Team Surfrider And Positive Tracks Get Youth Outside And Active

Paul Pinkerton

In recognition of #GivingTuesday, the Surfrider Foundation has announced the launch of Team Surfrider, in partnership with Positive Tracks, to get youth outside to sweat and get active to support the protection of our coasts. On December 4, more than 45 volunteers joined Team Surfrider to participate in the North Face Endurance Challenge, a running event featuring race distances from 5K to 50 miles, to help protect our ocean and coastlines for the future.

In 2017, the program will expand its reach with more Team Surfrider events, ranging from running, volleyball, standup paddle boarding, swimming, beach obstacle courses, or ski and snowboard vertical challenges.

The Surfrider Foundation’s Youth Club Network will work together through Team Surfrider to raise funds and awareness of its mission to protect our ocean, waves and beaches for all to enjoy.

 

“We look forward to taking our athletic and outdoor lifestyles and the Surfrider Foundation to the trails while mentoring these students to believe they can accomplish amazing things mentally and physically, either as an individual or as part of a team,” said Ericka Canales, Surfrider’s Youth Network Manager.

Team Surfrider will support the nationwide ‘Long Live The Beach’ campaign to engage the next generation of coastal defenders.

The program will connect students interested in making a difference with challenges that help them to learn skills related to organizing, team building, fundraising and involvement through sports and the outdoors.

“We’re thrilled to partner with the Surfrider Foundation to help youth give back to Surfrider using their own muscle,” says Liz Gray, Positive Tracks’ U23 Challenges Program manager. “The end goal is to help young people recognize that they can become hands on leaders. To spark this activity, we provide plenty of help where kids need it most – from critical guidance with logistical planning, community outreach and team building, to fundraising tools, web pages and matching dollar incentives.

We also pair each captain with a Peer Coach who’s done a U23 Challenge, a nice perk that keeps it fun and ensures that we meet kids on their own terms and turf.”

 

Team Surfrider’s North Face Endurance Challenge event participation is possible with the support of sponsors including Sports Basement, Nuun, Pacific Catch, and Suja. To get involved as a ‘

runners-635906_1280
fund-racer’ or to join a Team Surfrider challenge, contact Ericka Canales, visit Surfrider’s Youth Network or donate to this event.

https://www.surfrider.org/programs/youth-program

ABOUT SURFRIDER FOUNDATION

The Surfrider Foundation is a non-profit grassroots organization dedicated to the protection and enjoyment of our world’s oceans, waves and beaches through a powerful activist network. Founded in 1984 by a handful of visionary surfers in Malibu, California, the Surfrider Foundation now maintains over 500,000 supporters, activists and members, with more than 80 volunteer-led chapters and 60 clubs in the U.S., and more than 350 victories protecting our coasts. Learn more at surfrider.org.

ABOUT POSITIVE TRACKS

Positive Tracks (positivetracks.org) is a national sports-based youth development organization that helps young people get active and give back. Positive Tracks combines philanthropy and athletics to enroll youth – as partners, participants and leaders – in creating stronger communities and a healthier world. Programs, curricula, and hands on mentorship from staff and volunteer peer coaches activate, support and incentivize youth ages 23 and under (U23) to sweat for good while helping benefiting organizations with capacity building, sustainability, and youth engagement.

 

Outdoor Revival – Reconnecting us all to the Outdoors

jack-beckett

jack-beckett is one of the authors writing for Outdoor Revival