Last week, 40+ kids and adult instructors took the surf and beaches at Otter Rock, launching a new local partnership between NGOs to promote youth leadership and growth through surfing, while educating and promoting stewardship of the Otter Rock Marine Reserve. The partnership, between non-profits Warm Current and Neighbors for Kids (NFK) in Depoe Bay, recently established a new "Surf Outpost", providing free surfboards and wetsuits for youth within the NFK's after school program. As part of the outpost, the partners are developing a Surf and Stewardship Program, where youth will participate in a variety of activities both in and out of the water.
In 2015, Warm Current, a long partner of our Surfrider Chapters in the PNW, established it's first official Oregon Surf Outpost at Neighbors for Kids in Depoe Bay. Neighbors for Kids is an after-school program and facility extended to community members and families which typically can't afford care. Beyond simply after-school care, Neighbors for Kids provides top of the line professional staff that offer a variety of educational, structured activities and leadership opportunities for participating children at an amazing facility. Warm Current, an organization focused on driving personal development and creating healthy, active lifestyles for youth through surfing, was a natural partner for NFK, especially given the closely-located Otter Rock Marine Reserve to support surf and stewardship program development.
Throughout 2016, the partners hope to better develop the outpost and programmatic offerings and for now, will focus on building confidence in the water and stewardship and education on the beach. The kickoff last week consisted of a surf 101 camp, beach cleanup and overview of the Otter Rock Marine Reserve. Throughout the year, classroom water safety and educational offerings will be piloted at the NFK after-school facility (Kids Zone), while surf and stewardship days will be conducted at Otter Rock. "We think this program and new outpost and program has some amazing potential and we're excited to see it get off the ground", says NFK and Kids Zone Director Toby Winn. Wrapping together surf and protection at Otter Rock Marine Reserve through a super cool youth program couldn't be more the Surfrider way...kudos to this new partnership!
