed by the daily vitamin (workout). The vitamin included a run-swim-run-swim in the chilly 63 degree water, and many of the program's young participants really pushed themselves by giving a maximum effort!

Next, Lifeguard Trent Ogan gave a very thorough first aid presentation, focusing on topics such as what to do in an emergency, how to safely approach the scene of an accident, how to protect oneself from potential hazards like communicable diseases, and how to assess the victim/patient of an illness or injury.

Later on, Lifeguard Linnea Jenkins showed a video titled "Project Wipeout", which taught the JGs how to avoid a spinal cord injury in the ocean, and went on to discuss some of the emergency first aid equipment used by lifeguards when responding to suspected spinal cord injury incidents.

After a leisurely lunch, the kids took part in a number of beach games including beach flags and run relays, and wrapped up the day with some free play and surfing at Refugio Point.

All in all, another great day at JGs!!!

Surf's up at El Capitan!

2009-06-26T20:23:00.000-07:00

Good waves made today's field trip extra enjoyable as the kids got a chance to show off their surfing, bodyboarding, and bodysurfing skills in the 2'-4' surf at El Capitan State Beach today!

The Friday field trip is meant to reward the JGs for their outstanding efforts and accomplishments over the course of the week by arranging a special day of free play and other fun activities at one of Refugio's neighboring beaches. Not only does the Friday field trip give the kids a chance to relax after a tough week of running, swimming, push-ups and ocean safety training, it also gives them the opportunity to see and enjoy the numerous other beaches in our area. The El Capitan field trip is traditionally held on the first Friday of each session, and it normally offers a bit more surf than Refugio.

After completing their morning "vitamin" (daily workout), the kids were privy to expert surfing, bodyboarding, and bodysurfing instruction by Lifeguard Alex Hauck. Alex is a professional-level surfer and a 2007 Rincon Classic surfing champion! The kids really seemed to soak up the information provided by Alex, and they quickly hit the water with surfboards and boogie boards in hand.

Not surprisingly, a number of the JGs were already excellent surfers and bodyboarders, and those who were new to the sports were given the opportunity practice on their own, or work one-on-one with the Instructor staff to help develop their skills. As an Instructor there is nothing more rewarding than seeing a JG catch their first wave or stand up for the first time! It's moments like those that really stick with us, and there were a lot at El Capitan today.

All in all, it was a great first week with a great group of kids! Now it's time to go home, get some rest, and gear up for another fun-filled week of Jr. Guards!

See you on the beach!

Lots of sun and fun today at JGs!!!

2009-06-25T16:59:00.000-07:00

Hello JG Families,

The day began with a little bit of June gloom, which quickly burned off, making for a great day!

Warmer temps made the day's vitamin (workout) much more pleasurable for the kids, and each of the groups took advantage of the good weather, spending most of the day in the ocean.

Today's lesson combined many of the aquatic safety skills learned over the course of the week, and gave the kids the opportunity to show off their newly-learned ocean skills. The JGs were paired up as "victim" and "rescuer", and each team took turns rescuing each other from the surf! Donning rescue buoys and actually performing aquatic rescues was a pretty special moment for many of our program's young participants and our staff. It was great to see how far the kids have come in such a short amount of time!

The rest of the day was spent playing beach games, learning the finer techniques of paddleboarding, and boogie boarding during free play.

It's been a long week of running, swimming, push-ups, and skills practice, and many of the kids are looking forward to a fun and relaxing field trip to El Capitan State Beach tomorrow (Friday). The Friday field trips are meant to reward the kids for a week of hard work, and they definitely deserve it!

The kids are gonna need a nap. You can thank me later.

2009-06-24T16:12:00.000-07:00

Hello JG families,

Spirits were high today at JGs as the water temp is on the rise!

In spite of the early morning drizzle, the 64-66 degree water made for a very pleasant daily vitamin (daily workout). The JGs got to practice their water entry skills as they ran, swam, and paddled their way through the surf zone, and many of the kids really began to show off their ocean swimming abilities.

Lifeguards Aaron Schu and Steven Krause provided an excellent presentation on ocean hazards, paying special attention to rip currents (since 80% of all rescues can be attributed to the hazard). The kids learned how to identify and avoid these dangerous ocean currents, and even found out how to use a rip current to their advantage when entering the surf line.

Later on, Lifeguard Quinten Beckmann fired up the rescue jet ski and towed many of the kids behind the watercraft, similar to how lifeguards tow their victims during rescues. Happy screams and laughter could be heard all the way to the beach!

The day ended with fun games and beach activities including surf flags (it's like musical chairs but with tennis balls, and it involves running into the ocean to chase and capture the balls). The point of the exercise is to have fun while developing the kids' ocean entry skills (pretty sneaky huh?).

There were a lot of tired faces on the buses this afternoon, and I think that the week's activities are beginning to catch up with some of the kids. It's important to remember that they burn many more calories than usual while down at JGs, and may require extra food, water, and sunscreen just to make it through the day. They're like little "Chia-pets"! Keep 'em fed and watered and they'll be just fine!

Another great day of fun and a little sun!

2009-06-23T17:00:00.001-07:00

Hello JG Families,

Well, the day started off a bit grim with cool weather and chilly ocean temps, but thankfully, the sun made its appearance early in the afternoon and things warmed up nicely!

Today's topics included water entries and an introduction to the ocean environment. The kids learned how to enter the water safely and quickly, utilizing high-stepping, dolphining, and ocean swimming techniques employed by lifeguards during rescues.

Lifeguard Justin Panitchpakdi gave an in-depth presentation on the ocean conditions commonly encountered along the Pacific Coast (i.e. tides, waves, etc.), and went on to discuss the causes behind some of the more extreme ocean conditions, particularly tsunamis and extreme tides. The kids also learned how to read and use a tide book, and got some insight into the oceanography behind the recent drop in the local water temperature.

The day wrapped up with fun beach activities like nation ball and beach flags, and many children took the opportunity to hit the water for some boogie boarding during free play!

All in all, another great day at the beach!

A fun and exciting first day!

2009-06-22T18:00:00.000-07:00

Hello Jr. Guard Families,

It was a great first day at JGs!

The day started out with Instructor introductions and a quick (but important) talk about the program's rules and safety procedures, including the importance of wearing sunscreen to protect oneself from the harmful and damaging rays of the sun.

Later in the day, lifeguards Alex Hauck and Axel Delgado gave a presentation on the role of the professional lifeguard and standard lifesaving equipment. The kids learned about the lifeguard's buoy and fins, how they use the lifeguard tower, and got a great orientation of all the cool rescue equipment in the lifeguard truck.

Perhaps the highlight of the day was seeing an enormous "bait ball" of fish schooling directly in front of the JG program area. Dolphins, seals, sea lions, pelicans and other marine life could all be seen feeding off of a massive school of swirling fish and micro-organisms just offshore! It was a great reminder of how alive our ocean really is and it provided an opportunity for many of the program's young participants to get an up close and personal view of some amazing creatures in their natural environment!

The day ended with free play in the chilly water and some fun beach games. All in all a great day at the beach!

Day 1 instructions for parents and JGs

2009-06-11T08:36:00.000-07:00

Hello Jr. Guard families,

The 1st day of JGs (session 1) is almost here and the JG Instructor staff is excited to be back on the beach! Here are a few important reminders to be aware of before the 1st day of JGs:

1) Go to the website www.refugiojg.com and review the bus pick-up and drop-off times. The schedule is located on the "downloadable documents" page of the website. *Note: bus stop times change on July 9th as we will be attending a field trip in Santa Barbara.

2) We will be selling uniform items for the first 2 days of each session. If you still need uniform items you can either show up in person or send a blank check with your child, including a list of what he/she needs (this way there will be no surprises!).

3) Make sure your child shows up in uniform and brings a towel, large lunch, lots of water, and sunscreen! It gets hot down there (sun protection is a must) and these kids are burning way more calories than normal. We don't want starving &/or sunburned kids down there, right?

4) Remember to bring a positive attitude! JGs is a fun and unique experience that most children never get to experience. At times it can be challenging, but the skills and knowledge that the kids take home with them will stay with them for their entire lives. Having a positive attitude each day is so important to getting the most out of our program!

5) This blog will be updated on a daily basis while the program is in session. Check it out on a regular basis to see what your child/children are accomplishing each day. You may be amazed to see all the fun things that take place each day!

*Remember, it is our goal to provide a fun and safe environment for all of our young participants. With that being said, I look forward to seeing everyone down on the beach this summer for an excellent session!

Tryouts and uniform sales are happening in May!!!

2009-05-15T15:46:00.000-07:00

Hello Refugio JG families!!!

Jr. Guard tryouts are happening throughout the month of May, 2009. Tryouts are an excellent opportunity to pick up your uniform items for the summer Jr. Guard season. Simply attend any of the tryouts listed below to collect your gear.

Friday, May 8 • 6:30-8 pm • Lompoc Aquatic Center, Lompoc CA
Friday, May 15 • 6:30-8 pm • Santa Ynez High School, Santa Ynez CA
Friday, May 22 • 6:30-8 pm • Lompoc Aquatic Center, Lompoc CA
Friday, May 29 • 5-7:30 pm • Dos Pueblos High School, Goleta CA
Friday, June 5 • 5-7 pm • Ocean Tryout at Refugio State Beach, Goleta CA

Don't forget that a free t-shirt is included with your tuition. Also, we have lots of t-shirts, sweatshirts, and shorts in adult sizes for parents who wish to sport our logo!

Thanks & we'll see you at the tryouts!

The application process for 2009 has begun!

2009-03-26T14:27:00.001-07:00

Hello Jr. Lifeguard Families,

The application process for our program is now under way! Simply go to the "SIGN UP" page on our website and follow the registration instructions to enroll in the program.

*Returning JGs: Once you have submitted your application and payment, you can consider yourself enrolled!

*New JGs: New JG applicants will need to try out before they can be enrolled. Tryout info is available on our web site's home page. Applications will be available at the tryouts or you can print out an application from the website and then bring it with you to the tryouts.

We have lots of great activities, field trips, & guest speakers lined up for our program this summer. Enroll now to reserve your spot in this unique and exciting program!

I'll see you on the beach!

Sincerely, Brian Uhl - Refugio JG Coordinator

Welcome!!!

2009-01-03T11:24:00.000-08:00

Hello Refugio Jr. Lifeguards, parents, and community partners!!!

I just wanted to take this opportunity to welcome you to the Refugio Jr. Lifeguard Program's latest development, The Daily Web Log. The Daily Web Log is a blog aimed at keeping parents and participants of the JG Program informed as to the Program's many activities. It is updated daily at the end of each JG Program day (June-August) and as the need arises during the off-season.

The Refugio Jr. Lifeguard Program strives at keeping parents and participants informed. Therefore, if you have any questions or would like more information regarding this blog, the JG Program, and/or its activities, please feel free to email us anytime at Refugiojrguards@parks.ca.gov.

Thanks! I hope to see you on the beach again this summer!

Sincerely, Brian Uhl - Refugio JG Program Coordinator