SPLASHForward
High School Lifeguard Training
Would you like to learn a skill that could save lives?
Our region is in short supply of lifeguards and swim instructors. We’d like to do our part to increase the number of lifeguards and provide high school students the opportunity to not only learn lifesaving skills, but also seek employment as a lifeguard or swim instructor at our local pools and beaches.
SPLASHForward is sponsoring lifeguard training for high school students. We cover the cost of your certification, support you with skill development, offer incentives, and provide you with resources to find a job. If you are unsure of your swim skills, we are happy to work with you so you can practice or acquire the skills. You can specify this when you sign up. You must be 15yrs old by the last day of the lifeguard training course. Sign up is on a first come first serve basis.
Thank you to our title sponsor Amazon, sustaining sponsors Moccasin Lake Foundation and the Rotary Club of Bellevue, and supporting sponsors Proliance Orthopedic Associates, Myrtha Pools, and Seattle Children’s Hospital. We would not be able to run our program and creatively reduce barriers to students without their support.
Supporting Sponsors
Past Sponsors & Partners
Interested in becoming a lifeguard?
Sign up if you are interested in becoming a lifeguard or want to strengthen your skills before becoming a lifeguard. Once you sign up, we’ll follow up with you!
On this webpage are more details on what is required, our program, and the various lifeguard class opportunities at local pools on the Eastside, in Seattle, and in South King County. Scroll below to sign up for a specific class. We’ll be continually updating this page with more information as we learn about lifeguard training classes.
Bring a Friend and Earn $50
If you and a friend become lifeguards through our program, you each will earn $50. Just let us know during registration who is your friend.
Lifeguard Training Program Workshops
We invite you to learn more about our high school lifeguard training program and learn from local facility Aquatics Directors, Lifeguard Instructors and student lifeguards. In a panel style discussion we share what it means to be a lifeguard, what is involved in getting certified, expectations, opportunities, and unique aspects of local facilities. Current student lifeguards share their experiences and what they love about being a lifeguard.
If you were unable to attend our 2025 workshop, we encourage you to watch the recording from this year, a previous year, or our 2023 National Injury Prevention Day Student Lifeguard Workshop (below). We find that watching a recording helps answer many questions and students appreciate what they learn after watching.
Workshop Recordings
National Injury Prevention Day 2023
Student Lifeguard Workshop
Watch the recording
As part of National Injury Prevention Day (November 18th), SPLASHForward and our drowning prevention collaborative partners UW Harborview Injury Prevention Research Center, Seattle Children’s Hospital, and Public Health – Seattle & King County held a Student Lifeguard Workshop (virtually over Zoom) to introduce lifeguarding to high school students in King County and offer financial support and resources to become a lifeguard. A panel of aquatic managers, lifeguard instructors, and student lifeguards from King County aquatic facilities shared what it means to be a lifeguard.
Watch the workshop recording and sign up to become a lifeguard! We want to support you!
Strengthen Your Skills
Lifeguard Development Training Class
We have partnered with the Bellevue Aquatic Center to hold a Friday Night Teen Lifeguard Development Training class. Come to this class to have your skills assessed and learn and practice the prerequisites in a fun group environment. You will be introduced to the prerequisites, participate in fun games, and identify areas to further strengthen. This class is led by a Lifeguard Instructor and is open to 8th graders and high school students (ages 14 – 18 years). Our goal is to prepare you so that you are ready to take an American Red Cross Lifeguard Training Class. Our goal is to hold this class monthly.
Bellevue Aquatic Center
Fridays – Jan 2nd, Feb 6th, Mar 6th, Apr 3rd, and May 1st
8pm – 9pm
Cost is $5.50/class
FREE Pizza from MOD Pizza to follow until 9:30pm
Registration is through the Bellevue Aquatic Center. Please let us know if you sign up! lifeguard@splashforward.org
Lifeguard Skill Strengthening Class
Come to this FREE lifeguard skill strengthening class to learn the prerequisites in a fun group environment. You will practice each prerequisite, participate in fun games, and identify areas to practice. These sessions are recommended for 8th graders and high school students.
Overlake Golf & Country Club
TBD – Future dates will be in the Spring of 2026
Sign Up for a Lifeguard Training Course
Course Dates
& Locations
We support registering you at training classes at various aquatic facilities across King County and post class options on our site by facility. We ask that you sign up using our forms so we can cover your cost and best support you throughout the process.
We do our best to keep our site up to date, but if you know of a class that is not listed, please let us know so we can register you for it!
Note that pre-requisite swims are typically held the first hour on the first day of the class. If you are not sure of your swim skills, tell us in the registration so we can arrange time for you to practice or acquire the necessary skills.
Locations
South King County
Curtis Aquatic Center, Covington Aquatic Center, Federal Way Community Center, Weyerhaeuser King County Aquatic Center, Tukwila Pool, Evergreen Community Aquatic Center, Kent YMCA Pool, Lindbergh Pool, Henry Moses Aquatic Center
Eastside Locations
Bellevue Club
We have the following options at the Bellevue Club. If times do not work with your schedule, please register so that we can follow up with you to get you in a class that works for you. The Bellevue Club holds classes throughout the year.
Note that pre-requisite swims will be held the first day of the class. If you are not sure of your swim skills, tell us in the registration so we can arrange time for you to practice or acquire the necessary skills.
Bellevue Club
Lifeguard Certification Classes: most October weekends or Register for a future class
- Friday 7pm - 10pm, Sat 12:00pm - 10pm and Sun 10:00am-8:00pm
Lifeguard Recertification Classes: The last Saturday and Sunday of September and October
- Sat 10:00am - 8pm
Lifeguard certification is valid for two years. You must renew while you still have a valid lifeguard certification or within 30days of its expiration. If it has been longer than 30days, you will need to take the full course.
Bellevue Aquatic Center
You can sign up for the following options at the Bellevue Aquatic Center.
Note that pre-requisite swims will be held the first hour on the first day of the class. If you are not sure of your swim skills, tell us in the registration so we can arrange time for you to practice or acquire the necessary skills.
Bellevue Aquatic Center
Sessions : Friday, January 16th - Sunday, January 18th; Friday, February 20th - Sunday, February 22nd; Friday, March 20th - Sunday, March 22nd
NEW: Friday Night Teen Lifeguard Development Training - October 3rd, November 14th, and December 5th
- 3 day course on Fri / Sat / Sun
- Friday 3:30pm - 9pm, Saturday and Sunday 9am to 6pm (typically ends before 6pm)
- All days are required
- Online portion must be completed before first class (6-8hrs)
- Max 10 students per session. We will let you know if a session fills.
- 8:00pm - 9:00pm with FREE Pizza afterwards, cost $5.50
- Opportunity to learn and practice the Lifeguard Certification prerequisites in a fun group environment with Lifeguard Instructors
- See above for more details and to download a flyer
Samena Swim & Recreation Club
The classes below will be held at Samena Recreation and Swim Club in Bellevue.
Note that pre-requisite swims will be held the first hour on the first day of the class. If you are not sure of your swim skills, tell us in the registration so we can arrange time for you to practice or acquire the necessary skills.
Samena Recreation & Swim Club
Lifeguard Training Class - Future class TBD
- Sat - 9am - 7pm
Recertification is for lifeguards who need to renew their certification. Certification needs to be renewed after the 2 year anniversary of your last certification.
Julius Boehm Pool
The classes below will be held at the Julius Boehm Pool in Issaquah.
Note that pre-requisite swims will be held the first hour on the first day of the class. If you are not sure of your swim skills, tell us in the registration so we can arrange time for you to practice or acquire the necessary skills.
Julius Boehm Pool
Lifeguard Training Class - TBD
- Watch here for a future class. Let us know if you know of one and we'll add it!
Phantom Lake Pool
The classes below will be held at Phantom Lake Pool in Bellevue.
Note that pre-requisite swims will be held the first hour on the first day of the class. If you are not sure of your swim skills, tell us in the registration so we can arrange time for you to practice or acquire the necessary skill.
Recertification classes are open to those who already have a lifeguard certification and are WITHIN 30days of it expiring. Lifeguard certification is valid for 2 years.
Phantom Lake Pool
Lifeguard Training Class - March 28th and 29th, 2026
- Sat and Sun - 9am - 5pm
Lifeguard Recertification Class - April 11th, April 12th, 2026
- Sat or Sun - 9am - 3pm
Strattonwood Swim Club
Check back for training classes at Strattonwood Swim Club in Redmond.
Note that pre-requisite swims will be held the first hour on the first day of the class. If you are not sure of your swim skills, tell us in the registration so we can arrange time for you to practice or acquire the necessary skills.
Strattonwood Swim Club
Other locations in Seattle & King County
We also support lifeguard training at other public aquatic facilities in Seattle and King County. If these locations work best for you, please view other lifeguard training class options at these facilities.
We maintain a waitlist, so if you are interested and none of the options work for you, please sign up! We will let you know of future opportunities.
We continually seek additional funding so that we can support interested students.
Know an organization or individual willing to fund our program? info@splashforward.org
Requirements
- Must be a current high school student age 15 and greater. Students must turn 15 before the last day of their training session.
- Online material requires at-home computer and internet access. It must be completed prior to the start of the in-person portion.
- NOTE: Once the student is registered in a training class, they will receive a link via email to access the online portion of the course.
- Must pass a prerequisite skills evaluation on the first day of class which includes:
- Swimming 300 meters
- Treading water for two minutes without hands
- Retrieving a ten-pound brick from a depth of nine feet and swimming 20 meters using legs only
If the swimming portion is a barrier, please let us know. We are looking for ways to support interested students that don’t currently meet all of the skill requirements.
Course Description
American Red Cross Lifeguard course taught in a blended learning format. Course requires an at-home computer and internet access. You will be emailed a link to gain access to the online portion by the Tuesday prior to class and will take about 6-8 hours to complete.
To obtain certification, students must:
- Attend the ENTIRE course
- Complete all online learning modules prior to the water portion
- Demonstrate competency in all required skills and scenarios
- Pass the final written exams with a minimum grade of 80 percent.
Upon successful completion, the student will receive an American Red Cross certificate for Lifeguarding/First Aid/CPR/AED which will be valid for two years
What to Bring to the Course
This format condenses lifeguard training all into one weekend. Participants should plan to spend long periods of time in the water and in the classroom.
The following items are *required or recommended:
- *State-issued photo ID (school ID is acceptable)
- *Proof of completion of online content
- *Swimsuit
- *Goggles
- Water bottle
- Food or meal plans
- Warm, dry change of clothes for classroom
- Contact case/solution if worn – participants are require to open eyes underwater
- Deck footwear
What happens after you become a certified lifeguard?
We will support you in finding a lifeguarding job.
We provide you with resources, how to apply and put your best foot forward, and direct contacts at local aquatic facilities. We share with you what the facilities are looking for and other opportunities the facilities provide.
Even if you don’t land a job right away, we will support you when you decide to find a job. Reach out to let us know when you are ready!
Questions?
Refer a Friend Incentive
Lifeguarding is more fun when you do it with a friend. SPLASHForward is offering a $50 incentive if you refer a friend to our program and they become a lifeguard. Here are our incentive details.
- If you participate in our program, get hired as a lifeguard, and refer a friend who also participates in our program and gets hired as a lifeguard, you will receive $50 from SPLASHForward.
- This incentive is active through end of 2023.
Thank you to our title sponsor Amazon, sustaining sponsor Moccasin Lake Foundation, supporting sponsors Proliance Orthopedic Associates, Myrtha Pools, Seattle Children’s Hospital, the Bellevue Club, the Bellevue Aquatic Center and all of our supporters who help make this opportunity possible!
We could not offer this program without you!
Sign Up!
Registration is on a first come first serve basis. We maintain a waitlist and will contact you about future opportunities!
Interested in supporting our program?
Are you or your business interested in sponsoring or supporting this program so we can grow to add more lifeguard training opportunities to more high school students?
We have some great ways you can help. Let’s talk!
SPLASHForward is leading the advocacy efforts to bring a comprehensive world-class public aquatics center to the Bellevue and satellite facilities to the region. We are a community advocacy group, aquatics thought leader, and private funding partner. Our mission is to provide our communities with a year-round health and wellness oasis with affordable access to aquatic programming so that everyone can be safe in the water, drownings are prevented, community connect fostered, and everyone is exposed to a lifetime of healthy lifestyle opportunities.
Learn more about SPLASHForward
