Waterfront Director

General Function

Under the supervision of the SLYMCA Outdoor Center Aquatic Director, and/or the Director of Camping Services, the responsibility of the Waterfront Director is to create and coordinate all aspects of a high-quality aquatic atmosphere that truly serves the needs of our campers. All aspects of the waterfront program will reinforce the four principles of Honesty, Caring, Respect, and Responsibility. The Waterfront Director is responsible for maintaining the highest safety standards in every aspect of the waterfront program. This person will work closely with all members of the Sherman Lake YMCA Outdoor Center Program Staff. The ability to manage multiple tasks and work with all people is essential. Good interpersonal skills and a willingness to be a team player is important. The Waterfront Director will carry out his/her responsibilities in accordance with established operating policies and procedures of the YMCA, ACA, and county, state, and federal agencies. This position will require extra duties not mentioned at the discretion of the Aquatics Director or Director of Camping Services. These duties may or may not be directly related to the Waterfront Director in principle responsibilities.

Know How

Nature and Background of Position: This position is concerned primarily with the delivery of waterfront program services to the YMCA Camp constituency.

Requirements: Current certification in First Aid, CPR for the Professional Rescuer, Lifeguard and Waterfront are required. Copies of your certifications are required to be on file. If hired it will be your responsibility to update before cards expires. The minimum age is 21.

Principal Activities

It is the Waterfront Director’s responsibility that the following takes place:

1. Maintain a safe, clean waterfront.

2. Follow established safety guidelines set forth by State Licensing guidelines and ACA guidelines.

3. Supervise, drill and schedule waterfront lifeguards.

4. Other activities as assigned including evening coverage.

Specific Duties & Responsibilities

1. It is the responsibility of the Waterfront Director or Waterfront Coordinator to open the swimming and boating areas. Water activities may not take place unless one of these individuals is in charge.

2. In conjunction with the Waterfront Coordinator, the Logistics Coordinator and overall program schedule, oversee waterfront program staffing for campers.

3. In conjunction with the Aquatics Director, assess training for all lifeguards and waterfront positions. Train waterfront coordinator, conduct weekly in-service sessions and perform periodic evaluations of performance of waterfront staff.

4. Collect all required certifications and have on file copies of all certifications in accordance with state licensing regulations and ACA guidelines with the copy given to the SLYMCA Aquatic Director.

5. Responsible for the safety of all waterfront participants (swimming / sailing / fishing). Ensure that all staff working at the waterfront are properly trained.

6. Conduct periodic waterfront skills assessments with waterfront staff (once every week and multiple drills during staff training). Conduct periodic waterfront emergency drills during staff training and camp season.

7. Although your job calls for a very safe and conscientious atmosphere, please always use words of courtesy to our campers and feel free to interact with them while keeping your eyes on the waterfront. Besides making sure everyone who enters our waterfront is safe, you should also make sure that everyone who enters our waterfront is having a great time!

8. Always use a strength-based approach in working with lifeguard/waterfront staff, counselors and campers. Positive reinforcement is the standard to set. At times it will be necessary to stop unsafe behavior immediately, be sure this is being modeled in a positive way.

9. Communicate and role model proper Lifeguard attire, and exhibit and role model behavior that reflects the Four Principles (i.e. women wear one-piece suits and men wear boxer-type suits). Lifeguards must also carry their rescue tube and whistle at all times and wear protective gear when on duty; ie, sunglasses or hat and sunscreen.

10. The Aquatic Director will have available for each Lifeguard when starting a Lifeguard shirt and whistle. Lifeguard assistant shirts will also be available. These items must be worn at all times when on duty. The Waterfront Director will ensure that staff is adhering to this policy.

11. The Waterfront Director and the SLYMCA Aquatic Director shall be sure that all equipment is in proper working order at the beginning of the season and check periodically throughout the summer season. This includes a check of the radio system used at the waterfront.

12. The Waterfront Director will periodically check to be sure that the waterfront area including pavilion, amphitheater, sand, shoreline, boats, boat houses and changing areas are kept clean. Sand areas must be raked clean and swimming areas should be as free of weeds as possible.

13. Please remember that Customer Satisfaction is our #1 Goal! Please inform the Director of Camping Services or the SLYMCA Aquatic Director immediately of any questions, comments, or concerns presented by our campers that you can’t handle so we may handle them in an expedient manner.

14. If at any time you see an area of our Sherman Lake YMCA Outdoor Center that may need to be cleaned or tidied up, please take the responsibility to do it on your own. We are all owners of the Sherman Lake YMCA Outdoor Center, and should show our pride.

15. Please always remember and exhibit the Four Principles of the Sherman Lake YMCA Outdoor Center: HONESTY, CARING, RESPECT, and RESPONSIBILITY.

16. The Waterfront Director in cooperation with the Aquatics Director and the Director of Camping Services is responsible for establishing a waterfront orientation and training plan. This plan will cover training of lifeguards as well as all staff in proper waterfront protocol.

17.While you are a lifeguard, your primary responsibility is the Waterfront Director. Depending on the staff, you will need to take initiative to assigning where the staff is stationed, how long the rotations will be, where the counselors will be stationed, maintaining the waterfront (cleaning), doing buddy checks every 10 minutes and other general safety issues.

18. The waterfront is a popular and chaotic area. Although you will be given a schedule, it will change on a daily basis and it is your responsibility to flow with the changes and accommodate as many people as possible while still maintaining a safe environment.

19. Throughout the summer, many items will break, get lost, or get used up down at the waterfront. Most items can be fixed by the maintenance staff who can be contacted by using the radio. Medical related items can be replaced by the camp health offices, Aquatic Director, or Director of Camping Services.

20. There are many times where weather conditions will warrant using the pool inside the Recreation Center. If these situations occur, contact the Waterfront Director as soon as possible and make sure the change is communicated to the Aquatic Director, the Day Camp and Resident Camp Staff. All guard staff will be moved to the pool and are to carry out their duties. Either the Waterfront Director or Waterfront Coordinator should proceed immediately to the pool to coordinate the process of getting the campers into the pool area efficiently.

21. It is essential that lifeguards primary responsibility is to guard the swimming patrons and not socialize. Please make lifeguards understand this concept from the beginning and stress to them that they can socialize on their breaks or at lunch time. While they are guarding, they are to stand the majority of the time, move around the dock, do not socialize with counselors, and be consistent with rotations, are actively scanning their area every 10 seconds and buddy checks. It is helpful to assign a "Time Keeper" who is wearing a watch and is in charge of calling buddy checks and starting rotations. Most rotations are done after the buddy checks, every 10 minutes.

22.Guarding in the pool requires that guards DO NOT: wear sandals, enter pool without lifeguard t-shirt, allow campers to play on the ramp or play with the YMCA member equipment, including kickboards.

23. There are fanny packs for the guards to wear. These are nice because they allow you to take care of minor incidents without having to go back to the boathouse. Lifeguards who are on break will be responsible for providing first aid if no health officer is present at the waterfront.

24. Encourage the lifeguard staff to sit with the campers during lunch and play with them during breaks. The children should always be the primary responsibility.

25. Lost and found will be picked up at approx. 3:30-3:45 everyday. Make sure you have it picked up and put in the red bin ready to be carried up. (This includes checking the bathrooms, changing rooms, and general waterfront area)

26.Always take the keys out and put motors up at night. Make sure to check the gas level every morning and alert maintenance if there are any problems with the boat as soon as possible so they can be quickly fixed. The key for the large Whaler remains in the office of the Director of Camping Services.

27.After camp hours usage of waterfront equipment: All after-hours usage of the waterfront for swimming or use of any waterfront equipment must be preapproved by the Director of Camping Services.

28.Keep the boathouse clean!!! Because of all the traffic, food, and playaks, it can smell pretty bad by mid summer. Keeping it clean on a daily basis cuts down on this. It also helps prevent insect and rodent "visitors".

29.Keeping it clean includes sweeping it on a daily basis and bleaching it on a weekly basis.

30. Pull weeds in and around the swimming area, play structure and picnic area

31. Rake sand to even it out and fill in the holes

32.Rake seaweed on the shore that washes up

33.Clean up all litter—including trash in change rooms, rest rooms, pavilion and amphitheater. Staff should not leave the waterfront area in the evening until all litter is picked up. This includes tightly securing lids on trash cans.

34.Keep the boats clean

35.Be sure the Waterfront Closed sign is in place at the end of the day before leaving the area.

36.Remember that while the cleaning staff is in charge of cleaning the bathrooms, it is the lifeguard’s responsibility to keep them tidy by picking up lost and found and garbage. Cleaning staff will clean toilets, sinks, mirrors and mop the floors.

Effect on End Results

This position has a significant impact on the effectiveness with which the YMCA accomplishes its goals and objectives in service to the community. The incumbent has an impact on the community’s understanding of the YMCA movement. The effectiveness of this position should be measured by:

1. 100% camper satisfaction and the operation of a SAFE waterfront program.

2. Sound administration of the SLYOC program function evident in purposeful and coordinated programs, good public relations and understanding, and good records.

3. High morale of the employed staff and effective involvement with campers.

4. Measurable improvement in the social characteristics of the participants.