Santa Cruz Junior Guard Boosters

Who we are

We are the parents, community members, coaches and mentors supporting the City of Santa Cruz’s amazing junior lifeguard program. Providing ocean safety training for over 1,000 kids each summer is no small task; the SCJG Boosters ensure that City staff have the resources, volunteers, equipment, and support to make it happen. Our goal is to ensure that the SCJG program has everything it needs to continue being an essential, foundational part of the Santa Cruz community and the lives of Santa Cruz’s youth.

Little Guards: 6-8 years old
Junior Guard C's: 9-11 years old
JG B's: 12-13 years old
JG A's: 14-15 years old
JG AA's: 16-17 years old

WHAT WE DO

The SCJG Boosters do the ‘little things’ that make the SCJG program special. Our fundraising and organizational efforts support the program by providing

Team gear and apparel
JG Scholarships
State-of-the-art racing and training equipment
Sister Cities Exchange with Biarritz, France
Local, national and international competition assistance
Dedicated JG community events

Join Us

The SCJG program relies on the Booster Club for much of what makes the summer special; the Booster Club relies on volunteers. Our parents and community members make time in their busy schedules to organize events, sell team merch, arrange special trainings, and make the SCJG program experience unique.

We usually meet on the 2nd Wednesday of each month at 6:30pm in the conference room at the offices of Parks and Rec at 323 Church Street, Santa Cruz. To be added to our newsletter, sign up below and follow us on Instagram. Come join us, on the Boosters and on the beach!

2026 EVENTS

SCJG Night with the Warriors!! March 21st, 2026
SUPER SATURDAY! Sign up for JG's! - APRIL 11th, 2026
Captain Tryouts: TBD

Mahalo Mondays @ Hulas Bar and Grill in Downtown Santa Cruz! Every Monday in May, Hula's will donate a percentage of sales directly to SCJG Boosters!
Session 1: June 8 - July 2 (No Program June 19 and July 3)
Capitola Comp- TBD
Live at the Lane! July 3rd, 2026: Live music, raffles, food and drink- Lighthouse@ Steamers Lane, sponsored by FOPAR
Session 2: July 6 - July 31
Norcal Comp, Main Beach TBD
2026 CSLSA Regional Championships: July 24, 2026 (pending final date and confirmed host)
End of Season Banquet – July 31, 2026 – Harvey West Park Clubhouse
USLA National Championships: Aug 4, 2026, Fort Lauderdale, FL

FOPAR Scholarships

Awards are based on a number of factors, including number of applicants, program costs, financial need and other variables.

Check here for the 2026 Summer Scholarship Application

Visit the City of Santa Cruz Parks & Recreation website for more information.

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