Hawaii teens will get to spend some beach time this summer while learning how to save a life.
It's the Junior Lifeguard Program, and it's more popular than ever.
It's a day at the beach, but it's anything but laid back. It's filled with running, swimming, and calisthenics, and the kids can't get enough of it.
"This is my first week and I look forward to doing it for the rest of the summer", says Tesia Worley, Junior Lifeguard Student.
That's a typical reaction from those who've taken the class. It's just a one-week course, but many of them keep coming back to do it over. That's one of the reasons why the program at Ala Moana Park is nearly twice as full with 30 students. So instead of two instructors, they have four.
"Every year we get more and more kids, the classes tend to fill up really quick, within a couple of hours the first three weeks are always full", says instructor,Jeff Okuyama.
The Junior Lifeguard Program will be held for six more weeks and it's free to teens 13 to 17 years old. It's not a learn to swim program, so kids need to know how to swim. Each course is held Monday to Friday from nine to two, and it's free. In those five days, they learn ocean safety skills, CPR, and yes, lots of physical training.
"It's just fun and a good thing to do, you always have the knowledge of the water and you have the confidence to save someone's life" says Riggs Silva, Junior Lifeguard student.
It instills confidence, and for Tesia Worley, it ignites a passion she never knew she had.
"My Auntie Pua was a lifeguard, she passed away when I was five and I never thought I would actually get into it but after this I'm actually really looking forward to it", says Worley.
Not everyone here is interested in becoming a lifeguard. But learning the skills might just come in handy for them someday.
"After they leave this class they'll have a lot of knowledge about the ocean and if somebody does get into trouble one of these days they can jump in and help them out."
The program is also offered at Ehukai, Pokai Bay, Kalama, and Waimanalo beach parks.
