Lifeguard Rodeo 2025: Building Safer Pools Across Coastal Georgia

On Sunday, June 8, the YMCA of Coastal Georgia hosted its annual Lifeguard Rodeo, an all-day training and team-building event that brought together lifeguards from across the association’s branches. From first-time lifeguards to seasoned veterans, the rodeo was a chance for everyone to sharpen their skills and have a whole lot of fun doing it.

“This is more than just training,” said Camille Stone, director of membership, aquatics, and fitness at the West Chatham YMCA. “It’s team building, it’s morale, it’s making sure across the board that all of our standards are matching up.”

At the heart of Lifeguard Rodeo is the YMCA’s commitment to safety and excellence. Every lifeguard at the Y is required to attend monthly in-branch training, but the Rodeo is an opportunity to connect. “It’s a chance for the lifeguards to be exposed to other environments, each other, learn to work with lifeguards they haven’t met before,” Stone added. “It’s like networking. It’s exciting for them.”

This year’s Rodeo broke from tradition with a more dynamic, scenario-based format that blended real-world urgency with games and creativity. The result? An engaged and energized lifeguard force that’s better prepared for whatever this summer may bring.

“We trained some really out-of-the-box scenarios,” Stone explained. “They were really forced to be independent and creative.” From ethical discussions to physical rescue drills, the day pushed every guard out of their comfort zone and closer to real-life readiness.

For many, the biggest eye-opener was the ten-minute CPR simulation—far longer than the standard three rounds taught in basic training.

“You can focus and see what they need to work on,” said Kame Varnedoe, a personal trainer, fitness instructor, and lifeguard from Liberty County. “It was great to have them in scenarios… Before, we were more teaching. This time, they got to learn and actually be part of an experiment to see how well they did.”

For rookies like Max McNeil from Liberty County and Tabetha Silwimba from the Habersham Y, it was their first experience with the rodeo and their first time being lifeguards at the Y.

“I think it was really good to refresh on all the information that we went over before taking the job,” Max said. “I think doing the rescues in the bathroom was good to go through the steps and really remind us of the action to take.”

Tabetha agreed: “I thought it was a great chance to practice our CPR skills,” she said. “I liked also the game they had us play to practice rescuing people in the pool.”

Games were central to this year’s Rodeo, but each came with a deeper purpose. “Musical rescue,” a twist on musical chairs, had guards racing to execute entries, approaches, and rescues under pressure. The “poolside telephone” game used chemicals to teach accuracy and communication in pool chemistry, a surprisingly beloved topic among some guards.

“We take [chemicals] super serious at our pools,” said Bradley Anderson from the West Chatham Y, now in his third year at the rodeo. “It was nice to do that and see us be able to get the same numbers…even with us doing it one drop at a time all the way down the line.”

He also appreciated the innovation behind the rescue drills. “We’re planning on taking that back with us,” Anderson said.

The rodeo wasn’t just about developing technical skills; it was about growing people. “Because we’re a development association, we have so many young people that are also coming to us and developing really serious life skills that follow them throughout their lives,” Stone emphasized.

As summer kicks off in full swing, these lifeguards will be more than ready.

“I’m just excited to hang out with the camp kids this year,” Anderson added, smiling. “And see how happy they are when they come. They go to the pool, get out, and get to actually explore and do stuff outside for the summer, like I did when I was growing up.”

The pools are now open across our association and lifeguards are ready to make this the best summer yet.

“The goal is for them to come back invigorated, more educated, more excited, more capable. Just…better,” said Stone.