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The Surfrider Spirit Sessions Program


Donate Today - Your generosity helps at-risk youth redirect their lives through surfing


Buy The Surfer Spirit - The art of surfing: Hawaii's gift to the world

Mission:

The Spirit Sessions aims to help at-risk and troubled teens develop redirect their lives in a positive way through surfing and other ocean and beach related activities.

Program Overview:

Spirit Sessions consists of a 12-week long series of professionally conducted surf lessons coupled with talk circles guided by a therapist (and/or counselor) and Surfrider Foundation educators. Each session focuses on a life theme based on a page of the Surfer Spirit book and may include sections of the Surfrider Foundation Education manual. Sessions also will include ocean sport etiquette and basic water safety. Swimming ability is preferred but not required. Instructors have established non-swimmer protocol, including working in a shallow stand-up surf zone, and using safety vests to ensure student comfort and safety.

Special sessions, such as swimming and lifesaving classes, introduction to marine biology or oceanography, and canoe paddling can also be incorporated as the opportunities arise.

Through this process, teens develop a taste for healthy activity and garner a greater sense of self-awareness and self-esteem while also gaining a deep appreciation for the ocean and their environment.

This is a new program, and as such, we will be conducting a 6-week pilot program. Ideally we will be able to expand the project based on findings and additional contributions to fund the program. The program itself is designed to eventually be selfsustaining and turnkey.


DONATE to the Surfrider Spirit Session Fund. Your constribution is tax deductible.


Following is a description the pilot program.

Pilot-Program Development Team:

This is a new program in development through a partnership involving:

  • Girls Court Program:
    • The Honorable Judge Radius
    • Emma Pavich, Girls Court Program Therapist
    • Donna Toniguchi, girls Court Program Director
  • Surfrider Foundation:
    • Marvin Heskitt, Surfrider Foundation Oahu Chapter Co-Chair
    • Cynthia Derosier, Surfrider Foundation Member, Author of The Surfer Spirit (Lead Program Development Coordinator)
  • Star Beach Boys (owner:Aaron Rutledge):
    • Sam Rodrigues, Head Surf Instructor.

      • Sam’s background includes his current service as social worker (his formal title is Family Service Assistant) with the Hawaii State Dept of Human Services. He works to unite families & children who are victims of abuse and/or neglect by teaching parenting skills to parents who are in addiction recovery, He also has over 20 years of experience teaching surfing and canoe paddling. He will be the main contact/liaison to the instructors, lifegaurds and equipment.

    • Bios will be coming on the following: Lydia Nahinu (mother works part time at beach, competitive) surfer.
      • Karen
      • Pat
      • Dennis Selis lifeguard
      • Over 20 others have volunteered to act as support.

Pilot-Program Development Partner Roles:

Girls Court Program provides:

  • Primary Beneficiaries/Session Paricipants; At-risk teens girls admitted to the program by Judge Radius and the Girls Court Program
  • Therapeutic Counselor/Session Leader: Emma Pavich is the primary counselor. She will guide surf instructors and program leaders in best practices and facilitate talk circles.
  • Fundraising: Girls Court will actively solicit donations (financial, product and or services) to help fund and/or supply the program.
Surfrider Foundation provides:
  • Content - Educational/Motivational Tools; A copy of the Surfer Spirit will be provided for each girl participating in the program. Education manuals will also be provided for session leaders.
  • Session coordination and co- leadership: Qualified Surfrider Foundation members will participate in select sessions to teach about the ocean and environmental issues and responsibilities. Leaders will also introduce life lesson concepts found in surfing. Primary leaders will be Cynthia Derosier and Marvin Heskitt.
  • Funding: Surfrider Foundation will collect, disburse and manage the funds collected for the program. It’s 501c3 status allows for donor tax deductions.
  • Fundraising: Surfrider Foundation will actively solicit donations (financial, product and or services) to help fund and/or supply the program.
Star Beach Boys provides:
  • Surf Instruction & Equipment; Safety Certified and State Liscened Surf instructors are experienced professionals. Each is certified a in water recuse & safety as well as CPR.
  • Liability Insurance: Insurance is provided by the surf instructor’s concession as required by the state of Hawaii. Standard agreements and releases must be signed by students (and their parents or guardians) prior to the lessons.

Launch Plan Overview:

The first series of sessions will be a pilot program of 6 sessions with a target start date of April 21, 2007. Sessions will be conducted every Saturday at Kuhio Beach in Waikiki.

Session Agenda:

Groups will meet at a location near the surf concession each Saturday by 7:30 am and be in the water by 8:15. Water sessions will be conducted by Surf instructors for 1 – 1.5 hours, followed by talk circles and lunch will be led by Therapist and Surfrider Educators. Each Session will end by 11:30.

Pilot Program Session Calendar:

    Session 1: Choice

    • Introduction of Students and Spirit Sessions staff and program Establish ground rules & intro to basic water etiquette/safety
    • Review theme for the day: Choice (ownership for your choices and your actions, make the best of whatever happens today).
    • Land instruction - The basics: laying on board, stance, turning while laying down, using leash, paddling out 1st water session.
    • Talk circle: recap lessons and apply to theme.
    • Lunch
    • Depart

    Session 2: Learn to fall well

    • Recap of previous week & water safety review
    • Review theme for the day: Learn to fall well/let go. ( Don’t be embarrassed or afraid to fall…All great things require effort and risk, when you fall surrender to the lesson and have faith…. don’t fight it, fighting doesn’t help, it will only keep you down longer)
    • Land instruction: Falling and Slowing/stopping, turning (Grab your board, or leash when you fall, how to slow board down etc)
    • Water session.
    • Talk circle: recap lessons and apply to theme.
    • Lunch
    • Depart

    Session 3: Value what is free

    • Recap of previous week & water safety review
    • Review theme for the day: I value what is free, my health club is priceless… (appreciation for environment and the experiences offered thus far)
    • Land Instruction: Surfrider educator- What makes a wave. What makes Hawaii’s ocean special.
    • Surf instructor- Learn to read a wave, sitting on board and turning to catch a wave.
    • Water session
    • Talk circle: recap lessons and apply to theme.
    • Lunch
    • Depart

    Session 4: Rise to life’s challenges

    • Recap of previous week & water safety review
    • Review theme for the day: I rise to life’s challenges. Focus on where you want to be, work hard, and you’ll be rewarded...keep trying. Safe and courteous route is the same thing, seems longer, but in the end really is less effort, avoids danger and keeps the peace)
    • Land Instruction: Choosing a section and paddling to line up.
    • Introduction to currents and timing
    • Water Session
    • Talk circle: recap lessons and apply to theme
    • Lunch
    • Depart

    Session 5: Humility & Pride

    • Recap of previous week
    • Review theme for the day: always others greater than me/ those who will follow me...I remain humble (We each have things to learn and things to teach...)
    • Land instruction: based on individual needs (girls will be at different levels by this point)
    • Water Session
    • Talk circle: recap lessons and apply to theme.
    • Lunch
    • Depart

    Session 6: Respect/ Rejoice - Special Lifegaurd mini rescue training

    • Recap of previous week & water safety review
    • Review theme for the day: Respect/Rejoice (you are not alone, respect for and care for others in and out of the water…have fun)
    • Land based instruction.
    • Talk circle: recap lessons and apply to theme.
    • Lunch
    • Depart

    Special Conditions Pick – up Sessions

    In the event of poor surf conditions or weather either of the following sessions may be substituted for the pre-scheduled sessions.

    A. I go out anyway, I have fun
    • Recap of previous week
    • Review theme for the day: On less than epic days I make the best of it, I know how to Play. (Make the best of what is given to you. Know there will be better days, be proud of what you can do despite bad conditions.)
    • Land Instruction, based on conditions.
    • Talk circle: recap lessons and apply to theme.
    • Lunch
    • Depart

    B. Life has Rhythms, I dance to natures heartbeat – Canoe session

    • Recap of previous week & water safety review
    • Review theme for the day: Life has rythms, I dance to natures heartbeat. (Read the signs and go with the flow. Accept conditions you cannot change, adapt.
    • Find something productive to do, take it as an opportunity to learn something new
    • Land instruction, Paddling orientation, safety etc.
    • Talk circle: recap lessons and apply to theme.
    • Lunch
    • Depart

    C. Few waves, long time between sets: Patience

    • Recap of previous week & water safety review
    • Review theme for the day: I practice the virtue of patience. (Make the best of what is given to you. Know there will be better days and learn to be still and happy in quiet days.)
    • Land instruction, Paying attention to currents, conditions, paddling workout.
    • Talk circle: recap lessons and apply to theme.
    • Lunch
    • Depart

Spirit Session Program Budget & Needs:

Estimated costs for the 6-session pilot program are a follows:

Instructors & surf equipment fees 15 @ $150 per student = $2,250
Rates are $25 per lesson per student (pilot sessions consist of 11 girls and 4 staff) (note this is a discounted rate, standard rates are $35 per lesson per student)
The Surfer Spirit Book 15 @ $20 per student = $300 (to be Donated)
Rash Guards & Surf Shorts 15 @ $100 per student = $1,500 (seeking Donation)
Student Lunch 15 @ $30 per student = $450
Estimated Student Costs $2,700
Session Staff Lunch $40 per session = $240 3 instructors, 2 Surfrider, 2 Girls court admin + guest (lifeguard, parent etc) = 8 people
Surfer Foundation Education Manual Donation
Transportation (Seeking Donation or arrangement with State Vehilcles)
Total estimated cost: $2,940


DONATE to the Surfrider Spirit Session Fund. Your constribution is tax deductible.

You may also make donations by check:

Make checks to: The Surfrider Spirit Sessions Fund

Mail to:
The Spirit Sessions Fund
C/o FreeTime Productions
PO Box 1677
Kailua Hi 96734

Current Donors:

Free Time Productions DBA The Good Ju-ju Company:
(Publisher of the Surfer Spirit) $660 already donated to The Surfrider Foundation
Spirit Sessions fund.

Roxy/Quiksilver: confirmation TBD Long sleeve rashgaurds & surf shorts, and beach
bags. Possible cash donations. Possible fundraising support.

Individual Contributions:

Donations in the sum of $450 have been collected as of March 6, 2007
Total of $1,100 as of March 6, 2007



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