There’s a good chance you’ve seen Caden Carlson keeping a watchful eye over one of Holland Aquatic Center’s many pools.
Caden is one of HAC’s dedicated, professional lifeguards and has been part of our team for the past several years. Originally from Plymouth, Michigan, he moved to Holland in 2019 and attended Black River Public School, graduating in 2025. HAC is also Caden’s first-ever job, making his time here an important starting point in his work experience.
When asked how he would describe his role, Caden put it simply: “Mentally exhausting, but rewarding.” Lifeguarding requires constant focus, quick thinking, and a strong sense of responsibility, and Caden approaches the job with exactly that mindset. His consistent, practical approach helps keep our swimmers safe every day.
When speaking with Caden, it quickly becomes clear that he is very much a people person. He enjoys connecting with friends and coworkers and especially likes seeing familiar faces from the Holland community while he’s at work. If you strike up a conversation with him, you’ll find he’s friendly, thoughtful, and easy to talk to.
Caden originally applied to work at HAC because he wanted to start earning some pocket money and build his resume—but what’s kept him here is the steady work and flexible schedule, which can adapt to school or other jobs. That flexibility, combined with a supportive team environment, has made HAC a good fit for him.
One fun and unique thing about Caden? He’s currently planning a LARP (live-action role-playing) event with fellow HAC coworkers—a creative project that speaks to the strong friendships formed among our staff and the many interests they share outside of work.
We’re grateful for Caden’s dedication, focus, and reliability on deck. He keeps things straightforward, and his presence makes a real difference for our members, our team, and the overall safety of the facility.
Next time you see Caden at the pool, feel free to say hello. You just might learn more about lifeguarding, the Holland community, or even LARPing!
Learn more about Caden
Favorite food: Shepherd’s Pie
Best vacation I ever took: I visited Utah during Project Term (a month of experiential education offered by Black River Public School)
Favorite sport: I was a three-sport athlete growing up: Baseball, basketball, and cross-country running.
Best advice I ever received: “Just because you start somewhere doesn’t mean that’s where you’ll end up.”
Bucket list item: I would love to become a boat builder someday.
Favorite place to visit: I enjoy visiting Traverse City with my family, where we visit wineries and go hiking together.
At Holland Aquatic Center, our facilities are awesome and so is our staff. In this We Are HAC! series, we will introduce you to the people who love to teach, coach, protect, serve, and inspire here. Our amazing team, more than 150 strong, is passionate about empowering healthy, connected lives through aquatics and wellness programming.