Lifeguarding Job

I put lifeguard as one of my options for employment. Has anyone had any experience in Lifeguarding at CP? Did you like it/ would you recommend it for me?

Thanks!

Austin

I have not - but some observations:
Since most of the lifeguard jobs are at Soak City, many of them start a little later date. The SC calendar is not up yet, so check later. They are also shorter work days, typically closing at 8pm.
Some positions are more demanding, so they require more training & qualifying.
Last summer there were a lot of internationals, and they start even later in the summer. I don't know if that's always the case.
Good luck!

Lifeguards process in when we do. Soak city doesn't open until the last week of May. They clean things until then. They clean the beach, slides, lazy river, etc. one year they found a family if turtles in the lazy river.

Austin Hull said:
I put lifeguard as one of my options for employment. Has anyone had any experience in Lifeguarding at CP? Did you like it/ would you recommend it for me?

Thanks!

Austin

My frined worked as a Lifeguard in Soak City (West Crew) in 2011. He liked it, for the most part. Soak City calendar is up on the CP Website. I applied for rides. I have worked there for 2 years in a row. If you have any questiosn, e-mial me at: jpadden@zanestate.edu

I know a lot, and the things that I can't answer, Erin 1666, & MillenniumSpork will know the answers to those ones.

I can tell you that lifeguarding at Castaway Bay was a nightmare. Not so much the job, but the people who were working there when it opened. I was constantly ridiculed for my sexual orientation and had my life made a living hell by my gay roomates who destroyed/stole a lot of my belongings.

About actually lifeguarding at the park, it's a lot different from guarding at a community pool. This isn't "relax in a chair" this is, "constantly pace back and fourth and watch your water like a hawk." You really need to be able to stare at the same patch of water and not loose your concentration. You train to respond to emergencies as a team. Most of the positions are enjoyable, but the wave pool will test your nerves, but you won't be stationed at the same position for too long as you will rotate around different stations in the park. Management will also test your eyes. Quite frequently they'll throw dummies in the pool that lay on the bottom to look like a drowning guest, and will time you on how fast your notice/rescue said dummy. They'll also record you from a distance while you watch your water. And you had better be watching diligently, even if there is NO ONE in the pool. So, there is quite a bit of pressure that you have to be able to thrive under.

Uh, who ever mentioned that you usually work shorter work days was lying to you. Well, partially. It honestly depends on what crew you get placed on and when you come in. I began the first week of the season and because I went through more training, I ended up on beach while the rest of the life guards cleaned soak city. The cleaners had an average of 40hr per week before opening, while, our crew on beach, at least for the first month, were averaging 70ish hours a week. I hit over 80 at least twice and then somehow got reprimanded for it...If you work beach and get there early in the season, plan on starting at 8am and going home at 11pm. Once Soak city opens then the crews start getting actual shifts, and from my experience on beach/wave crew I would average 60ish+ hours. On beach weeks you get more hours, around 70ish. It is not an easy job though, it will require you to do A LOT of walking and I mean a lot if you are on wave/beach. It is also extremely stressful, but on the upside, your crew will be amazing. The job would have been horrible if it had not been for my awesome crew. If you're looking to get in a lot of hours, and get really horrible tan lines, all while meeting some really awesome people, then go for it.

I worked in Challenge Park so every week I was working at Soak City 1 or 2 days out the week. What I can say is I hated it. I rather much work at my own job.

Constantly standing in the hot ass sun, walking back and forth, back and forth, back and forth, making sure no one was drowning. Dont think your going to be sitting in a high lifeguard chair, -Bursting bubble in 3...2...1.. You're NOT!

Then (Tops) is what they call it when you stand at the top of slides and make sure that only the right amount of people go down each slide at once and not a bus load.

Umm.. Shelby was great I dont know if she's returning but if you do soak city your going to want to be in her section, trust me!

You have to go through all these lifeguarding classes so be ready, just knowing how to swim isnt going to cut it.

Umm height stick is when you stand around holding a stick making sure the kids are tall enough to go in certain pools, you just stand there for HOURS. I did it twice and I just wanted to get hit by a bus it was so effing boring and my feet were dying. Stood there about 3 hours straight in the scorching sun. It was horrible!

Also you have to clean big exploded fish off the beach, heard it smelled like death. And you have to get up at the crack of dawn if you do beach.

Well uh I hope I didnt scare you or ruin what you thought about working there. Good luck and I hope you get hired! (Grammar Nazi's, Suck it!)

Even though I'm hearing all these stories about how bad it ACTUALLY IS i still am so excited that ill be working there! I know after about a month ill learn to hate it though right?