The WHY Behind the Whistle
When you picture a lifeguard, you might picture a teenager spending a summer by the pool. And while we are incredibly grateful for the many young people who choose to lifeguard with us, there’s another group of guards whose stories we thought you might enjoy hearing.
We’re featuring some of our lifeguards who are over 30.
Their paths to the lifeguard chair are different, but each has found their own reason for continuing to serve as a lifeguard. Often they are trying to give back to the community!
We weren’t able to feature every one of our guards, but we hope you’ll take a few minutes to get to know Jim, Kyle, and Stephanie and hear what brings them to the pool, what keeps them coming back, and why being a lifeguard means more to them than simply having a job.
Their stories also adds some perspective.
We know you’ve had questions: Why is the pool closed? Why can’t it be open longer? Why did the schedule change?
We hear you, and we share your frustration. We want our pool open and available to our members just as much as you do. But like thousands of facilities across the country, we are facing a significant lifeguard shortage. Because safety must always come first, our pool hours and schedule reflect the staffing we currently have available to safely operate the facility.
We are incredibly thankful for every lifeguard who has stepped up this summer — working extra hours, adjusting schedules, and being there whenever they can. Their dedication has been the backbone of our pool season, and we are grateful for each and every one of them.
As we look toward the future, we will continue working to build our lifeguard team and expand pool hours whenever staffing makes that possible.
And finally, as summer winds down, we want to send a huge thank you to all of our amazing summer staff. To those heading off to college, getting ready for fall school and sports, or simply enjoying some well-deserved downtime before classes begin: we appreciate you!
Thank you for the energy, time, and heart you’ve given to the YMCA this summer. We’re wishing you all the very best in the school year ahead!