The  Los Angeles Board of Supervisors and the County of Los Angeles Department of Parks and Recreation recently announced the Lifeguard Ready Training (LRT) program. Chief Deputy Director at Los Angeles County Parks and Recreation, Alina Bokde has informed us that for the first time ever, LA County is investing in lifeguard training for those 14-24 year-olds in South LA, Southeast LA, and East LA for year-round well-paid jobs as junior lifeguards, as well as potential prospects in future Aquatic Careers.

Los Angeles County Parks and Recreation Director Norma Edith García-González shared her thoughts in a recent interview with Our Weekly.  “We’re committed to addressing the underrepresentation of diversity in lifeguard careers.  We are excited about the opportunities to provide BIPOC and youth with the promise of summer jobs and a career ladder in aquatics and beyond. The intentionality behind the Lifeguard Ready Training curriculum and mentoring framework can serve as a model for our region.”

This junior lifeguard program is a paid training specifically for Black and Latinx youth that will provide them with the skills and equipment needed to go through all 12 sessions, and be able to work as Lifeguards at South LA pools. The program will also aid them through the process of submitting applications to the County of LA once they have fully completed them. Enrollment in the program requires participants to be able to swim 500 yards in 9 minutes and 30 seconds or less.

Register for the Lifeguard Ready Training

Program pool locations are as follows:

Jesse Owens, 9651 S Western Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90047

Roosevelt Pk, 7600 Graham Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90001

Belvedere Pk, 4914 East Cesar E Chavez Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90022

Register for the Lifeguard Ready Training