Tybee Island partnership with Junior Guards USA creating lifeguard pipeline

TYBEE ISLAND, Ga. (WTOC) - In May, Tybee Island city council unanimously voted to work with Junior Guards USA, providing Junior Lifeguard Summer Camps and building a recruiting pipeline for Tybee lifeguards.

Junior Guards is a program on the island aligned with Coast Guard curriculum, building resilience and strength in local youth.

The partnership aims to make the island safer as a result. Tybee Island has struggled over the past years to recruit and retain seasonal lifeguards. The city hopes this partnership can be a long-term solution to keep a steady pipeline of lifeguards on the island.

Right now, they’re protecting the beaches with less lifeguards than they’d like.

“Our biggest struggle for the past few years with recruiting lifeguards is finding people that are able to pass our requirements,” explained Jennifer Bishop, Tybee Island’s Safety Manager.

This recent partnership could help relieve those recruitment struggles.

“We’re just getting them ready for Tybee Ocean Rescue so that they can pass the swim test,” explained Brad Butterworth, founder of Junior Guards USA.

Butterworth originally founded the program, to prepare kids for the Coast Guard, and after conversations with Tybee’s Fire Chief, it’s now also a pipeline for participants to joins Tybee’s Ocean Rescue team.

“We’re really focused on trying to build the recruitment pipeline for Tybee Ocean Rescue...we’re just trying to teach kids fortitude, commitment, and resilience,” Butterworth said.

Junior Guards has two programs, a Coast Guard rescue swimming prep course for kids’ 5th grade to 12th grade. The second is the Junior Lifeguards program that runs through the summer.

“They’re doing a lot of significant and intense open water and pool drills from a standpoint of static breath holds to underwater tasks,” Butterworth explained.

Meanwhile, Tybee’s Beach safety manager says she’s thrilled the program is attracting so much interest.

“We’re really excited to work with the junior guards and have more camps and get more kids interested in lifeguarding,” Bishop said.

Even if the kids don’t end up joining Tybee’s Ocean Rescue team, Butterworth says he’s elated the program is building a relationship with the local community.

If you’d like to sign your child up for the upcoming Fall Program, click here.