How this rotation runs
Four spots watch the water and two don't. The buddy board runs check-ins and the board, and the break is a real rest out of the sun. With six guards, breaks are spread between the stands: deep area, shallow area, buddy board, lookout, boat dock, break. Each guard watches for 40 minutes at a time, then gets 20 minutes away from the water.
Open-water zones are harder to scan than a pool, so many camps rotate more often on hot or busy days. Change the interval, swap in your own spot names (canoe dock, swim test area, rescue boat) and print one chart for the waterfront office and one for the board.
Variations
Other setups
Rotation limits from the CDC Model Aquatic Health Code (6.3.3.1.2). Your facility's rules and certifying agency come first.