A day (summer) at the beach: Three lifeguards on the view from the chair 

It’s 3 p.m. on a murky afternoon. Lifeguard Lily Brigham perches herself on the stand while her older sister, Mae Brigham, sits comfortably to her right on a folding chair. The sisters have been surveying Crescent Beach since 11 a.m., and they won’t depart for another two hours. Though the action is underwhelming, neither one could be happier. 

“I love it here,” Lily beamed, looking out at the beach and bay,adjusting her sunglasses “We’re very blessed to have it.” 

There are clouds in the sky and the sun alternates between being vicious and nonexistent every other five minutes. “I’ve been working here for three years,” Mae added, “and I bought Lily in this year. I was, like, why not work with me all summer?”

The job isn’t too demanding, given that the calm, bobbing waters rarely warrant intense rescue missions. Saves are occasional, and usually involve bringing over-optimistic children back to shore after they’ve drifted away on a paddleboard. In fact, according to the Brighams, most of the action takes place on the sand. 

“There’s definitely some summer people we have to yell at,” Mae laughed. 

Regular enforcement revolves around maintaining a safe environment, which includes dissuading beach-goers from roughhousing, throwing rocks, getting too rowdy, or even fishing next to young swimmers. Sometimes, however, the lifeguards are asked for favors beyond their duties. “They’ll ask us to hold their bracelets and stuff when they go in the water,” Mae said. “It’s silly.” 

For the most part, though, lifeguarding has proven to be working in a relatively low-stress, civil environment. An obvious advantage to the summer job is that it takes place outdoors, eliminating any drama that comes from a stuffy workplace, and results in overall great camaraderie. “I love everyone we work with,” Lily said. “Everyone is really fun and respectful of each other, and overall really good friends.”

Qualifications to become a Shelter Island lifeguard include being 16 years of age or older, Waterfront/Stillwater Lifeguard certified, and CPR/AED certified. Certification and re-certification are offered from February to June, and fees may be waived if there’s a pre-commitment to working the summer season. For more information on open positions, visit the Shelter Island Human Resources page at @shelterislandtown.gov.  

Perhaps the most difficult part of the gig takes place first thing in the morning during setup. Mae and Lily have to drag heavy pieces of equipment from the shed to the stand, located several hundred feet apart away. They concluded that preparation is easier over at Wades Beach due to the proximity between stations. 

Lifeguard and co-worker Samantha McDonald, who spends her time watching the southern part of the Island, agreed. “I start to set up by getting all of the equipment from the shed,” she said, walking through her typical day-in-the-life. “It’s things like our med kit, the rescue board, flip phone, rescue tube, and the back board,” she said, referring to the board used to safely lift and move an injured person out of the water “Then I flip up the ‘Lifeguard on Duty’ sign and get started with my shift.” 

Lifeguards aren’t necessarily restricted to one beach. It depends on a matter of logistics and personal preference. “It really just depends where you are geographically. But if you don’t care about that, they’ll put you wherever,” Mae said when asked if she’s ever positioned at Wades Beach. 

For younger lifeguards, such as Lily, who may not be able to drive, they’re placed at a beach within walking distance. However, others like Samantha simply favor one over the other. “Both beaches have their pros and cons,” Samantha said, “but I would say that I prefer Wades more just because it’s easier to set everything up and it’s also closer to my house. But Crescent can also be more entertaining.” 

The secluded atmosphere of Wades tends to draw a smaller, calmer crowd. Additionally, the direct sea breeze and broad coastlines expose the bay to stronger winds, which can be refreshing during a brutally hot July. However, it can also get a bit chilly on a drizzly day. 

“My favorite part of my job is getting to be on the beach all day and to go swimming,” Samantha stated, echoing the Brigham sisters’ response. “But my least favorite part is when it’s not busy, especially on a rainy, gross day,” she added, referencing her oversized sweatshirt to keep her warm in frigid breezes while looking out on empty water.

No matter the beach, however, the three lifeguards, who are all full-time Island residents, could not boast about their summer job more. They get through the icy winters with the promise of a warm lifeguarding season ahead, which runs from late June to Labor Day.

While it may bring the occasional petty complaint or inconvenience, lifeguarding on Shelter Island is a fun, stress-free, and bonding experience. However, the Brigham sisters were sure to mention a repetitive question they’ve been asked dozens of times at Crescent Beach this summer: Where’s the food truck? 

Three lifeguards on the view from the chair

BY KATHRYN writer  REPORTER

It’s 3 p.m. on a murky afternoon. Lifeguard Lily Brigham perches herself on the stand while her older sister, Mae Brigham, sits comfortably to her right on a folding chair. The sisters have been surveying Crescent Beach since 11 a.m., and they won’t depart for another two hours. Though the action is underwhelming, neither one could be happier. 

“I love it here,” Lily beamed, looking out at the beach and bay,adjusting her sunglasses “We’re very blessed to have it.” 

There are clouds in the sky and the sun alternates between being vicious and nonexistent every other five minutes. “I’ve been working here for three years,” Mae added, “and I bought Lily in this year. I was, like, why not work with me all summer?”

The job isn’t too demanding, given that the calm, bobbing waters rarely warrant intense rescue missions. Saves are occasional, and usually involve bringing over-optimistic children back to shore after they’ve drifted away on a paddleboard. In fact, according to the Brighams, most of the action takes place on the sand. 

“There’s definitely some summer people we have to yell at,” Mae laughed. 

Regular enforcement revolves around maintaining a safe environment, which includes dissuading beach-goers from roughhousing, throwing rocks, getting too rowdy, or even fishing next to young swimmers. Sometimes, however, the lifeguards are asked for favors beyond their duties. “They’ll ask us to hold their bracelets and stuff when they go in the water,” Mae said. “It’s silly.” 

For the most part, though, lifeguarding has proven to be working in a relatively low-stress, civil environment. An obvious advantage to the summer job is that it takes place outdoors, eliminating any drama that comes from a stuffy workplace, and results in overall great camaraderie. “I love everyone we work with,” Lily said. “Everyone is really fun and respectful of each other, and overall really good friends.”

Qualifications to become a Shelter Island lifeguard include being 16 years of age or older, Waterfront/Stillwater Lifeguard certified, and CPR/AED certified. Certification and re-certification are offered from February to June, and fees may be waived if there’s a pre-commitment to working the summer season. For more information on open positions, visit the Shelter Island Human Resources page at @shelterislandtown.gov.  

Perhaps the most difficult part of the gig takes place first thing in the morning during setup. Mae and Lily have to drag heavy pieces of equipment from the shed to the stand, located several hundred feet apart away. They concluded that preparation is easier over at Wades Beach due to the proximity between stations. 

Lifeguard and co-worker Samantha McDonald, who spends her time watching the southern part of the Island, agreed. “I start to set up by getting all of the equipment from the shed,” she said, walking through her typical day-in-the-life. “It’s things like our med kit, the rescue board, flip phone, rescue tube, and the back board,” she said, referring to the board used to safely lift and move an injured person out of the water “Then I flip up the ‘Lifeguard on Duty’ sign and get started with my shift.” 

Lifeguards aren’t necessarily restricted to one beach. It depends on a matter of logistics and personal preference. “It really just depends where you are geographically. But if you don’t care about that, they’ll put you wherever,” Mae said when asked if she’s ever positioned at Wades Beach. 

For younger lifeguards, such as Lily, who may not be able to drive, they’re placed at a beach within walking distance. However, others like Samantha simply favor one over the other. “Both beaches have their pros and cons,” Samantha said, “but I would say that I prefer Wades more just because it’s easier to set everything up and it’s also closer to my house. But Crescent can also be more entertaining.” 

The secluded atmosphere of Wades tends to draw a smaller, calmer crowd. Additionally, the direct sea breeze and broad coastlines expose the bay to stronger winds, which can be refreshing during a brutally hot July. However, it can also get a bit chilly on a drizzly day. 

“My favorite part of my job is getting to be on the beach all day and to go swimming,” Samantha stated, echoing the Brigham sisters’ response. “But my least favorite part is when it’s not busy, especially on a rainy, gross day,” she added, referencing her oversized sweatshirt to keep her warm in frigid breezes while looking out on empty water.

No matter the beach, however, the three lifeguards, who are all full-time Island residents, could not boast about their summer job more. They get through the icy winters with the promise of a warm lifeguarding season ahead, which runs from late June to Labor Day.

While it may bring the occasional petty complaint or inconvenience, lifeguarding on Shelter Island is a fun, stress-free, and bonding experience. However, the Brigham sisters were sure to mention a repetitive question they’ve been asked dozens of times at Crescent Beach this summer: Where’s the food truck? 

A day (summer) at the beach 

Three lifeguards on the view from the chair

BY KATHRYN writer  REPORTER

It’s 3 p.m. on a murky afternoon. Lifeguard Lily Brigham perches herself on the stand while her older sister, Mae Brigham, sits comfortably to her right on a folding chair. The sisters have been surveying Crescent Beach since 11 a.m., and they won’t depart for another two hours. Though the action is underwhelming, neither one could be happier. 

“I love it here,” Lily beamed, looking out at the beach and bay,adjusting her sunglasses “We’re very blessed to have it.” 

There are clouds in the sky and the sun alternates between being vicious and nonexistent every other five minutes. “I’ve been working here for three years,” Mae added, “and I bought Lily in this year. I was, like, why not work with me all summer?”

The job isn’t too demanding, given that the calm, bobbing waters rarely warrant intense rescue missions. Saves are occasional, and usually involve bringing over-optimistic children back to shore after they’ve drifted away on a paddleboard. In fact, according to the Brighams, most of the action takes place on the sand. 

“There’s definitely some summer people we have to yell at,” Mae laughed. 

Regular enforcement revolves around maintaining a safe environment, which includes dissuading beach-goers from roughhousing, throwing rocks, getting too rowdy, or even fishing next to young swimmers. Sometimes, however, the lifeguards are asked for favors beyond their duties. “They’ll ask us to hold their bracelets and stuff when they go in the water,” Mae said. “It’s silly.” 

For the most part, though, lifeguarding has proven to be working in a relatively low-stress, civil environment. An obvious advantage to the summer job is that it takes place outdoors, eliminating any drama that comes from a stuffy workplace, and results in overall great camaraderie. “I love everyone we work with,” Lily said. “Everyone is really fun and respectful of each other, and overall really good friends.”

Qualifications to become a Shelter Island lifeguard include being 16 years of age or older, Waterfront/Stillwater Lifeguard certified, and CPR/AED certified. Certification and re-certification are offered from February to June, and fees may be waived if there’s a pre-commitment to working the summer season. For more information on open positions, visit the Shelter Island Human Resources page at @shelterislandtown.gov.  

Perhaps the most difficult part of the gig takes place first thing in the morning during setup. Mae and Lily have to drag heavy pieces of equipment from the shed to the stand, located several hundred feet apart away. They concluded that preparation is easier over at Wades Beach due to the proximity between stations. 

Lifeguard and co-worker Samantha McDonald, who spends her time watching the southern part of the Island, agreed. “I start to set up by getting all of the equipment from the shed,” she said, walking through her typical day-in-the-life. “It’s things like our med kit, the rescue board, flip phone, rescue tube, and the back board,” she said, referring to the board used to safely lift and move an injured person out of the water “Then I flip up the ‘Lifeguard on Duty’ sign and get started with my shift.” 

Lifeguards aren’t necessarily restricted to one beach. It depends on a matter of logistics and personal preference. “It really just depends where you are geographically. But if you don’t care about that, they’ll put you wherever,” Mae said when asked if she’s ever positioned at Wades Beach. 

For younger lifeguards, such as Lily, who may not be able to drive, they’re placed at a beach within walking distance. However, others like Samantha simply favor one over the other. “Both beaches have their pros and cons,” Samantha said, “but I would say that I prefer Wades more just because it’s easier to set everything up and it’s also closer to my house. But Crescent can also be more entertaining.” 

The secluded atmosphere of Wades tends to draw a smaller, calmer crowd. Additionally, the direct sea breeze and broad coastlines expose the bay to stronger winds, which can be refreshing during a brutally hot July. However, it can also get a bit chilly on a drizzly day. 

“My favorite part of my job is getting to be on the beach all day and to go swimming,” Samantha stated, echoing the Brigham sisters’ response. “But my least favorite part is when it’s not busy, especially on a rainy, gross day,” she added, referencing her oversized sweatshirt to keep her warm in frigid breezes while looking out on empty water.

No matter the beach, however, the three lifeguards, who are all full-time Island residents, could not boast about their summer job more. They get through the icy winters with the promise of a warm lifeguarding season ahead, which runs from late June to Labor Day.

While it may bring the occasional petty complaint or inconvenience, lifeguarding on Shelter Island is a fun, stress-free, and bonding experience. However, the Brigham sisters were sure to mention a repetitive question they’ve been asked dozens of times at Crescent Beach this summer: Where’s the food truck?