The summer swim season lasts from Memorial Day weekend (the weekend before the last Monday in May) through Labor Day (the first Monday in September).  Olson Beach in Rock Cut state park is open from noon to 7pm daily through the entire summer season.  Standfield Beach in Levings Lake Park is open the same hours, but is closed on school days after Memorial Day and before Labor Day.  Check with your homeowner's association to see what the hours of your private beach are.

There are many reasons one of the beaches we manage may be closed during the summer swim season.  Standfield is closed on days when school is in session.  Beaches are required by Illinois state law to close for thunder and/or lightning, and remained closed until 15 minutes after the last observed thunder or lightning.  Usually summer thunderstorms last about an hour and then the beach can reopen after that.  If there are strong thunderstorms all day, the beach may not be open that day.  If the air or water temperature are 68 degrees or less, then the beach will be closed because it is too cold for outdoor swimming.  In the state of Illinois, all certified swimming beaches are test biweekly for water quality and close if E. coli numbers exceed 245 colonies per 100ml in two water samples, and remains closed until a subsequent sample comes back at a safe level.  The beach may also be closed if it floods, and will remain closed until flood waters subside and water quality can be retested.

No beaches are free; it costs money to employ, train and equip lifeguards; pick up trash, change trash cans and rake the sand; test the water; provide volleyball courts; provide lifejackets and swim diaper covers; and buy and replace swim lines and bouys.  Its just a matter of how all of that is paid for.  If it is paid for by taxes or homeowner's association dues, then entry to the beach will not require an admission fee.  Then there are beaches which are funded through admission fees or a combination of taxes/dues and admission fees.  The public beaches BeachWatch LLC runs are funded entirely through the gate admissions and not taxes.

Our lifeguards are trained through the International Lifeguard Training Program (ILTP) from Jeff Ellis & Associates Inc.

All of our lifeguards maintain an ILTP Special Facility Lifeguard license that includes training in lifeguard skills, CPR, AED, first aid and supplemental oxygen support.  Lifeguard candidates must be able to swim 200 yards crawl/breaststroke without stopping, tread water for 2 minutes with hands out of the water, and retrieve a 10lb diving brick off the bottom in 9 feet of water using a feetfirst surface dive.  The ILTP class is 24 hours long with classroom and in-water skills.  Students must show mastery of all skills, pass a team skills practical and pass the written test with a score of 80% or better.