Ventnor Junior Lifeguard Program is more than a recruiting tool

Mayor Beth Holtzman, left, joins participants of the Ventnor City Beach Patrol Junior Lifeguard Camp 2022.

By NANETTE LoBIONDO GALLOWAY

VENTNOR The city's annual Junior Lifeguard Program has grown over the years to include hundreds of children and teens, who not only learn some of the ins and outs of becoming a lifeguard, but also how to respect the ocean.

According to Lt. Meghan Holland, who organizes the annual camp, approximately 120 children ages 10-14 participated in the second week of the program, July 12-14. Last week, there were 250 5- to 9-year-olds participating in week one of the three-week camp.

This was our biggest year ever, Holland said.

Mayor Beth Holtzman, who joined the junior lifeguards on the beach in front of the new Ventnor Beach Patrol headquarters currently under construction on the beach and boardwalk at Suffolk Avenue, said the programs has grown from just 12 participants to hundreds of future lifeguards.

Today, all I saw was all these red T-shirts, she said.

Next week, for the first time ever, the Explorer Program will include teens, ages 14-17, who are interested in becoming lifeguards next year.

It's the first time we are doing it to get those more seriously interested in becoming a lifeguard a chance to experience the more challenging aspects of the job, Holland said. We want it to be fun and educational so we will get them out rowing a surf boat and using the paddleboards and jet skis. It will be their first introduction to lifeguarding.

Holland gave a shout out to the lifeguards on her team who help make the camps fun for the children and cook up the burgers for the hungry athletes on the last day of camp.

I couldn't do it without them. They have been fantastic, she said.

Two sets of twin participated in the Junior Lifeguard Camp. Stella and Elena DeVeau of Summit, and Elena and Grace Ware of Ventnor.

Among the participants were two sets of twins Stella and Elena DeVeau of Summit, and Elena and Grace Ware of Ventnor.

It was fun, twin Grace Ware said. We did a bunch of different things and learned about the boat, how to use the can, and we learned how to retrieve something from the ocean.

Elena Ware said the surf dash was her favorite event.

We're not sure if we really want to be lifeguards, but our dad was a lifeguard for a while, she said.

[rl_gallery id="27988"]

Jen Kummings of Northfield had two of her children attend the camp this year. Her son Kaden, 8, attended the first session, and Kieran, 12, attended this week.

They love it, she said. We've been coming every summer for about 10 years.

Her older son, Colin, now 15, was scheduled to attend again this year, but a mishap caused him to break his wrist so he could not participate, but he plans to become a lifeguard next year.

My nieces and nephews are lifeguards, she said. Megan teaches them a lot of the skills needed to be a lifeguard, but more importantly, how to know the ocean. Even if they don't become lifeguards, it's important to learn how to be safe in the water.

Beach Patrol Capt. Gary Howarth gave a member of the next generation of Howarths on the Beach, Brook Clark a ride in his dune buggy.

Capt. Gary Howarth gave participant Brook Clark a ride in his dune buggy. She is the granddaughter of the late Capt. Billy Howarth, an icon of the Ventnor Beach Patrol.

It's a Howarth family tradition, Capt. Gary Howarth said. It started with Bill Howarth Sr. who had four sons, including Billy, who had three daughers who are lifeguards. Brook is the next generation of Howarths on the beach.

Matteo Bittar, 11, came all the way from Madrid, Spain to visit his grandmother, Jane Nahas, for two weeks and participate in the three-day camp.

This was fun. I got to meet a lot of new people and plan to keep in touch through texting, he said.

His favorite activity was retrieving tennis balls that were tossed into the ocean, he said.

His sister Natalia, 13, enjoyed the surf dash the most.

Both said they intend to become lifeguards one day.

My mom Jamie Nahas was a lifeguard in Ventnor for seven years, Matteo said.

The final day of the camp included competitions, just like the real lifeguards have to keep themselves fit and ready for anything.

Before the participants lined up for burgers, chips and treats, Holland gathered them around a surf boat, where she stood above them announcing the first, second and third place winners in several key events. Each of the winners received medals for their victories.

The the age group winners in three categories are:

Beach Run

7 and under Girls:
- 1^st place: Sophie Klein
- 2^nd place: Aria Russo
- 3^rd place Sydney Klauder

7 and under Boys:
- 1^st place: Julian Polinski
- 2^nd place: Wesley Sturgill
- 3^rd place: Steven Zematitis

8-9 Girls:
- 1^st place: Scarlett Heney
- 2^nd place: Sophia Acosta
- 3^rd place: Lilah Gilligan

8-9 Boys:
- 1^st place: Caden Kummings
- 2^nd place: Ryan Perez
- 3^rd place: Cash McCool

10-11 Girls:
- 1^st place: Brooke Karp
- 2^nd place: Verona Reilly
- 3^rd place: Mia Colozzi

10-11 Boys:
- 1^st place: Bryce Constabile
- 2^nd place: Gino Lusi
- 3^rd place: Ben Masabini

12-14 Girls:
- 1^st place: Abbie Ellis
- 2^nd place: Katherine Downey
- 3^rd place: Raeleigh Narkiewicz

12-14 Boys:
- 1^st place: Roman Lee
- 2^nd place: CJ Maddalo
- 3^rd place: Cooper Blynt

Beach Flags

7 and under Girls:
- 1^st place: Sophie Klein
- 2^nd place: Sydney Klauder
- 3^rd place Eliana Acosta

7 and under Boys:
- 1^st place: Tommy Higbee
- 2^nd place: Chase Elko
- 3^rd place: Domenic Renzi

8-9 Girls:
- 1^st place: Leighton Derewal
- 2^nd place: Rayland Springer
- 3^rd place: Ava Trigani

8-9 Boys:
- 1^st place: Caden Kummings
- 2^nd place: Ford Masso
- 3^rd place: Carter Smith

10-11 Girls:
- 1^st place: Brooke Karp
- 2^nd place: Verona Reilly
- 3^rd place: Nina Tomiselli

10-11 Boys:
- 1^st place: Gino Lusi
- 2^nd place: Nick Foschini
- 3^rd place: Austin Zematatis

12-14 Girls:
- 1^st place: Abbie Ellis
- 2^nd place: Raeleigh Narkiewicz
- 3^rd place: Natalia Bittar

12-14 Boys:
- 1^st place: Jake DelRossi
- 2^nd place: Roman Lee
- 3^rd place: Matty Giannattasio

Surf Dash

7 and under Girls:
- 1^st place: Vivian Ford
- 2^nd place: Sophie Klein
- 3^rd place: Aria Russo

7 and under Boys:
- 1^st place: Wesley Sturgill
- 2^nd place: Michael Fitzgerald
- 3^rd place: Smith Masso

8-9 Girls:
- 1^st place: Scarlett Heney
- 2^nd place: Kyler Smith
- 3^rd place: Michaela Klauder

8-9 Boys:
- 1^st place: Miller McCool
- 2^nd place: Caden Kummings
- 3^rd place: Carter Smith

10-11 Girls:
- 1^st place: Brooke Karp
- 2^nd place: Devon McCarron
- 3^rd place: Mia Colozzi

10-11 Boys:
- 1^st place: Gino Lusi
- 2^nd place: Emmett Malia
- 3^rd place: Jeremiah Scates

12-14 Girls:
- 1^st place: Abbie Ellis
- 2^nd place: Natalia Bittar
- 3^rd place: Lorelei Hanlon

12-14 Boys:
- 1^st place: Jake Chapman
- 2^nd place: Cooper Blynt
- 3^rd place: Roman Lee

https://youtu.be/zfbXdWXU9yE

Copyright Mediawize, LLC 2022

Advertise with us