South Walton Fire District Junior Lifeguard Program

06/05/2026

We truly couldn't have asked for more from Week 1 of the 2026 Program! Our showed up in full force and gave the first week their all.

Juniors in the Advanced session worked this week honing their rescue skills and taking part in workouts every day to improve their surf racing technique, speed, and confidence. Our afternoon participants in Foundations got their first looks at what it means to be a lifeguard with a multi-day introduction to beach safety, equipment, and how to conduct a rescue.

One of the best parts of the week for our instructors was watching the Juniors challenge themselves in red flag conditions by remaining confident and calm while navigating the surf. The waves made each day an opportunity for Juniors to build on their skills heading into Week 2, we can't wait to see you guys next week!

Enjoy the photos of these hardworking kiddos in action and have a safe weekend.

06/05/2026

“We really push the life skills of taking care of your equipment, taking care of your teammates, preventing problems before they become problems, having situational awareness. And I’m really finding that these younger kids are actually taking those life lessons and running with it and really applying it to the fun side as well,” Brown said.

We had such a phenomenal first week. Sharing one more great local story from WMBB News 13 who also attended our media day this week.

Thank you for all of the support of 2026 ! Let's keep the positive momentum going and make the summer unforgettable. 🌊

WALTON COUNTY, Fla. (WMBB) – The next generation of beach safety leaders is hitting the sand in South Walton. More than 200 participants are enrolled in the South Walton Fire District’s…

06/05/2026

“The most important thing to me is that they leave here with good character,” said Brown. “We talk to them a lot about integrity.”

Some juniors are there for the first time. Others, like Titus Hunt, have been doing the program for years.

“I don’t look at the beach the same anymore,” said Hunt. “I can spot a rip current. I can see if somebody is in trouble. I can tell what ways the tide is going, and what the lifeguards are doing.”

Thank you WJHG-TV for attending media day for our 2026 South Walton Fire District Junior Lifeguard Program!

We are so excited to see a record number of joining us this summer and learning lifesaving skills on the beach. Every year this program grows and it keeps getting better!

To all the parents and caregivers: Know we are grateful for the trust you place in us and we are motivated every day to make this as beneficial of an experience as we can.

South Walton Fire District junior lifeguard program teaches beach safety skills and life skills.

06/01/2026

| The South Walton Fire District Junior Lifeguard Program returns this summer with more than 200 participants preparing to dive into a season of beach safety education, lifesaving skills, and hands-on surf rescue training along the Emerald Coast.

The program kicks off Tuesday, June 2, and once again features both Foundations and Advanced curriculum tracks, allowing first-time and returning Junior Lifeguards to learn at a pace tailored to their experience level.

“This program represents so much of what we strive to accomplish in beach safety like education, prevention, and community engagement,” SWFD Beach Safety Director David Vaughan said. “We’re witnessing the long-term impacts of this kind of program commitment in real-time, as we have a dozen former Junior Lifeguards on the beach working for us this season. It’s one of the best traditions we take part in each year and we’re ready to get it going.”

Throughout June and July, SWFD Beach Safety personnel will train four groups of Junior Lifeguards, ranging from 9 to 16-years-old. Participants will spend their days learning critical open-water safety skills, including CPR and first aid, rip current identification, drowning prevention, rescue techniques, beach warning flag awareness, and more.

Since launching in 2008, the program has introduced hundreds of local and visiting children to the skills, responsibilities, and teamwork required to stay safe in and around the water.

“It’s incredible to watch how the Juniors develop across the three weeks, not just in their skills but in their confidence and how they carry themselves,” SWFD Junior Lifeguard Program Coordinator Brandon Brown said. “This is a fun, challenging environment where they can learn those lifesaving skills, gain respect for the Gulf, and leave better prepared to keep themselves and others safe. The program’s impact is truly exponential, fueled by a core group of families who come back every summer and help spread the word for more children to get involved.”

Early registration numbers have already set a new program record, making 2026 the largest Junior Lifeguard season to date.

SWFD will release additional information and photos as the program gets underway. Media inquiries related to this release should be directed to the SWFD PIO via email at [email protected].

United States Lifesaving Association

05/31/2026

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

05/27/2026

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!

05/13/2026

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!

05/09/2026

SWIM TEST UPDATE 5/9/26:

Good morning fam. Fingers crossed for today’s swim test, it looks like we have a good window this morning to make it happen! We are proceeding with the swim test at 9 AM at Ed Walline for anyone who is able to attend.

If weather becomes suddenly severe, we will take the safety of all participants into account and immediately suspend the test. Right now, we are hopeful to get the 2026 program started!

Remember this “test” is just a short swim out into the Gulf and back to shore. Lifeguards will be present and monitoring throughout the event. It is not a race but a judgement of whether or not the Junior can safely swim without endangering themselves or others.

Please bring either cash, check, or card for payment, and maybe a rain jacket, too… 🙂☔️💙

SEA 🌊 you soon.

03/02/2026

Check out this former Junior who is officially on the beach! 💪🌊🛟

South Walton Fire District Junior Lifeguard Alum Steele Rodgers is now working as a professional lifeguard with SWFD. Steele took part in several summers ago and has just recently met the hiring requirements for 2026.

What’s even more incredible is his family connection to SWFD! Steele’s older brother Brett is one of our Full-Time Lifeguards, his mom is one of our Seasonal Lifeguards, and his dad works for us as a Fire Inspector. You may also know his younger sister, Josie, who is a current member of .

It’s safe to say that it is truly a family affair in the Rodgers household when it comes to protecting the South Walton community.

We can't wait to see what’s next for Steele. He’s an awesome athlete and sure to be a great addition on this beach this season.

Any former Junior Lifeguards or hopeful lifeguard candidates who are at least 17 years old can apply NOW to work this season. Follow the link below!

http://www.tinyurl.com/SWFDBeachSafetyCareers

02/02/2026

SAVE THE DATE! 🌊🛟 We are excited to announce preliminary dates for our 2026 South Walton Fire District Junior Lifeguard Program so you can make sure is a part of your summer plans! Here are a few important dates to note:

🌊Online registration: April 10, 12 p.m. CT
🌊Swim Test Options: May 9, 16, or 17
🌊Session 1: June 2-18
🌊Session 2: July 7-23

The dates are a smidge different than last year, otherwise the format is the same. We are sticking with the Foundations and Advanced groups for both months (Advanced in the morning and Foundations in the afternoon). The swim tests and sessions take place at Ed Walline Beach Access.

In the event we have additional announcements, we will make another post to this page. Please keep in mind we are still in the planning stages to make 2026 our best year yet.

If you have any questions, email [email protected]. We will do our best to respond to comments on this post, but the quickest way to receive an answer is via email.

Thank you for your support and loyalty that makes the SWFD Juniors Program one of the best around. We love you guys!

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Program Background: The SWFD Junior Lifeguard Program is held in Santa Rosa Beach, Florida, for children ages 9 - 16 years old to spend three weeks of the summer learning the skills to be confident, open water swimmers and lifesavers. The program began in 2006 and has grown to include more than 200 participants. Foundations and Advanced levels of instruction benefit both new and returning Juniors, with the overall goal to grow South Walton's surf rescue culture and lifeguard recruitment efforts. Topics covered include: open water swimming, CPR and first aid, drowning prevention, rip current identification, beach warning flags, and surf rescue-based workouts with intensive, hands-on training.