Operation Nicaragua 2025 Recap
Operation Nicaragua 2025 was one for the history books! ISLA conducted its second Train-the-Trainer operation in Nicaragua, at Playa Colorados. The training was conducted in collaboration with NicaHeartbeat, and 6 new Nicaraguan lifeguard instructors were certified. The ISLA team consisted of ten volunteers from Nicaragua, Mexico, Argentina and multiple locations across the USA. The six new instructors quickly certified 19 beach lifeguards and beach safeguards with collaboration from ISLA. The cadets came from multiple different areas around Nicaragua and were highly talented in the water. It was great to see our operation goal of enabling the local lifeguards to teach come true.
Train-the-Trainer Model
ISLA has had the opportunity to perform a Train-the-Trainer in Nicaragua before. It was great to continue the course in a different part of the country and encourage the local community to further their professionalism. The entire operation was conducted covertly…the team needed to leave the country prior to social media posting given the current political situation in Managua and Washington. We all made it home safely and without issue. As a trip lead, I couldn’t have asked for a better team!
Training Recap
Day 0 consisted of our arrival to Casa Colorados. The accommodations were something out of a dream and the Gnar Factor was very very low for an ISLA trip. While us ISLA veterans love some gnarly conditions, we also very much appreciate nice accommodations. Huge thank you to NICA heartbeat. We hit the water and got a nice body surfing session in, and then prepped for teaching in the AM!
Day 1 started nice and early with a morning briefing from our lead aquatic specialist Kai, who discussed water conditions, tides, weather, and wind. We then quickly advanced to the classroom and the waterline to start learning about teaching modalities, learning styles, and how to deliver important aquatic safety information to new learners.
Day 2 was a challenging day of physical exertion. Both ISLA volunteers and the 6 instructor trainees were asked to perform in the classroom and during physical events. Despite the fatigue, the six new local instructors were successfully learning to safely conduct swimming events.
Day 3 was a great day of practicing in the classroom with further time in the water. The local instructors were able to fine-tune their teaching styles and skills in collaboration with the ISLA team. Their next objective was to co-teach lectures in English and Spanish to the upcoming 19 lifeguard cadets.
Leadership and Professional International Lifeguarding
As the MSP on the operation, my primary goal was to enable the local lifeguards to become self-sustainable with beach operations, lifeguard skills, and training. I couldn’t have reached that level of success without my team. Sebastian Deustua, Daniella Spina, Aurelio Norte, Kai Valenzuela, Derrick Kennedy, Steven (Ray) Vaughn, Aurelio Norte, Ivory Yohn, and Ellie Gardill were the absolute dream team. Despite being from different parts of the globe, lifeguards are all cut from the same cloth and the team bonded immediately. They approached the challenge with an adventurous spirit, positive attitude, and a great willingness to invest in a new community. We left on that last day knowing that our motto of “prevención, prevención, prevención” would leave an impact in Nicaragua.
-Emilio Cavazos
