California Junior Lifeguard Programs

What California Junior Lifeguard Programs does

California Junior Lifeguard Programs Inc. is a privately held youth aquatic education operator founded in 1991 and headquartered in Huntington Beach, California. The company runs seasonal summer camp programs at two Orange County beach sites: Salt Creek Beach in Dana Point and Newport Dunes Waterfront Resort in Newport Beach. Its curriculum, delivered by certified lifeguard instructors, covers first-aid, CPR, ocean safety, rescue techniques, surfing, bodyboarding, and stand-up paddleboarding for participants aged 5-17.

The product portfolio is organized into five core programs priced by length and intensity: Junior Guards ($400-$700), Mini Junior Guards ($300/week), Back Bay Summer Camp ($425/week), Back Bay Jr. Guard Elites ($750/2-week), and SUP/Back Bay Combo ($475/week). Distribution is direct-to-consumer through the Active Network (Camp & Class Manager) online registration portal and a WooCommerce-based merchandise shop selling uniforms and accessories priced $19-$50. The company also activates brand sponsorships across sun care, nutrition, and surf equipment categories.

The business model is seasonal and tuition-driven, with supplementary revenue from on-site and online merchandise sales and brand sponsorships. The organization employs 11-50 staff under CEO Larry Jacklin, who has been with the company since 1998. Marketing is concentrated on organic Instagram and Facebook presence plus parent word-of-mouth in Orange County beach communities. No public revenue, funding, or M&A activity is disclosed.

Name

California Junior Lifeguard Programs

Legal name

California Junior Lifeguard Programs Inc.

Website

https://jrlifeguards.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1991

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

California Junior Lifeguard Programs is a privately held Orange County operator running seasonal youth aquatic camps at two beach sites, delivering certified lifeguard instruction in ocean safety, rescue techniques, surfing, and paddleboarding for ages 5-17 through direct-to-consumer enrollment.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Aquatic Safety & Lifeguard Training Camps

NAICS

Sports and Recreation Instruction (61162)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Lifeguard, Water Rescue & Aquatic Safety Training (EDAOAMAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Surf Schools & Surf Camps (THAAAKAC), Youth Multi-Sport Camps (General Athletics, Summer Camps) (MPAKAJAA), Aquatics Programs (Pools, Swim Lessons, Lifeguarding) (EDALAIAF)

Keywords

• Youth lifeguard training
• Ocean safety education
• Summer camp programs
• Surf and bodyboard instruction
• Aquatic safety camps

Headquarters

HQ city

Huntington Beach

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. Program Tuition Fees: Seasonal summer camp program fees for various program lengths and formats. Programs include 2-week sessions ($700), 1-week essentials ($400), Mini Junior Guards ($300/week), Back Bay Camp ($425/week), Back Bay Jr. Guard Elites ($750/2-week), and SUP/Back Bay Combo ($475/week).
2. Merchandise Sales: Online shop selling official uniforms and merchandise including swimsuits, rash guards, t-shirts, sweat shirts, caps, board shorts, and backpacks. Prices range from $19-$50.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

California Junior Lifeguard Programs runs seasonal youth day camps at two Orange County beach locations, delivering instruction in first-aid, CPR, ocean safety, rescue techniques, surfing, bodyboarding, and stand-up paddleboarding for children and teens ages 5-17. Programs are sold as multi-week or one-week sessions with tiered pricing, and the organization also sells official uniforms and merchandise through its own online shop and on-site.

Product overview

California Junior Lifeguard Programs is a youth ocean safety and adventure program offering multiple camp programs: Junior Guards (ages 8-17, $400-$700), Mini Junior Guards (ages 5-7, $300/week), Back Bay Summer Camp (ages 6-13, $425/week), Back Bay Jr. Guard Elites (ages 8-15, $750/2-week session), and SUP/Back Bay Combo (ages 7-15, $475/week). Programs run at Salt Creek Beach in Dana Point and Newport Dunes in Newport Beach, CA. The organization also operates an online merchandise shop selling official uniforms and gear.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Junior Guards Program Day camp program for ages 8-17 providing instruction in first-aid, CPR, ocean safety, rescue techniques, surfing, and bodyboarding. Available as 2-week sessions at $700 or 1-week condensed sessions at $400, held at Salt Creek Beach, Dana Point.
• Mini Junior Guards Program Introductory beach safety and ocean awareness day camp for ages 5-7 at Salt Creek Beach, Dana Point, focusing on basic water confidence and safety skills at $300 per week (half-day 9:00 AM - 1:00 PM).
• Back Bay Summer Camp One-week interactive outdoor camp for ages 6-13 at Newport Back Bay combining aquatic activities (swimming, paddleboarding, water games) with eco-education and basic safety skills at $425 per week.
• Back Bay Jr. Guard Elites 2-week advanced training program for ages 8-15 at Newport Dunes Waterfront Resort, focusing on physical training, ocean rescue skills, team-building, and conditioning at $750 per 2-week session ($375/week).
• SUP/Back Bay Combo Camp Full-day program combining stand-up paddleboarding (SUP) in the morning with Back Bay Summer Camp activities in the afternoon, for ages 7-15 at Newport Dunes, at $475 per week.
• California Junior Lifeguards Online Shop Official merchandise store selling uniforms and gear including swimsuits, rash guards, t-shirts, sweatshirts, caps, board shorts, and backpacks (priced $19-$50) for program participants and supporters.

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• Banana BoatminorOthersSunscreen brand sponsor providing sun protection products for participants. Listed on sponsors page with logo display.
• Clif BarminorOthersEnergy bar and snack sponsor supporting the program. Listed on sponsors page with logo display.
• Catch SurfminorOthersBodyboard and surf products sponsor. Listed on sponsors page with logo display.
• 662 BodyboardsminorOthersBodyboard equipment sponsor. Listed on sponsors page with logo display.
• Cor SurfminorOthersSurf retail sponsor. Listed on sponsors page with logo display.
• IPD SurfminorOthersSurf industry sponsor. Listed on sponsors page with logo display.
• John Wayne Cancer FoundationminorOthersCancer foundation sponsor (johnwayne.org). Listed on sponsors page with logo display.
• Hawaiian TropicminorOthersSunscreen and sun care brand sponsor. Listed on sponsors page with logo display.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Encinitas Junior Lifeguards: North San Diego County community-based junior lifeguard program offering paid week-long summer sessions in ocean safety, surfing, and lifeguard skills for youth. Directly comparable paid private model targeting the same youth demographic in a neighboring coastal market.
• City of San Diego Junior Lifeguards: San Diego's municipal junior lifeguard program serving youth across multiple Southern California beaches with similar ocean safety, rescue, and surf instruction. Closest geographic and curriculum analog to California Junior Lifeguards, operating in the same Southern California beach market.
• LA County Junior Lifeguards: Los Angeles County's municipal junior lifeguard program offering free ocean safety and lifeguard training to youth across LA County beaches. Directly comparable in core curriculum (ocean safety, rescue techniques, fitness) and target demographic, differing primarily in being publicly subsidized vs. privately paid.
• Newport Beach Junior Lifeguards (City-run): City of Newport Beach's municipal junior lifeguard program operating in the same geographic market as California Junior Lifeguards' Newport Dunes location. Offers subsidized instruction in lifeguard skills, ocean safety, and surf sports to local youth — directly competing for the same participant pool.

Emerging players

• Zuma Surf and Swim Camp: Southern California surf and swim camp offering youth surf instruction, ocean safety, and swim training. Comparable target demographic (youth) and similar instructional content (surfing, ocean awareness) but with a broader swim-instruction emphasis rather than dedicated lifeguard training.
• Salty Mermaid Surf School: Southern California surf school offering youth and beginner surf lessons, ocean safety instruction, and summer camps along the coast. Comparable private paid surf instruction model targeting similar youth demographic in overlapping California beach markets.
• Surf Camp San Diego (Wave Wahines): San Diego-based surf camp offering youth and adult surf instruction, ocean safety, and water-sports programming. Comparable as a paid private surf instruction provider in Southern California targeting a similar youth demographic with similar core curriculum.

Broad incumbents

• YMCA of Orange County (Youth Aquatics Programs): Regional YMCA operating swim lessons, junior lifeguard prep, and youth aquatic programs across Orange County. Comparable youth aquatic safety and swim instruction offerings in the same geographic market, offered at lower price points and broader scale.
• Steve & Kate's Camp: Established premium day-camp operator with multiple Southern California locations offering diverse programming including sports, arts, and STEM. Comparable as a paid private summer day camp for youth in the same affluent California market, though broader in scope and without the ocean-safety specialization.
• American Red Cross Aquatics & Lifeguard Training: National certifying body and training provider for CPR, First Aid, and Lifeguard certification that California's Junior Guards curriculum is built around. Comparable as the dominant youth and adult water-safety training framework, though operating as a national certification authority rather than a regional camp operator.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/californiajrlifeguards
• Instagraminstagram.com/californiajrlifeguards
• Xx.com/jrlifeca
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/california-junior-lifeguard-programs-inc.

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about California Junior Lifeguard Programs