Junior Lifeguards Connect to Conservation with the Aquarium

October 7, 2024

The Aquarium and the Long Beach Junior Lifeguards (LBJGs) have partnered to connect youth with marine life and engage them in ocean conservation. Together they launched an Aquarium day for Junior Lifeguards, ocean stewardship opportunities, and an essay contest where Junior Lifeguards explored the relationship between environmental stewardship and community responsibility. LBJGs participated in the Aquarium’s post-Independence Day beach cleanup and learned about watersheds and marine life while volunteering with the Aquarium’s conservation and community science programs. Cadets traveled to Catalina to learn about species and ecology with the Aquarium. Over 800 Junior Lifeguards, ages nine to seventeen, collectively from every district in Long Beach were trained on ocean stewardship as part of this partnership.

“The profession of Lifeguarding in 2024 is not just about saving lives, it’s also about saving the most important asset to our planet, its oceans. The Long Beach Fire Marine Safety Division and the Long Beach Junior Lifeguards are proud to partner with the Aquarium of the Pacific to educate future lifeguards on the importance of environmental stewardship.”

On August 2, 2024, the Aquarium of the Pacific and the Long Beach Junior Lifeguards held an award ceremony in the Honda Pacific Visions Theater and announced the essay contest winners. First-place winners received a $1,000 scholarship. The second and third-place winners received Aquarium admission and experiences to continue their connection with ocean stewardship. The scholarships were made possible by donations from the Long Beach Junior Lifeguard Foundation and Aquarium of the Pacific trustees Bob and Val Hoffman.

“The Long Beach Junior Lifeguards are recruited from all corners of Long Beach, and along with their families and friends, these programs represent a unique opportunity for everyone to engage with some of the leading scientists in their fields. They will not only learn about our ocean environments, but also be able to explore future career opportunities in the environmental sciences”

Essay Contest Winners

• Cadets (Ages 15 to 17 years old)
  • 1st Place: Joan Garcia
  • 2nd Place: Jessie Reader
  • 3rd Place: Natalie Pragale
• A Group (Ages 14 to 17 years old)
  • 1st Place: Rohan Soin
  • 2nd Place: Justin Park
  • 3rd Place: McKenna Rosenberg
• B Group (Ages 12 to 13 years old)
  • 1st Place: Dewey Munoz
  • 2nd Place: Lillian Calvario
  • 3rd Place: Shanti Alimahomed-Wilson
• C Group (Ages 9 to 11 years old)
  • 1st Place: Austin Angulo
  • 2nd Place: Keoni Vogelsang
  • 3rd Place (tied): Emma Fournier
  • 3rd Place (tied): Lottie Vanderbeek McCall