Connecticut Department of Energy & Environmental Protection

Emergency Burn Ban In Effect 10/26/24 - An emergency burn ban is now in effect for all Connecticut State Parks, Forests, and Wildlife Management areas, prohibiting the use of all outdoor grills, firepits, and campfires, and the kindling and use of flame outdoors. DEEP and local agencies are working to contain several active fires across the state. Please avoid all affected State Parks and Forests, as well as the blue-blazed Mattabesett Trail. The Enduro Trail in Voluntown and portions of North Stonington within the Pachaug State Forest are closed at this time. Please note that today's forest fire danger report remains at an 'extreme' level. More information about the current fire danger, burn ban and recommended safety measures can be found here

Press Releases

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12/17/2018

DEEP Recruiting Lifeguards for 2019 Summer Season

Lifeguard Certification Training Being Offered at No Cost

The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) today announced that they are recruiting lifeguards for the upcoming 2019 summer season at the eight Connecticut State Park guarded beaches. To assist in recruiting, DEEP is offering American Red Cross Lifeguarding classes at no cost to those interested in becoming a lifeguard for the Connecticut State Park system this summer. Participants must successfully complete prerequisites and attend all days of the class to complete the certification. The certification will be retained by DEEP, and can only be used for the purposes of employment as a lifeguard at Connecticut State Parks.
“While summer is months away, the process to finding and training lifeguards to protect our beach visitors is well underway. These classes are designed to train people interested in working as a lifeguard at one of our State Park beaches, and who may not be in a position to pay for the certification themselves,” said DEEP Deputy Commissioner Susan Whalen. “We hope this new approach will assist our recruiting efforts to have full lifeguard squads at each of our lifeguarded beaches.”
DEEP is offering a Lifeguarding with Waterfront Module class, for those people who have no current certification. DEEP is also offering a Lifeguarding with Waterfront Module Review class for guards who already have a certification but it will expire before next summer.

Lifeguarding with Waterfront Module Review Class:
Thursday, December 27:            11 am -7 pm        
Friday, December 28:                11 am -7 pm         
Saturday, December 29:            12:30 pm -7 pm      

Lifeguarding with Waterfront Module Class:

Thursday, December 27:            11 am -7 pm      
Friday, December 28:                11 am-7 pm        
Saturday, December 29:            12:30 pm-7 pm    
Sunday, December 30:              11 am-7 pm

Training Location:  Woodrow Wilson Middle School: 1 Wilderman's Way, Middletown, CT
To register, please contact Sarah Battistini at sarah.battistini@ct.gov or call 860-418-5958.
Lifeguard Positions Available
Lifeguards and Lifeguard Supervisors: The basic duties of a lifeguard are: to monitor activities in swimming areas preventing accidents and providing assistance to swimmers at State Park beaches; to caution swimmers regarding unsafe areas; to maintain order in swimming areas; to rescue swimmers in danger of drowning and administer first aid and/or CPR as required; to participate in physical and rescue skills training; to perform general maintenance tasks and other related duties as required. Hours of work are 10 am to 6 pm, five days per week, for a total of 40 hours. Weekends and holidays are mandatory. Minimum age by May 25 must be 16 years for Lifeguards, 18 years for Lifeguard Supervisors.
Currently lifeguards cover eight of the state parks beaches:
• Black Rock State Park, Watertown
• Burr Pond State Park, Torrington
• Hammonasset Beach State Park, Madison
• Indian Well State Park, Shelton
• Rocky Neck State Park, Easy Lyme
• Sherwood Island State Park, Westport
• Silver Sands State Park, Milford
• Squantz Pond State Park, New Fairfield
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