The Town of Golden Recreation Department and the lifeguards at the Golden Municipal Swimming Pool have developed a program that will help young swimmers begin the journey to become lifeguards.
The Fast Track to Bronze program ran at the pool on July 15.
This new program is attempting to bridge the gap between the Red Cross Swimming Lesson programs and the Life Saving Society programs that are geared around water rescue and first aid.
Megan Arlt is one of the lifeguard supervisors at the pool who helped to develop the program.
“The program is an introduction to the Bronze Medallion and Bronze Cross courses. Those are the first steps to become a lifeguard,” she said.
The course in Golden will consist of three hours of training focussed on lifeguard skills that the participants will have to use in the next level courses.
“It is a fun job. I think it is a job that you can take almost anywhere. It is great to get kids out early and help them stay in shape. It is good for them,” Arlt said.
“As you go through these courses you have to maintain a level of fitness. You also have to be a team player to be successful. People who attend these courses are getting a step ahead on understanding leadership and how to develop communications skills for any job,” said Recreation Co-ordinator for the Town of Golden, Kim Bryan.
“They have created three, one-hour blocks throughout the day. Each hour builds on the previous one so it gets more difficult as the day goes on.”
Our instructors identified a gap between the end of swim lessons for kids and the bronze program. This program comes in to provide a challenge for the kids who have advanced quickly.”
This is the first time this course has been offered in Golden, and Manager of Recreation Services Jordan Petrovics sees it as something that can grow both in and outside Golden.
“It is in a pilot project mode and there have been a lot of discussions going on at the Red Cross and life savings level on how to bridge the gap between programs,” he said.
“We are going to be able to provide them with ideas based on this program to the industry on how to fill the gap. We are ahead of the curve by launching something on this level.”
Approximately 14 people signed up for the course, and there are plans to hold another session on Aug. 12. Anyone interested in taking part in the course in August can get more information at the pool.
