An early morning thick layer of fog lay on Dunes Beach parking lot, the sound of car doors slamming and the distant chatter of kids and lifeguards bring the beach to life for another day of work and fun. In August the Half Moon Bay Junior Lifeguard Program completed another successful summer.

California State Parks Association has supported the Half Moon Bay Junior Lifeguard Program (JGs) since inception in 2005.  With more than 150  junior lifeguards per year in the Half Moon Bay program, there has been a great impact on families enjoying safe recreation on the California coast. California State Parks also offers JG Programs in other coastal state park districts, such as Santa Cruz and Monterey. The JG Program emphasizes teamwork, leadership, and aquatic safety while introducing young people to aquatic recreational and professional opportunities. The program is designed to provide quality water safety education while improving physical conditioning, their understanding and respect for the environment, and respect for themselves, their parents, and their peers.

Program instructors are California State Lifeguards, who are trained in advanced first aid and rescue techniques. In 2024, almost all of the HMB State Parks Lifeguards running the JG Program participated in the program themselves. CA State Lifeguard, Jacob Goldstein, says it’s the best job ever and he loves working with the kids while reliving one of his favorite childhood summer activities through the excitement of the young JGs. Mason, one of the JGs, says he has pushed himself harder than he thought he could and is so proud of his accomplishments in the program.  Chester, a young JG in the Jellies group, says the HMB Junior Lifeguard Program is the most impactful thing in his life.  Both Chester and Mason look forward to being Youth Aids in the program and hope to one day be Lifeguards.  They show up every day with a great attitude and bring enthusiasm to every activity.  Seeing the impact Jacob makes on this new generation of JGs motivates him and the other lifeguards and contributes to the success of the program.

Two HMB Lifeguards received the Governor’s State Employee Medal of Valor Awards for acts of heroism on Tuesday, June 25, 2024, in Sacramento. Maxwell Hunter and Riley Rhodes received the Medal of Valor Award, which is the highest honor the state can bestow upon its employees, given on behalf of Governor Newsom.  “While the California State Parks staff being honored this year may say that they were simply doing their job, the heroic and selfless acts they and all of our public servants perform every day while putting their own lives at risk are to be admired and recognized,” said California State Parks Director Armando Quintero. “At State Parks, we all feel privileged to be on your team.”

Several of the lifeguards that ran the program in prior years have moved on to full time careers in other areas of first response, such as the US Coast Guard, Cal Fire, or paramedics. HMB JGs is the program that keeps on giving.  Wherever the junior lifeguards or State Lifeguards end up, they continue to spread ocean safety, team work, and environmental respect on the California coast.

• Find out more about the Junior Lifeguard Program on the Coastside State Parks Association website.
• Coastside State Parks Association is proud to offer a scholarship for children who would like to attend the Junior Lifeguard program but is financially unable to do so.
•  More information about the Junior Lifeguard Program is available on the State Park website. There is also a section on the website regarding ocean safety.

Article written by Ellen Moore​, Coastside State Parks Association Board Vice-President