Jr. guards seek funds for programs

Doug Tabbert

As the city builds the Junior Lifeguards a new home base, its

fund-raising arm has launched a campaign to raise money for an

endowment fund and new equipment.

The Friends of the Junior Lifeguards, a nonprofit group set up to

support the program, kicked off what will be a 14-month effort this

month to raise $750,000. Two-thirds of that sum is slated for an

endowment fund that will enable more scholarships, financial aid

programs and educational programs.

The group hopes to increase the number of scholarships and

educational opportunities available, said Samantha Dieterman, who is

in charge of donor relations.

The Junior Lifeguard Program is an eight-week summer program that

teaches children ages 9 to 17 about the ocean environment.

The changing of facilities, part of phase two of the city’s beach

improvement project, is what prompted the organization to launch the

fund drive.

A temporary boardwalk south of the pier snakes around the

rudiments of rescue plaza, which will be comprised of two new

buildings, at 1st Street and Pacific Coast Highway. The educational

building will be the junior guards’ summer headquarters and will be

used to educate the community throughout the year on first aid, ocean

safety and oceanography. It is set to be completed by June 2004.

“We want to bring back programs such as the Catalina trip,” said

Dieterman, where students focus on marine biology and the ecology of

the island and California.

The junior lifeguard exchange trip occurs every two years.

Huntington Beach sends 15 to 25 guards overseas to experience

lifesaving in different countries, and a similar number of young

guards come from other countries as well. Guards have traveled and

competed in locals such as Germany, Australia, New Zealand and Fiji.

The city is paying for the construction of the buildings, but the

onus to raise money for new fins, bodyboards, rescue paddleboards,

lockers, computers, desks, conference tables and other necessities is

left to generous donors.

The Friends of the Junior Lifeguards are relying on four major

drives to obtain the necessary cash: an insert requesting donations

accompanies resident’s water bills, the annual pancake breakfast,

corporate contributions and a dinner with a silent auction.

The program is about the size of a public middle school, and this

coastal classroom is a combination of physical conditioning, ocean

safety and recreation. More than 1,000 junior guards hit the beach

last summer, and no fewer are expected this year, when home base will

be portable trailers on the hot sand.

“As teachers, we teach our communities children about the ocean

and its environment,” said David Simcox, junior lifeguard

coordinator. “And as lifeguards we teach the children how to protect

themselves, their family and friends form the dangers of the ocean.”