Becoming a lifeguard is more than a just a job and earning money, it provides you with skills that are transferable for any career path you may take – such as building confidence, leadership and improving your ability to work as part of a team. Take a look at some of the ways that lifeguarding can help you gain life-long skills both on poolside and outside a working environment:
Responsibility
Being a lifeguard requires a higher level of responsibility than most jobs. Not only do you have to be aware of your surrounding at all times, but it also involves being responsible for the safety of other people. This is an invaluable skill that will help you in any future job.
Problem Solving
There is a high probability that as a lifeguard, you will experience an emergency situation. This will require you to think on your feet. When dealing with high stress situations, you will quickly learn how to problem solve while staying calm. It’s an important skill you can use in any work or life situation!
Leadership
Experts agree that the best way to build leadership and confidence is stepping out of your comfort zone and trying new things. Lifeguarding is the perfect job to teach you how to build these important life skills. As a lifeguard, people count on you for the safety of themselves and their children. So, being able to step into a leadership role is vital and may even save a life!
Teamwork
The Y is made up of people of all ages and from every walk of life working side by side to strengthen communities. It’s a place where working as part of a team and forming life-long friendships is part of the job description. The energy and positivity of the members and staff make working at the Y such a rewarding experience!
Get Qualified – It’s the perfect part-time job!
The first step to becoming a lifeguard is to get qualified. The YMCA of Simcoe/Muskoka provides the training, certification, and life saving skills needed to become a national lifeguard. Courses include those that require no pre-requisites such as Bronze Star to more in-depth courses such as Bronze Cross and Standard First Aid with CPR. For a full list of certification courses being offered at your local YMCA, please visit www.ymcaofsimcoemuskoka.ca/aquatics-certification.
We’re Hiring!
As the country’s leading nonprofit organization committed to strengthening communities through youth development, healthy living and social responsibilities, the YMCA offers more than just a job – it offers a career with a future and the chance to make a lasting difference in the community. Whether you’re looking for full time, part time or split shifts, the YMCA provides the flexibility to ensure a positive work-life balance. Lifeguarding is accessible to all ages and backgrounds.
If you’re interested in being a part of the YMCA of Simcoe/Muskoka Lifeguarding team, we’d love to hear from you! To view the Lifeguard job posting, click here. For more information please contact Sylvia Pearson at [email protected].
YMCA March Break Activities
March break is the perfect opportunity to get your kids off their screens and moving! Children are spending less time being active and only seven per cent of Canadian kids get enough exercise. Health Canada recommends children and youth get 60 minutes of physical activity every day. Getting our daily dose of exercise not only helps to prevent health risks, it builds strong muscles and bones, develops positive body image and supports mental health. Here are five ideas to get you and your kids moving this March break:
Get Outside
Breathe in some fresh winter air as you explore your local trails, parks and toboggan hills. Or, simply build a snowman or fort on your front lawn. The opportunities are endless!
Make a Splash
Make a splash at a local community pool like the YMCA of Simcoe/Muskoka. Day passes are available for families to take advantage of recreational swimming. And, for the older kids, March break is the perfect time to enrol in aquatic leadership programs such as Bronze Medallion or National Lifeguard training. For more information on aquatic leadership programs being offered at the Y over the March break, visit www.ymcaofsimcoemuskoka.ca/lifeguarding-certification.
Train as a family
The YMCA’s Move to Give fundraising event is happening on April 7. Challenge the whole family to start training for a 5k run, indoor cycling or a triathlon and continue training together until the event. It will keep the entire family focused on a goal and it’s all for a great cause – supporting your community! For more information visit www.movetogive.ca.
Go Skating
Skating is a great sport for all ages – it’s low impact and helps improve co-ordination and balance. Check your local public arenas for family skate times over the March break.
March break is the perfect time to create healthy daily habits for your children and the entire family. The YMCA of Simcoe/Muskoka offers many opportunities to get fit as a family over the March break. For more information please visit your local YMCA or www.ymcaofsimcoemuskoka.ca.
Most families have very busy schedules. Between school, activities, sports for the kids, work and other commitments, many find that there is no quality family time left in the week. And, getting active as a family is often low on the growing list of priorities. However, as the simple phrase goes “families who play together, stay together.” Research is telling us that the majority of children and youth in Canada are not getting adequate access to opportunities for active recreation and healthy living. In 2015 YMCA Canada released a Healthy Kids Report, which unveiled that parents are finding it difficult to set a healthy example for their children, with 85 per cent stating that it takes effort to be a healthy role model. Sadly, only 7% of Canadian children and youth are meeting Canada’s guidelines of 60 minutes of physical activity a day. Rising rates of obesity and related chronic disease tell us that getting kids and families healthy should be a top priority.
Family Day is a great opportunity to take time with your family and start creating some healthy habits. On Monday, February 19, the YMCA of Simcoe/Muskoka is opening its doors to the community to encourage families to discover how simple and fun healthy living can be. With free activities, and a chance to try many YMCA programs, families can discover a place that makes it easy to connect and be active together. This free open house will feature various activities for the whole family, including open gym and swim times in all eight YMCA locations across Simcoe/Muskoka.
At the YMCA, we believe that healthy families are the foundation of healthy communities. We give children, youth, families and adults, no matter what their financial situation, the support they need to flourish in spirit, mind and body. We hope you’ll join us on February 19 when we celebrate Family Day across Simcoe/Muskoka. For complete schedules of what’s happening in each community, please visit www.ymcaofsimcoemuskoka.ca/family-day.
Rob Armstrong is President and CEO of the YMCA of Simcoe/Muskoka; focused on investing in communities, ensuring all people have access to the Y and implementing programs that are helping thousands of youth and families to learn and thrive. Prior to joining the YMCA of Simcoe/Muskoka in 2011, Rob held senior leadership positions at the YMCA of Edmonton, YMCA of Owen Sound, YMCA of Cambridge and most recently YMCA Ontario. Rob holds an Honours degree in Physical and Health Education from Queen’s University and has since augmented his education with advanced courses from the Harvard Business School of Entrepreneurship, Ivy School of Businessand Queen’s University Executive Education Program.
Since coming to Simcoe/Muskoka, Rob has taken an active leadership role in the Child, Youth and Family Services Coalition of Simcoe County and Barrie’s Pathways to end homelessness. He served on a number of boards including local Community Foundations, Affordable Housing, Parks and Recreation Ontario and the Minister of Health Promotions Health Advisory Committee.
Mildred shares how she came to the Y and the impacts it has had on her.
Want to join people like Mildred at the YMCA? With No Join Fees and No Contracts, there isn’t a better time to become a member! Find your Y today at WhyTheY.ca
Gore Mutual’s Foundation has partnered with a local insurance broker to donate $10,000 to the YMCA of Simcoe/Muskoka.
The donation, made in collaboration with Howard Noble Insurance Brokers, is the latest by Gore Mutual Foundation – part of the insurer’s series of donations to celebrate Canada’s 150th anniversary. It will be used to provide financial assistance to children, adults, and seniors in Simcoe, Muskoka and Parry Sound to participate in YMCA programs, a release said.
“At Noble Insurance we aren’t just insurance specialists, we are parents, friends and neighbours,” said Howard Noble Insurance Brokers managing director Shelley Vermeersch. “Our staff, clients and communities are all stronger thanks to the Y, so we are thrilled to be able to give back.”
“The YMCA of Simcoe/Muskoka is thrilled to receive this funding from Gore Mutual Foundation and Howard Noble Insurance Brokers,” commented YMCA of Simcoe/Muskoka CEO Rob Armstrong in a statement. “Financial commitments of this kind allow the Y to continue to positively impact community health and wellbeing and deliver programs to everyone, regardless of age, gender, race, religion or ability to pay.”
Last year, the YMCA of Simcoe/Muskoka provided more than $1,000,000 in financial assistance to 15,000 children, youth, adults, and seniors with access to the organization’s programs.