Leading Lifeguard Week

Although I have worked at Kingsley Pines Camp as a cabin counselor and the swimming activity head for the past two summers, I was also asked to take on the additional responsibility of becoming certified as a lifeguard instructor and running “lifeguard week” this summer. Lifeguard week is the week preceding staff training week during which we certify new lifeguards and re-certify lifeguards whose certifications have expired. In the past, the waterfront director or an instructor from outside of the organization has taught lifeguard week. However, this year, Evan, our waterfront director, was unable to teach lifeguard week because of conflicts from his year-round job, so my director asked me to certify or re-certify a class of twelve lifeguards. It was quite unusual for someone of my age and with my position to be asked to teach lifeguarding week.

Going into lifeguard week, I was a little bit intimidated by the responsibilities given to me because I knew how serious they were. Our lifeguards are responsible for the safety of our campers, which is one of our greatest priorities as a camp staff. We run many activities on our waterfront, such as waterskiing, wakeboarding, boating, and others, which are dangerous if done incorrectly and include a high degree of risk. I knew that I needed to ensure that our new lifeguards were competent and confident in their abilities to intervene when needed. This goal was especially intimidating because not only was this my first time instructing a lifeguarding course, but I was also instructing many of my peers, thereby creating many complicated power dynamics. Because of these complicated power dynamics and my previously existing relationships with most of the class, I was worried about keeping the class on-task and how my peers would perceive my authority. However, I think I earned their respect by being confident in my role, being approachable, and most importantly, often referring to the primary goal of our campers’ safety and that goal superseded the initial wariness toward my authority. I think people appreciated that I took the time to build relationships with them and demonstrated empathy toward how lengthy and physically-taxing the course can be for participants.

Throughout the week, I also ran into a few other logistical issues. Kingsley Pines Camp is located on Panther Pond in the Lakes Region of Maine. Because we are so far north, the weather was a definite challenge this week. We had a pool reserved for the initial day of testing; however, we were expected to be in the lake for the rest of the in-water sessions. However, we haven’t had many warm days here this spring, and the ice on the lake had not melted until several weeks ago. I’m not quite sure what the water temperature was, but we think it was below 60 degrees. Despite using wetsuits, the first day in the lake was tough. We were not getting through the material that I hoped we would for that day, people were shivering, and I was frustrated. I took the initiative to ask my program director to consider renting more pool time for later in the week, and he did. While I felt like a failure in the moment of the request because in the past, we have been able to get through entire lifeguard weeks in the lake, it was the best choice for the group as a whole. I am glad I made that choice in that moment not only because it improved morale, but also because it ensured that we were able to fully solidify skills in the pool before we tried them the next day in the lake. The time we booked in the pool was also not the same time frame we would have been in the lake, so I had to figure out how to restructure the rest of the course to make the best use of the pool time.

Teaching lifeguard week propelled me into a higher leadership position which taught me how to work on an equal level with my directors, to take initiative, and to ask for help when I needed it, even if it made me feel weaker in the moment. I further improved my teaching skills and pushed myself out of my comfort zone. Lastly, I also dealt with the difficult situation of communicating with a participant who did not pass the class, thus improving my confrontational skills. Most importantly, we now have eleven lifeguards who are competent and ready for summer 2019.

One thought on “Leading Lifeguard Week

  • Great photo! Sounds like it was challenging…I don’t care about wet suits, not interested in spending extended periods of time in water that is less than 60 degrees. I thought you were going to say the ice had not yet melted (now). But on to the real stuff, nice reflection. It’s great that given your previous experience with the site, your first submission can be a ‘personal contribution’ reflection. You are familiar with the organization but more importantly, they have obviously developed trust and respect for you asking you to lead this initiative. Nice reflecting on the challenges of the role given pre-established relationship and similar ages; sounds like you handled it with great aplomb!

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