Information for Parents & Guardians

Where:

Capitola Beach, at the end of the Esplanade near the restrooms and bandstand. The Junior Guard instructors will have on blue shirts or sweatshirts, and there will be tents set up on the beach to define meeting areas for each group.

When:

2024 Program Dates 
Session 1: June 10 - July 5 (excluding July 4)
Session 2: July 8 - August 2

Program Times
Morning Session: 9 am - Noon 
Afternoon Session: 1 pm - 4 pm

Parents are responsible for their children immediately prior to and immediately following scheduled program hours. 

Who:

The Program Coordinator is the direct day-to-day supervisor of the program. Please contact them at the beach with any questions, concerns, or problems, or if you need to talk to the office staff call 475-5935.   

Example Typical Warm Up:

Little Guards (6-8yrs): Warm up Run: ~ ¼ mile (Junior Guard headquarters to pier, out and back),  stretches, sit up, pushups, calisthenics and 25 yards (1 pool length)

Junior Guards (9-15yrs): Warmup Run: ~½ mile (Junior Guard headquarters to sea wall, out and back), stretches, sit up, pushups, calisthenics, swim: 100-300 yards

What to wear:

All Junior Guards are required to wear RED sport bathing suits that are appropriate for running and competing on the beach and swimming in the ocean.

Shop local for discounts: Buell Surf Shop, Free To Ride, O'Neill Surf Shop, Billabong; mention Capitola Junior Guards and you may receive a discount.

Junior Guard Patch:

Patches will be given out at the end of the first week, it should go on left side of their suit or shorts.

What to bring:

Water, towel, backpack, sunscreen, optional wetsuit or rash guard (if able to put on and off on your own), sweatshirt/pants for cold days, please do not bring valuables in your bag.

Junior Lifeguard Parents Club:

A non-profit organization that supports the Junior Lifeguard program and raises money for program and college scholarships for Junior Guard athletes. The Club sells the JG sweatshirts, sweatpants, beach towels water bottles and other items; these will be available the first day of each session at the beach, and then at the recreation office. The Parents Club is always looking for additional volunteers, to find out more about the  Parents Club, visit their website, https://www.teamtola.com/

Local Competitions:

Capitola Competition at Capitola Beach: June 25th (Little Guards) and June 26th (C's-U19's)

NorCal Competetition at Santa Cruz Main Beach, July 17 (Little Guards) and July 18th (C's-U19)

Regionals Competition:

**For those from session 1 invited to attend by JG Instructor** July 26 (C;s -U19)

(Regular schedule for those not attending) 

Group Photos:

Picture day: June 14 and July 12th.  Guard AM group picture is at 11am, PM group 2pm (All Guards Regular schedule), please wear your junior guard shirt

Stay up to Date:

Changes to the schedule and other important information will be included in our newsletter, please check your email periodically. We also update a lot on our Facebook page: www.facebook.com/capitola.recreation.   

Lost & Found:

There will be lost and found at the beach headquarters. 

FREE PARKING PERMITS:

FREE parking passes will be available at the Capitola Community Center prior to the first day of every session.

Because of the very limited parking in the Village and the extremely slow crawl of traffic through the Esplanade, we are offering free parking permits for program participants. The permits are valid only in the "Beach and Village" parking lots behind the Police Dept/City Hall. Please note that these permits are not valid within the village, other parking lots or neighborhoods. Nearby neighborhoods are very impacted by our Jr Guard program. Please do not park on Depot Hill, upper parking lot or in the Village while taking your child to and from Jr Guards.

Si tiene preguntas sobre las clases y programas que ofrecemos, por favor llamanos a (831) 475-5935