The club launched the Become a Lifeguard programme recently as a way to build member numbers and will be focusing on school pupils, the president of the St Kilda Surf Life Saving Club, Peter Gibbons, said.
The aim was to get them interested in surf life-saving before they became involved in other activities.
Yesterday, 11 year 9 and 10 pupils from Bayfield High School in Dunedin spent the day at Warrington beach learning the basic elements of surf life-saving, including how to drive inflatable rescue boats.
The idea was to "provide a fun intro so that entices them to join the clubs", Mr Gibbons said.
It was hoped some of the pupils would sign up as members of clubs and that schools would provide the programme as an elective option during the year, he said.
If schools participated, a steady stream of children would come through, he said.
By boosting member numbers, the volunteer workload could be shared.
Having to work both weekend days was a "disincentive to stay around", Mr Gibbons said.
"We aim to have enough lifeguards in each club so that only one volunteer day is required each month."
The television programme Piha Rescue also offered an opportunity to capitalise on its success by attracting more people to surf life-saving, he said.
The programme would run throughout the school holidays and schools in the region would be approached to include it as an elective activity, Mr Gibbons said.
For more information about the Become a Lifeguard programme, contact Mr Gibbons on 027 221-3586 or gibbo118@xtra.co.nz.
