Potential Timeline
- December 6th – January 14th – Applications Distributed & Processed
- January 18th – 21st – First Round Applicants Selected
- January 24th – January 28th – Interviews
- January 31st – February 11th – Selection Process
- February 15th – April 3rd – Aquatics Training
- April 5th – May 5th – Recreation Academy
Performance Task
At the core of any organization’s talent pool are certain “soft” skills, which are not necessarily taught, but can be sharpened with practice and training. As a department dedicated to public service, three abilities we look for in any potential employee candidate are outstanding customer service skills, effective teamwork abilities and professional communication efforts. To help participants to develop these skills, and to provide us with opportunities to evaluate same, we require every program participant to assist with two department events during the program.
Learning Objectives
Aquatics/Lifeguard Learning Objectives and Schedule
February 15 – April 3 | Tuesdays & Thursdays | 5:30 – 7:30
(There will be no class the week of March 14th – 20th)
- 2/15 – 2/17 – Introduction to Aquatics
- Discuss Expectations
- Review Facilities and Safety Concern
- 2/22 - 2/24 – Technique
- Demonstrate Breaststroke
- Stroke Development
- 3/01 - 3/03 – Technique Cont.
- Demonstrate Freestyle
- Treading Water
- 3/8 – 3/10 – First-Aid CPR & Rescue
- First Responders First-Aid/CPR
- Rescue Scenarios
- 3/22– 3/24 – Lifeguard Prep/Pool Management
- Pool Management
- Certification Review
- TBD – Testing and Certification – Friday - Sunday
- Lifeguard Certification Course
Successful completion of the certification portion of the aquatics program will earn participants a lifeguard certification and qualify them for potential seasonal employment with the City of Ocala (pending a successful interview, drug screening, and background check; and subject to funding).
Recreation Academy Learning Objectives and Schedule
April 5 – May 5 | Tuesdays & Thursdays | 5:30 – 7:30
- 4/5-4/7 – Understanding Parks & Recreation
- Tour of Facilities and Staff Introduction
- Active Customer Service – T-Ball
- 4/14 - 4/16 – (Thursday & Saturday) Recreation – Athletics
- Introduction to Recreational Sports – Assist with T-Ball
- Therapeutic Sports – Tag Tea mBaseball
- 4/19-4/21 - Recreation – Programming
- Programming Background – Understanding resources, needs and competition.
- 2050 Program Project
- 4/23 – Performance Task – Youth Fishing Derby
- 4/26 – 4/28 - Recreation – Fitness
- Understanding the role of Fitness in Recreation
- Circuit Training Project
- 5/3 – 5/5 Parks & Resource Stewardship
- Ranger Presentation
- Program Wrap Up