Are you always the last to leave the pool? Do you enjoy helping others build confidence and learn new skills? This is your chance to start your path as an aquatics instructor! Juneau Pools is offering a Water Safety Instructor certification course in January, available at no cost to those applying for a swim instructor position or to the general public at full price. Register online by December 26.

The American Red Cross Water Safety Instructor™ course trains instructor candidates to teach all courses to all age groups, including Learn-to-Swim Preschool and Youth Levels 1-6. This certification is the gold standard and provides the most comprehensive training for swim instructors.

The class will meet from Friday, January 3 through Monday, January 6 at Augustus G. Brown Swimming Pool. A detailed schedule is available in the Parks & Rec registration catalog.

The class also includes a pre-course swim session on Friday, December 27, from 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. at AGB Pool. If you are not able to attend the pre-course session, alternative scheduling is available upon request—please call (907) 586-0839 ext. 4148.

The course is free for those who submit a swim instructor job application by December 26, or $400 for general participants. WSI candidates must be age 15 and up, and able to swim 25 yards of front crawl, back crawl, side stroke, breast stroke, and elementary back stroke.  Swimming 15 yards of butterfly is optional for a higher level of certification.

For more information, RSVP to the Facebook event or contact Aquatics Programming Coordinator Ellen Johnston at [email protected] or 907-586-0839 ext. 4148.

In celebration of the holiday season, paid parking downtown will not be enforced during the 2024 Gallery Walk. Enforcement will end at 3 p.m. on Friday, December 6.

On-street parking will not be limited to two hours, and free parking will be offered at the Shopper’s Lot, the North Franklin Lot, the Downtown Transportation Center Garage, the Marine Parking Garage, and the South Franklin Docks & Harbors lots (Taku Lot, Tram Lot, Cruise Ship Terminal Lot and Peratrovich Plaza Lot).  All other parking restrictions will still remain in force.

For more information, contact Parks & Recreation at (907) 586-5226 or at [email protected].

Explore Juneau, support local businesses, and win prizes this holiday season in CBJ Parks & Recreation’s Candy Cane Hunt! Print or download a Candy Cane Tracker from the Parks & Rec website, then head out and around town December 3 – 17 to find the printed candy cane numbers in the store windows. The more candy canes you find, the more chances you’ll earn to win prizes.

This year, the Candy Cane Hunt will offer two different trackers, one for Downtown Juneau and one for the Mendenhall Valley. Choose your favorite tracker or complete both for even more tickets in the drawing!

This activity is open to both kids and adults. To enter the prize drawing, submit your Candy Cane Tracker by December 17. The number of tickets you’ll earn depends on how many numbers you find—find all the details on the tracker. And don’t miss a chance to earn bonus tickets by locating the five extra-large candy canes hanging in the windows of CBJ offices and facilities downtown. Take a selfie with each candy cane you find and earn one bonus ticket per selfie!

Some businesses are offering specials for Candy Cane Hunt participants, like a treat, free item, or discount. Look for participating businesses listed on the tracker with an asterisk* and find their special by scanning the QR code on/near their front door.

Parks & Recreation will hold the prize drawing on Wednesday, December 18, and winners will be notified by phone/email and announced on Juneau Parks & Recreation’s Facebook page.

If you don’t have access to a printer, email [email protected] with your mailing address and how many trackers you need. You can also pick one up at the new Parks & Rec office at 1208 Glacier Avenue, Monday – Friday 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

For more information, call Parks & Recreation at (907) 586-5226, or visit the Candy Cane Hunt website or the Facebook event.