Surfrider Foundation
In the summer of 2007, I had the pleasure of helping form The Coastal Georgia/Low Country Surfrider Foundation Chapter. Active members in this chapter include not only surfers, but also people of all ages involved in skim boarding, body boarding, sea kayaking, kite boarding, wind surfing, and other water sports. The chapter is currently involved in a variety of projects including beach clean-ups, Adopt A Highway program on a section of US Highway 80 (across an extensive salt marsh leading to Tybee Island), providing service during ESA Georgia District Surfing Contests, hosting guest speakers for presentations regarding coastal environmental issues and promoting the Surfrider Foundation at large coastal public events. Learn more here
In early 2010, I attended my first Maui Surfrider meeting in Kihei. They offer several environmental awareness volunteer opportunities all around the island. Learn more about what programs the Maui Chapter promotes HERE
Tybee YMCA
In the Summer of 2005 while employed at the Tybee YMCA, surfer Alex Arnold and YMCA Director Tiffany Dennis, created the concept of forming a large-scale summertime surfing camp for kids. After a year's worth of planning, Alex asked me to help him with the camps and in the Summer of 2006 I started my first official surf instructor job. The YMCA surf camps teach the basics to the advanced skills of surfing to participants while they learn about water safety, tides, board balancing, duck diving, paddling, wave riding and SUP boarding. Camp is open to all surf ability levels and campers are divided into age/skill groups. Learn more here
NSSIA
After 4 years of teaching surfing in the YMCA surf camps and teaching many private one-on-one and group lessons, I decided to "raise the bar" by getting certified as a professional senior surf instructor. After a few emails and online searches, I discovered the NSSIA had just what I was looking for. The NSSIA is a non-profit organization dedicated to fostering surf etiquette, water safety, and quality instruction programs for surfers through professional instructor development, education, accreditation and research. Learn more here
Tybee Surf Community
I'm proud to say that Tybee Island is my home break. We, the surfers of this area understand and know how to spread the true stoke of surfing that is required to maintain a healthy mind, spirit and body. When a swell is predicted, we have the patience of getting into our cars and driving all the way out to the beach to see if there's anything to ride. We are NOT the average spoiled surfing communtiy that gets "great" surf all of the time. Tybee locals have learned a direct form of patience for waiting on decent swell and wave conditions. A wise Tybee surfer once said, "If you can surf Tybee, you can surf anywhere."
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