Free life guard class for 7th graders

Hardyston — The Sussex County YMCA is offering a free American Red Cross Guard Start course for seventh graders in Sussex County schools or home school equivalents. The class begins Saturday, March 6 and runs through April 24, from noon to 1 p.m. each session. The course is open to other students as well, ages 11-14, for YMCA members at $100 and YMCA program members for $150. The program is intended to teach key skills and professional attitudes of successful lifeguards. Students will learn basic emergency response techniques and how to prevent diving accidents and drowning. While life guarding is a job to take seriously, in this course there will also be a lot of fun and pool games, organizers say. “The Sussex County YMCA has a tradition of offering free seventh grade memberships and this program is a perfect fit for that age group,” commented Senior Program Director Rebecca Carlson. “In studies throughout the United States, YMCA facilities concur that 13-year-olds are the most impressionable and most at risk for dangers in their community. Therefore, in our efforts to support young, confident leaders, we are delighted to sponsor this course that teaches responsibility.” Registration for all YMCA classes for the session beginning March 1 has already begun and space is limited. For more information, visit www.sussexcountyymca.org or go to the YMCA’s Welcome Center at 15 Wits End Road in Hardyston.