The BSA Lifeguard course provides training for professional lifeguards, with a specific focus on the skills needed for BSA council and unit aquatic events. In this course, adult and youth participants (15 years of age or older) will learn the necessary skills to set up safe swim areas, provide supervision and surveillance, safely perform rescues on land and in water, and understand when it is best to utilize reaching and throwing assists, boat rescues, and “go” rescues in the water. The course will be an intense, fun, and rewarding experience over the course of two weekends.

BSA Lifeguard is a professional level certification, equivalent to Red Cross Lifeguarding with waterfront specialty, and is recognized by many organizations including the NY Department of Health. You can not only use this certification for your units and at Scouts BSA summer camps, but also for a great summer or after-school job!

This course will also include First Aid and Basic Life Support (CPR/AED for the Professional Rescuer) training. These courses are typically certifications that are offered separately from lifeguard courses for an additional fee.

Participants must have strong swimming abilities. Course pre-requisites are tested before any additional requirements may be completed. These are: (1) a 550-yard swim using front crawl and/or breaststroke (goggles allowed), followed 2 minutes treading water without using your arms, and (2) a separate timed event (goggles not allowed) consisting of a 25-yard swim, 10-lb object retrieval from the bottom (8 ft deep), and return in 1 min 40 sec or less.

Participants will arrive at Camp Wakpominee on Friday night at 7:00 PM of each weekend for check-in. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner on Saturday, as well as breakfast and lunch on Sunday, will be provided both weekends. Participants will be dismissed by 5:00 PM each Sunday. Participants MUST be able to fully participate in both weekends for completion, without exception.