YOUNGSTOWN - Spring cleaning took place across the Valley Saturday

At a park in Youngstown, all hands were hard at work to get a playground ready for families.

For Members of the Youngstown Lifeguard Academy, sanitizing and work at a playground on Falls Avenue and Hillman is more than civic duty. It's teaching them teamwork, respect, and responsibility that can lead to great careers.

EJ Favors said, "Grit, integrity, being an honest and hard worker, the people in the Lifeguard Academy you know want the best."

"Each one who is here now in the Lifeguard Academy they have jobs right now, summer jobs. This is just showing them lifeguarding can take you alot of places. Sports didn't do it for me, and it doesn't for a lot of people, but there are great opportunities. If you are a lifeguard you have to take it seriously and be a first responder. Some got certified to be a lifeguard."

The Youngstown Parks and Recreation program supports this clean-up, and the teens and young adults work to reach goals of also becoming a lifeguard for summer work and possibly at the downtown YMCA all year.

Dawn Turnage, Director of Parks and Recreation emphasized, "These are youth from our city and we must go ahead and make sure we grow our own in our city and support them in all our efforts."

Kevin Tarpley, the Founder of the Lifeguard Academy, or work development program adds it not only means a healthier park for kids to play but the raking and painting and work ethic can help build successful futures for teens and young adults ages 15 to 24.

It's to get that fire in their belly so they can succeed at becoming a lifeguard, a swim instructor, learn scuba diving, so those who want to become a welder can marry the two and become underwater welders said," Tarpley.

Tarpley added, "Underwater welders can on average make $100,000 for a year of work, and in that industry a year is six months, so just imagine the possibilities.

"If your working, your not in the streets. If you're working you're going to pay attention to what you need to get done with school work. We emphasize discipline, communication, responsibility. These are the three things I push on them so they can learn to be an administrator, manager, or supervisor. You need all three to be successful," added Tarpley.

The program was to create lifeguards due to a shortage.

They are looking to recruit 40 members this year.

Teens and young adults in the program must be coachable and between ages 15 to 24.

To reach Kevin Tarpley about joining the Youngstown Lifeguard Academy program you can call 330-774-9799.