Surfrider Foundation, MAKING WAVES, February 2004

MAKING WAVES, February 2004 issue: Table of Contents

Surfrider Foundation Pulls Snowrider Project
Out of the Freezer

By Matt McClain

This past November, the Surfrider Foundation was awarded the 2003 Governor's Award for Environmental Leadership in Children's Environmental Education for its Respect The Beach campaign by the California Environmental Protection Agency.

ski photo

The Governor's Environmental and Economic Leadership Awards are California's highest and most prestigious environmental honor recognizing individuals, organizations, and businesses that have demonstrated exceptional leadership in building public-private partnerships while making notable contributions in conserving California's environment.

Respect The Beach is the Surfrider Foundation's flagship educational program. The program utilizes a variety of activities and materials, including field trips, classroom lectures, printed units, video and hands-on projects, to educate students and community groups on issues surrounding coastal environments and to promote beach and coastal stewardship. Since its inception in 1991, Surfrider Foundation's Respect The Beach program has been presented to over 10,000 classrooms and community groups throughout the country.

The award, which was bestowed under the Davis administration, was presented by newly elected California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. On hand to accept the award were Christopher Evans, Executive Director of the Surfrider Foundation and past Board of Directors member and current Chair of Surfrider Foundation's San Clemente Chapter, Mark Cousineau.

snowboard photo

"To be here and see the Surfrider Foundation receive an award of this magnitude, I'm speechless," said Cousineau, whose chapter single-handedly carried out a quarter of the nearly 800 Respect The Beach presentations in 2002. "This really validates the countless hours of effort that Surfrider activists have committed over the years. This award belongs to them."

Other notable figures at awards ceremony included actor Beau Bridges, as well as the newly appointed head of Cal-EPA, Terry Tamminen and newly appointed California Secretary of Resources, Mike Chrisman. However, the marquee name of the evening was Governor Schwarzenegger, who, following the award ceremony met privately with the winners, saying "This room is filled with incredible talent and leadership ... I am honored to be amongst you."

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