First Annual Respect the Beach Program
Updated: September 22nd, 2004
By Erik Johnson and Rachel Rabinor
To find out how to get involved, contact Chris Wade program coordinator.
New York City Surfrider is proud to announce the launch of the Chapter’s first annual Respect the Beach program! The four primary goals and objectives of the program are to:
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Raise community awareness about pollution in New York City’s waterways.
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Empower children, families, and community members to proactively participate in keeping their community’s waterways and other natural resources clean.
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Introduce surfing and other water sports as healthy, safe, and fun activities for children living in urban areas.
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Instill in the children of New York City a life-long respect for the world’s waterways and the various positive ways in which people use these waterways. |
This summer, Surfrider NYC has partnered with the Children's Aid Society Carerra Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention Program (CAS) to present Respect the Beach. Already in action, 30-40 students at two locations (Intermediate School 90 in Washington Heights and the Si Se Puede Afterschool Program at Loisaida, Inc.) are working with Surfrider Volunteers to explore environmentalism, the watershed process, the beach, and surfing. The program has been divided into five sessions spanning five weeks in July and August. Below are general descriptions of what students and Surfrider volunteers are doing each week with the staff and students of the Children's Aid Society Carerra Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention Program.
| Week 1: Exploring the Beach |
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The Respect the Beach Crew |
On the first day of Respect the Beach, Surfrider volunteers met the students and staff of CAS at Beach 90 th St., Far Rockaway, Queens. After a brief icebreaker, students, staff and volunteers set out on a scavenger hunt designed to get students to explore the beach.
Among the items found were:
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Shoes (male and female, formal and casual)
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Luggage
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Broken glass
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Clothes (children and adults)
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Fossilized crab shells
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Shells
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Umbrellas
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In addition to finding many of the items on the list, the students managed to pick up several pounds of trash and debris on the beach.
After the scavenger hunt, students discussed the most bizarre items they found (luggage, fossilized crabs, condom wrappers), what items they thought belonged at the beach (seaweed, driftwood, shells), what items did not belong (broken glass, baby diapers), and which items were related to surfing (leashes, wetsuits, surf wax).
| Week 2: The Watershed |
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A student “polluting” the model.
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After a brief recap of their day at the beach, students reflected on the items they found, both expected and unexpected, and how they got there. Students (all of whom live at least one hour away from the beach) were then asked if they thought there was any way litter left in their neighborhoods could wind up at Far Rockaway. Most of them said yes.
The kids then viewed the short film Sea To Summit: A Journey Through the Watershed, produced by Surfrider. This video traces the entire hydrological cycle, following the process of water falling to earth in the form of precipitation, filtering down through watersheds into urban and agricultural areas and finally flowing out to sea where it is eventually evaporated into the atmosphere to start the entire process over again. Students completed a questionnaire pertaining to the video, among other things, inquiring how they could “become a part of the solution” to the problem of coastal pollution. Their answers ranged from throwing away trash, to picking up litter in their neighborhoods, to recycling.
The session concluded with an interactive exploration of the hydrological cycle facilitated by a model designed and constructed by Surfrider Volunteer, Miki Iwasaki. Students took turns “polluting” the model with simulated bits of trash and debris before the “snow melt” gave way and washed it all out to sea. This hands-on approach supplied a visual aid for students to see how debris from rural, urban, and suburban areas winds up in the world’s oceans. Students then reflected on how they can prevent trash in their neighborhoods from reaching NYC’s beaches and, most importantly, why it was important to keep this trash from getting into NYC’s waterways.
| Week 3: Respect the Beach Poster Contest |
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One of the winning posters! |
During this phase of the program, students used their knowledge of the watershed process and pollution to create a poster. The requirements mandated that the poster include the slogan, “Respect the Beach,” and that it address issues related to pollution, ocean conservation, and surfing.
Students worked closely with the Children’s Aid Society’s self-expression specialists, Whitney Roman and Aerin Vanhalla, in their artistic pursuits. Initially they explored the purpose of a poster as a means of communicating a message to the public, and then began generating ideas to visually depict the message- Respect the Beach.
On August 20 th, Surfrider NYC announced the winners for its 2004 Respect the Beach Poster Contest. The plethora of artistic talent made the decision a difficult task for judges. After much debate, two works were chosen that best represent the essence of the first annual Respect the Beach Program: Designed by Jose Salazar, from the Confidence Club at IS90, was his comic strip poster depicting the power of one person to make a difference, and from the combined efforts of Qwanasia Moore, Cynthia Rivera and Rosa Guerrero, from the Si Se Puede Program at Loisaida, Inc, is their bold and colorful design illustrating the link between the city and the beach.
You can view the winning posters on the upper right side of this page.
| Week 4: Preparing for the Surf Clinic |
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During this session, students further explored surfing. They examined stereotypes about surfers and surfing and watched the documentary Step into Liquid. The movie is highlighted by scenes of both old and young, able-bodied and disabled, surfing waves around the world from Lake Michigan to Fiji.
| Week 5: The Surf Clinic |
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Some paddling practice before hitting the water. |
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On August 20 th, the NYC chapter of Surfrider concluded Respect the Beach’s debut with a surf clinic on Long Island. Participating students—one of whom had never been to the beach before!—and CAS staff traveled by bus to the Point Lookout town Park within the Town of Hempstead. Once there, students were met by Surfrider Volunteers, Town of Hempstead lifeguards, and Jones Beach lifeguards who were all eager to introduce the students to surfing. Thankfully mother nature cooperated, and students were treated to a hot, sunny day and a knee- to waist-high wind swell.
After a brief introduction to surfing, students were broken-up into smaller groups led by a Surfrider volunteer who instructed the students in paddling technique, how to sit on the board and wait for waves, how to stand-up, how to wipeout and how to answer one of the most important questions in surfing: are you a regular or goofy foot? Each student was then given the opportunity to practice popping-up on dry land.
Once every student had been instructed in the basics, they were paired with a Surfrider volunteer and accompanied into the water. Before being pushed into waves, the students tried to master the subtle art of sitting on their boards and turning to face the beach. After all students had practiced this technique, they set about catching waves.
By the end of the day, each student who arrived at the beach that Friday morning had done something they never had done before- surfed! Many of the adolescents (read: energetic!) stayed out for hours on end (read: volunteers were worked after multiple hours pushing tireless adolescents into waves)! Several students stood-up and some were even able to catch waves without being pushed.
As the surf and wind began to slacken, the students came in for the announcement of the poster contest winners. After a wrap-up and goodbyes, the students left the beach…cleaner than they had found it.… and with huge smiles and a buzz from their latest adventure…
| Acknowledgements |
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Thanks so much to everyone who made this program possible!
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This program would not have been possible without the generous support of several people and organizations. Surfrider NYC wishes to thank the Children’s Aid Society, including Dr. Michael Carerra, Greg Denizard, Courtney Carrera, Ruben Padilla, Diane Rodriguez, Vickie Ramos, Jennifer Thomas, Mayra Arroyo and the CAS program staff for supporting this new program and helping tailor our vision to suit the needs of New York City’s youth.
Surfrider NYC would also like to thank the Town of Hempstead, Commissioner of Parks and Recreation Nicholas C. Famiglietti, and Director of Aquatics Mal McGarry, for their support in making the surf clinic a reality. Surfrider NYC also thanks the City of New York Department of Parks and Recreation, Jim Cafaro, Jeanette Banrey, Diane Schibelski, and Nancy Harvey.
Thank you to all the Jones Beach and Town of Hempstead lifeguards who helped us to make this event as safe as possible. Of course, we want to express our gratitude to the Surfrider NYC volunteers who helped plan this event and who took time off work, got fired, quit their jobs, shirked family responsibilities, and/or ditched school to participate in Respect the Beach. |
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Surfrider NYC is proud to announce the winners of the Respect the Beach Poster Contest.
Uptown Winner
By: Jose Salazar
Downtown Winner
By: Qwanasia Moore, Rosa Guerrero, and Cynthia Rivera
More posters can be viewed here!
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More in-depth information about the Respect the Beach Program from national!
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