Lifeguardapalooza

Some may recall the heartbreak of summer 2021, when a shortage of lifeguards kept some of Austin’s swimming pools from operating at their normal hours or even fully opening. Determined to avoid a repeat of the calamity, Parks and Recreation’s Aquatic Division is taking its #CountdownToSummerSwimming very seriously, recruiting hundreds of lifeguards in an effort to reach its target of having 650 trained lifeguards in time for the 2022 swim season. Currently, the division has 95 lifeguards on staff. Lifeguard training is ongoing and the positions start at $15/hour. As a news release from PARD points out, these are “great jobs working outdoors and being a hero.” Contrary to pop culture stereotypes, lifeguarding is not all tanning, posing and flirting: Not only do you learn some serious life skills, what starts as a summer job can lead to a career in public safety – plus, it looks great on a resume or college application. To learn more about the training regimen, read the Lifeguard Training Safety FAQ, visit LifeguardAustin.com and follow #LifeguardATX on Instagram.