State Parks Lifeguard Exams Scheduled in Yorktown

State parks officials have announced that the Taconic Region of the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation is accepting employment applications for summer 2016 lifeguard positions for all of its aquatic facilities.

In the lower Hudson Valley -- the southern end of the state parks department's Taconic Region -- lifeguards can be employed at Canopus Beach, part of Clarence Fahnestock Memorial State Park, or the pool at Franklin D. Roosevelt (FDR) State Park.

Lifeguard exams will be held on three dates at Copper Beech Middle School in Yorktown Heights. However, lifeguards can take the exam anywhere in New York State and have it credited toward employment in any State Parks region.

Upcoming lifeguard exam dates at Copper Beech Middle School, 3401 Old Yorktown Rd., are:

• Saturday, March 19 at 9 a.m.
• Saturday, April 2 at 9 a.m.
• Saturday, May 21 at 9 a.m.

All exams are open to new candidates as well as returning lifeguards. The qualifying procedures evaluate practical lifesaving skills and CPR skills. All items of the examination are evaluated on a pass/fail basis. Candidates are required to bring their photo ID and their own pocket masks for the CPR portion of the exam.

Pre-registration for exams is strongly encouraged, parks officials said. You can do that by calling Gerri Covert at (845) 889-3814.

Clarence Fahnestock Memorial State Park’s Canopus Beach is located near the intersection of the Taconic State Parkway and Route 301, outside of Carmel, in Putnam County.

Franklin D. Roosevelt State Park is located along the Taconic Parkway in Yorktown Heights.

Starting pay for lifeguards at Fahnestock is $13.27 per hour. Starting pay for lifeguards at FDR State Park is $16.11 per hour, due to the park being located in Westchester County.

The Taconic Region of the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation oversees 15 state parks, six historic sites and two state golf courses in Westchester, Putnam, Dutchess and Columbia Counties. For more information on State Parks facilities in the Taconic Region or throughout the agency, visit www.nysparks.com or connect to the agency on Facebook and Twitter.