Learning is fun on sand

For the kids who prefer running on the beach to sunbathing on the sand, the city of Newport Beach Recreation Services is offering a new beach camp to quench the athletic thirst of those active youngsters.

The 19th Street Beach Wave Crashers is a beachfront, feet-in-the-sand day camp that combines fun with noncompetitive beach athletics.

After the popular junior lifeguard program was shortened from one 8-week session, to two four-week sessions this year, the city wanted to bring in an alternative, beach-focused program, said Christine Stempleski, a city recreation coordinator.

Many Newport Beach kids were used to participating in junior guards all summer, but they now they have more summer time to occupy, said Newport Beach resident Jack Tingley, who owns BeachSports, the company that runs the Wave Crashers program.

Tingley, who worked as a Los Angeles County lifeguard for 15 years, has operated a private junior lifeguard program in Manhattan Beach and Redondo Beach since 1995.

It’s a 10-week summer and they wanted to offer kids something to do during the six weeks when they’re not in junior guards, Tingley said.

Tingley has been running a beach camp for several years with the city, but this is the first time it’s been expanded to include a wider variety of activities.

“We took a look at the needs of the community, and we realized just a day-care-type setting, hanging out at the beach wasn’t what the community wanted,” Stempleski said.

The camp, about five hours long each day, will feature running, swimming, paddling, kayaking and beach environment education, Tingley said.

“It is a true learning experience,” Tingley said.

The camp, open to kids ages 5 to 13, is offered in two- and four-week sessions, with start dates from June 26 to Aug. 21. For information on specific dates and times or to register, go to the city’s website, www4.city.newport-beach.ca.us.

Though the Wave Crashers program does teach the kids beach and ocean safety, it’s not a substitute for junior lifeguards, Tingley said. Participants will not be taught lifesaving techniques, and the class isn’t certified by the U.S. Lifesaving Assn., the governing certification board of lifeguard agencies throughout the country.

The class is taught by instructors who are experienced surfers, swimmers and all-around athletes, Tingley said.

If kids are interested in learning ocean lifesaving skills, the city’s junior lifeguards program, run by the Newport Beach Fire Department, still has openings in one afternoon session, said Lifeguard Battalion Chief Reenie Boyer. Anyone interested should call (949) 675-8420.

Sign-ups for the city’s beach camps, not including junior lifeguards, have been slow going so far this year, Stempleski said.

“People aren’t thinking of the beach yet because of the rainy weather we’ve had,” Stempleski said.

People usually starting signing up after spring break. The city’s recreation programs are open to anyone although nonresident fees do apply, Stempleski said.dpt.07-onthewater-kt-CPhotoInfo9G1PND5L20060407ixbqi2ncKENT TREPTOW / DAILY PILOT(LA)Kelly Parker, left, Ed Bangasser and Tyler Bowlin, kneeling, work for BeachSports, which is putting on beach camps for kids this summer.