604 – Strengthening Your Aquatic Family & Setting the Tone

Memorial Day through Labor day (or year round for some), our minds and pulses are racing, we know this summer will take another five years off our life. We find ourselves asking, “How on earth did I get into aquatics again?” Do you have that feeling of having to be at your facility 24/7 to ensure everything goes well? With Gen Z encroaching, do you feel they frankly just don’t care like you did when you were a lifeguard? In this session, you will learn how to set the tone on your pool deck in order to be able to spend time with family or just GO HOME. We will share with you how we structured our Aquatic Family to make room for individual growth and opportunity, and create an inclusive family environment. Tools from this session will be able to be carried out throughout your programs and facilities.
Learning Outcomes: Participants will be able to:
- Create a family tree that grows from full time staff, to their newest guard. This tree will include and celebrate each family member’s individual achievement, as well as ensure they are a positive representative of the “family name.”
- Set the tone and create understanding for their lifeguards and help the guards understand the gravity of their jobs.
- Learn that some family members frankly cannot live up to the “family name,” and the chair may not be the best place for them.