Junior lifeguards tryouts come to Canyon Lake

BY Dawn Rankins

Junior Lifeguard tryouts will be held at Sunset Beach for work this summer at Lake Perris. The tryouts will be conducted on April 3 and May 22 at 10:00 a.m.

The California State Parks, in collaboration with The Canyon Lake Enrichment Activities and Recreation (C.L.E.A.R.) Foundation, will be hosting the two junior lifeguard tryouts in Canyon Lake for this summer’s junior lifeguard program at Lake Perris.

The goal of The C.L.E.A.R. Foundation is to show the state enough Canyon Lake interest this year to justify the junior lifeguard program being held in Canyon Lake next year, rather than just Lake Perris.

Tryout tests will include two-minutes of treading water and a 100-yard swim in under three minutes. Those ages 8-15 are invited to try out.

Once a child passes the swim test tryout, he or she will be able to enroll in the summer program. Dates are currently being finalized.

The City of Canyon Lake, through ARPA funds, will help pay for the cost of buses from Canyon Lake to Lake Perris for this summer’s program.

Participation in each session is $260.00, with a $20.00 discount for siblings, and includes a rash guard. The C.L.E.A.R. Foundation is hoping to sponsor those with financial hardships.

Participants in the program are required to wear, for the boys, navy board shorts and, for the girls, a black or blue one-piece swimsuit. The swimwear can be purchased at the time of enrollment.

Participants will get a patch. Optional t-shirts and hoodies can also be purchased while signing up, but are only available at time of signup.

Lifeguard Coordinator Jon Hernandez of the California State Parks will be at the “Coffee and CLEAR” meeting on March 26 at the home of Greg and Kasey Castillo, located at 22084 San Joaquin Dr. W. from 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. He is being made available to answer questions about the program.

The California State Parks is also hosting tryouts for paid summer lifeguard jobs on April 23 at 9:00 a.m. at Moreno Beach, Lake Perris. Canyon Lake Teens ages 16-18 are encouraged to try out this year.

Those with questions about the program or the tryouts, can contact Jon at Jon.hernandez@parks.ca.gov. For questions about becoming involved in The C.L.E.A.R Foundation or to donate to this program, email CLEARfoundationCL@gmail.com.