Here’s a summer job opportunity for young West Philly men and women who can swim or are willing to learn to swim. The Philadelphia Department of Parks & Recreation has launched its 2017 Lifeguard Recruitment Campaign and will begin its competitive lifeguard recruitment process this month.

Interested applicants are strongly encouraged to begin the process early in order to have enough time to pass the required screening and lifeguard training course. Parks and Rec staff is also able to provide beginner-level swimmers that apply early with assistance in preparing for the screening. The lifeguard position pays a competitive wage of $12.33 to $14.60 an hour.

Parks and Rec hires 400 lifeguards annually to patrol its 70 outdoor pools and four indoor pools, and there are a lot of West Philly pools that need lifeguards (Pictured: Kelly Pool in West Fairmount Park). The first step for interested candidates is to attend a screening at one of three indoor training facilities during the following screening days and times beginning now through June: 

• Sayre Morris Swimming Pool, 5825 Spruce Street: Monday, Wednesday and Friday between 6 p.m. and 8 p.m.
• Pickett Swimming Pool, 5700 Wayne Avenue: Monday through Thursday between 6:30 p.m. and 8 p.m.
• Lincoln Pool, 7437 Rowland Avenue: Monday through Thursday between 7:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m.

The screening is free of charge and no appointment is necessary. Please note: the mandatory lifeguard training course is $110 for candidates that commit to working for Parks and Rec and $175 if the candidate prefers to work somewhere else.

“Our aquatics program provides an amazing opportunity for Philadelphia’s young people to secure a good-paying summer job and gain valuable work experience,” Commissioner Ott Lovell said in a statement. “We have 74 pools that need to be staffed, and we encourage applicants to start preparing now so they have a better chance of being able to work in their neighborhood.”

For the initial screening, candidates must be at least 15 years of age. Lifeguards must be 16 to work for Parks and Rec, but can work as lifeguards at a private pool at 15.

More information about the screening and a detailed list of requirements can be found at www.phila.gov/lifeguards.