Surfrider chapters host learn to swim and surf events across the network
Beach access isn’t just about physical infrastructure like parking lots, trails, and a wide, healthy beach--it’s also about making everyone feels comfortable at the coast--and giving people equal opportunities to learn beach skills such as swimming and surfing.
A few of the Surfrider Foundation’s 80+ volunteer-led chapters across the country have invested in programs to teach people how to swim, surf, and kayak. These programs vary from one day events to multiple lessons. The one thing they all have in common is stoke and good vibes--seeing someone catch their first wave or feel comfortable in the water is something everyone can support.
NEW JERSEY
The Jersey Shore Chapter's annual Family Day at the Beach in Asbury Park provides free beach access and ocean-related activities for local children and families, especially those who might otherwise be excluded by high beach fees. The event includes introductory surf lessons, water safety instruction, an educational scavenger hunt, arts and crafts, food, and live music. Originating from the chapter's efforts to make surfing legal in Asbury Park in 2003, the initiative uses a welcoming, community-centered approach to introduce children to surfing, promote water safety, and ensure more families can enjoy their local beach.
NORTH CAROLINA
ALL in the Water, short for Aquatic Love and Learning, is a collaborative initiative run by the Cape Fear Chapter working to address longstanding inequities that have prevented marginalized communities from safely enjoying local waterways and beaches. The program offers free swimming lessons, American Red Cross lifeguard certification, surf instruction, kayak-based environmental education expeditions, and opportunities to explore ocean-related careers. It also provides preparatory swim lessons for children who cannot yet swim but want to participate in camp activities. Beyond teaching practical aquatic skills, ALL in the Water helps participants build confidence, teamwork, resilience, and a stronger appreciation for the water.
MASSACHUSSETTS
STOKEE, or Surfing To Offer Kids Environmental Education, is an annual event hosted by the Massachusetts Chapter that introduces young people to surfing while teaching them about ocean conservation. At its 24th annual event at Nahant Beach in 2026, the Chapter partnered with local organizations like Big Brothers Big Sisters, Access Sports America and Elevate Youth, to give children, most of whom had never surfed before, hands-on surfing lessons. Children who preferred to stay on land could participate in a beach cleanup, learning how individual actions can help protect the ocean and coastline. STOKEE combines accessible recreation, environmental stewardship, and community-building to help young people develop a lasting connection to the coast.
NEW YORK
OceanKids (a ver la pagina en español haz clic aquí) is a collaborative program created by the Eastern Long Island Chapter, CoreysWave surf school, Organización Latino Americana (OLA) of Eastern Long Island, and ProjectMost to make surfing and ocean safety education accessible to children who might otherwise lack the opportunity. OceanKids provides free surfing and ocean safety lessons, hoping to address historical inequities in access to local beaches. The program is designed for children ages 8–12 who can swim basic strokes and are comfortable in the water, with priority given to children referred by the community partners mentioned above. By introducing young people to the ocean and surfing in a supportive environment, OceanKids aims to build water confidence, develop practical safety skills, and ensure more local children can experience the joy of the ocean, without the costs typically associated with it.
TEXAS
The Coastal Bend Chapter’s Make Promises Happen Surf Camp at Port Aransas has served to connect people with disabilities with an annual surf experience. Marking 27 years of operation, the program celebrates the power of surfing to bring people together and make ocean recreation accessible to a broader range of participants, emphasizing inclusion and breaking down barriers to participation, demonstrating how Surfrider can create opportunities for people who might otherwise face challenges accessing the sport. Through supported experiences in the water, inclusive surf programs can help participants build confidence, develop new skills, and experience the freedom and enjoyment of riding waves.
Photo credit: G Scott Imaging
OREGON
Otter Rock and Roll is an annual youth surf contest and beach clean up event hosted by Surfrider's Newport Chapter at Otter Rock State Park in Oregon. Open to surfers ages 18 and under, the event brings together young people, families, and volunteers for friendly surf competition, including a Best Beginner division that provides new surfers with lessons and equipment, as well as a parent-and-child division. Supported by local surf shops, businesses, and community volunteers, the event combines accessible surfing opportunities with environmental education, helping young people develop their surfing skills, build community, and understand the responsibility that comes with enjoying the ocean.
The Coos Bay Chapter has for years hosted free youth surf camps at Bastendorff Beach, welcoming local children for a day of surfing, skill-building, and ocean exploration. With surfboards, wetsuits, beach instruction, and in-water guidance provided at no cost, the program gives children the opportunity to improve their surfing abilities, build confidence in the water, and experience the joy of catching waves.
CALIFORNIA
One Watershed is a beach access equity initiative that connects young people from underrepresented and inland communities across Los Angeles County with the coast through beginner surf lessons, outdoor recreation, and hands-on environmental education. In partnership with Aqua Surf School and community organizations including Boys & Girls Clubs, Concrete Queenz, Salvation Army, Los Courage Camps, and the Black Surfers Collective, the program creates welcoming opportunities for children to experience surfing and the beach, often for the first time. This year, One Watershed expanded its educational component with a fun, interactive activity inspired by a coastal dune restoration project in Santa Monica, led by The Bay Foundation and supported by the local Surfrider chapter. Through games and hands-on learning, participants discovered how coastal dunes and other nature-based solutions help reduce erosion, protect beaches, and strengthen coastal resilience, connecting their first experiences in the ocean with real-world conservation efforts happening right where they were learning to surf.
Across the country, Surfrider chapters play a key role in introducing folks to their local beaches, providing the necessary skills and stoke for a lifetime of enjoyment. Programs like these improve beach access by opening doors to shared public resources that belong to everyone. Providing opportunities to visit the beach, get in the water, and learn to swim and surf are all part of Surfrider’s mission to protect and enjoy the ocean, waves, and beaches for all people. A more diverse ocean community is also a stronger one, welcoming new voices, experiences, and advocates to stand up for our coasts.
If you want to learn more about beach access and the actions Surfrider is taking, check out our Beach Access blogs.