FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions
What kind of swimmer do I have to be to become a lifeguard?
Before you can be take a certification course, you will be subject to a swim test where you will have to:
Swim 300 yards continuously using front crawl or breaststroke
Tread water for two minutes using only your legs
Complete a time event within one minute, forty seconds (1:40) where starting in the water, you swim 20 years, surface dive to a depth of 7 – 10 feet to retrieve a 10 pound object, return to the surface and swim 20 yards to the starting point with both hands holding the object and your face at or near the surface so you can get a breath, and exit the pool without a ladder or steps.
Is there a minimum age?
New York State requires that lifeguards at a summer camp be at least 16 years old.
Do I have to have any prior experience?
You don’t need any prior experience working as a lifeguard or teaching how to swim. We do look for people who have experience working with children and experience with mentoring, tutoring, teaching or being a team leader.
How much interaction will I have with the campers?
As a lifeguard, your interaction is minimal. You are there to safeguard the swimmers and make sure they are adhering to pool rules.
As a swim instructor, you will have groups assigned to you that you will work with daily and develop a teacher/student relationship with.
What are the hours?
Work hours are from 8:30am – 4:00pm Monday – Friday.
Would I spend all day in a chair?
No. It’s important that lifeguards have a chance to rest so that they can be laser-focused when they are on. The lifeguard schedule is built for that. Lifeguards are rotated on a regular basis and receive many breaks throughout the day.
If you are a lifeguard/swim instructor (HKC-PR & HKC SI only), you split your time between lifeguarding and teaching.
How often will I have to make a save?
Effective lifeguards have to be prepared to make a save at any time. The reality is that we have some summers without any saves needed. In summers where we’ve have to make saves, it’s been fewer than 5 for the entire summer.
What do you do on rainy days?
It depends on the type of rainy day. If it’s a complete washout we won’t have you come to camp. More often than not, rainy days are just partially rainy and camps are able to swim for some of it. Some days it means you’re at the pool just hanging out, other times, we may delay the start time or dismiss early. It all depends on the forecast, the weather at the time, and each camp chooses to deal with the weather.
What kind of swimmer do I have to be to become a lifeguard?
Before you can be take a certification course, you will be subject to a swim test where you will have to:
Swim 300 yards continuously using front crawl or breaststroke
Tread water for two minutes using only your legs
Complete a time event within one minute, forty seconds (1:40) where starting in the water, you swim 20 years, surface dive to a depth of 7 – 10 feet to retrieve a 10 pound object, return to the surface and swim 20 yards to the starting point with both hands holding the object and your face at or near the surface so you can get a breath, and exit the pool without a ladder or steps.
Is there a minimum age?
New York State requires that lifeguards at a summer camp be at least 16 years old.
Do I have to have any prior experience?
You don’t need any prior experience working as a lifeguard or teaching how to swim. We do look for people who have experience working with children and experience with mentoring, tutoring, teaching or being a team leader.
How much interaction will I have with the campers?
As a lifeguard, your interaction is minimal. You are there to safeguard the swimmers and make sure they are adhering to pool rules.
As a swim instructor, you will have groups assigned to you that you will work with daily and develop a teacher/student relationship with.
What are the hours?
Work hours are from 8:30am – 4:00pm Monday – Friday.
Would I spend all day in a chair?
No. It’s important that lifeguards have a chance to rest so that they can be laser-focused when they are on. The lifeguard schedule is built for that. Lifeguards are rotated on a regular basis and receive many breaks throughout the day.
If you are a lifeguard/swim instructor (HKC-PR & HKC SI only), you split your time between lifeguarding and teaching.
How often will I have to make a save?
Effective lifeguards have to be prepared to make a save at any time. The reality is that we have some summers without any saves needed. In summers where we’ve have to make saves, it’s been fewer than 5 for the entire summer.
What do you do on rainy days?
It depends on the type of rainy day. If it’s a complete washout we won’t have you come to camp. More often than not, rainy days are just partially rainy and camps are able to swim for some of it. Some days it means you’re at the pool just hanging out, other times, we may delay the start time or dismiss early. It all depends on the forecast, the weather at the time, and each camp chooses to deal with the weather.