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Oceanside Junior Lifeguard Program Begins: 800 Participants Arrive

The beaches were full on Monday morning with a program that began in 1949 with just four kids.

Oceanside Junior Lifeguards. (Oceanside Fire Department)

OCEANSIDE, CA — See a lot of activity at Oceanside beaches on Monday? The Oceanside Junior Lifeguard Program kicked off in 2026, with over 800 students participating.

When the program began in 1949, only four kids were involved. It has since exploded in size, with its own booster program and scholarships, prizes, and dedicated events.

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This is a four-week, all-day program that helps kids learn beach safety, life skills, and water safety. The kids learn how to handle waves and rip currents and more.

"Oceanside Lifeguards facilitate the Oceanside Junior Lifeguard Program that kicked off this morning. The program is aimed at youth from 9-16 years old, with over 800 students participating this summer," a spokesperson for the event said. "The program continues to expand to provide youth with ocean safety knowledge. This extremely popular program fills up in minutes and is a model in our region."

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