South Walton Fire District Junior Lifeguard Program

We're celebrating another alum making the jump to SWFD Lifeguard, welcome to the beach Cooper Davis! 💪🌊🛟

Cooper is officially working as a seasonal lifeguard with us for the 2026 season, having already spent multiple days on the beach and staffing towers. This comes after his time in our South Walton Fire District Junior Lifeguard Program, dating as far back as 2021.

His journey to work with us started in Juniors, but he spent significant time and effort to pass our hiring academy, dedicate himself to surf rescue training, and now, can be found serving our community in a professional capacity!

Congratulations to the entire Davis family, we can't wait to see how much of an impact he makes on the beach this summer.

Any former Junior Lifeguards or hopeful lifeguard candidates who are at least 17 years old can apply NOW to work this season. Our next rookie lifeguard training academy will take place June 6-7, so please don't wait to apply!

Application link: http://www.tinyurl.com/SWFDBeachSafetyCareers

Hey fam! The time is finally here... our Juniors 2026 program kicks off on Tuesday, June 2.

We sent preliminary emails this week to those who are part of the June session- please check to be sure you received it and understand what session you are in. July session emails will be sent out at a later time.

Below is information about the June program for those who are participating in these first sessions. Once you have read the post in its entirety, you can email any questions to [email protected].

🌊Both the Advanced and Foundations programs will be held June 2-18 at Ed Walline Beach Access. The advanced program will be held 9 a.m. - 12 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday, and the foundations program will be held 1 p.m. - 4 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday.

🌊This is not your average summer camp! We run the Junior Lifeguard Program to prepare future generations to become lifeguards themselves. We can adjust the program to all skill levels and/or inclement weather, but every Junior should expect to exercise, swim, run, paddle, and even do plenty of burpees just like our professional lifeguards do every day.

🌊Juniors should bring a refillable water bottle with them to class. We will provide plenty of cold water, but they need a bottle to refill. Other helpful items to pack inside a beach-friendly bag include sunscreen, a towel, and goggles (if they like to use goggles to swim). We will hand out rashguards on the first day.

🌊Plan to arrive approximately 10-15 minutes early for your session. This helps with traffic and ensuring you are not rushing through the parking lot, which can become crowded during the summer.

🌊Ensure Juniors are fueling properly with healthy and easy-to-digest meals before they arrive each day. The hot weather will quickly take its toll if Juniors have not consumed enough quality calories. It's a good idea to avoid any heavy dairy or greasy foods directly before the three-hour block begins, but we certainly endorse a cold and sweet treat after each day is complete. P.S. Save some for the instructors! 😜

🌊Any updates to the 2026 program will be posted to this page and/or communicated via email with the address we have on file. Please contact [email protected] with questions. We can't wait to see you next week, hope you are ready for a great summer!

2026 SWIM TESTS REMINDER!

Thank you to all who attended our first of three swim test options this past weekend for 2026 . Our remaining scheduled swim test dates and times are:

🌊Saturday, May 16, 9 a.m., Ed Walline Beach Access
🌊Sunday, May 17, 9 a.m., Ed Walline Beach Access

Please carefully read the information below and if you have any questions after reading, email us at [email protected].

Regardless of your child's swimming and/or Juniors experience, they must participate in ONE of the swim tests. In order to maintain a strong and reputable Juniors program, we do not exempt anyone from taking a swim test. We do our best to be accommodating for our Juniors and participating families, however, we ask you to remember we hold a high standard for this program to make it a successful, safe, and beneficial experience for everyone involved.

Following the successful completion of the swim test, you will make your in-person payment for the summer program. Your child's spot in our 2026 program is NOT secure until the swim test is complete and the payment is processed. We accept cash, check, and card.

What does the swim test consist of? The test is a brief swim in the Gulf and then back to shore. It is weather and surf dependent. The test is meant to gauge a child's interest in the program and prove they are capable of swimming in open water. It is not a "race" to see who is the fastest, but it does ensure Juniors know how to swim without endangering themselves or others.

If your child prefers to swim with goggles, please bring those with you, as well as a towel. In the event of adverse weather or surf, we will communicate a change of plans and coordinate a make-up test date/time if necessary.

Again, email any questions to [email protected]. Thank you and SEA you soon!