About The Club Leadership Council:
The club leadership council was created in 2020 to advise Surfrider staff on how to best support the future generation of ocean activists, foster stronger connections between clubs across the country, and help develop resources for the club network. This opportunity provides a platform for our most engaged club leaders to develop new skills and engage in higher level leadership opportunities.The council helps with the development of student-centric strategies, resources, campaigns, and/or events to be implemented across the club network. Furthermore, members are asked to provide targeted feedback on new endeavors to help ensure Surfrider’s programs, campaigns, initiatives and communications are relevant and reflective of the values of today’s students.
In 2024, the club network received funding from the Dillon Henry Foundation to launch our newly developed Coastal Defender Academy (CDA) in conjunction with our club leadership council. The CDA is a policy-focused program to guide our club leadership council through a series of leadership development and skill-building training as well as opportunities to engage in direct action activities. In the 2024-2025 school year, the CDA will equip our club leadership council with the skills and confidence that they need to effectively create policy change at their schools and in their communities at the local, state, or federal level. The program will cover travel costs to events like Coastal Recreation Hill Day, state lobby days or other policy-centric events, ensuring that cost isn’t a barrier for students who want to engage in our policy work.
Brooke Yeh: University of Southern California
What is your favorite part about being on the Club Leadership Council?
"My favorite part about being on the Club Leadership Council is meeting and collaborating with other people that have the same passion for the ocean and environment as I do. I love that we have this opportunity to work together towards improving Surfrider Student Clubs nationwide and learn so much from each other's experiences."
What has been one of your favorite projects/events that your Surfrider club has engaged in?
"My favorite project that my club has participated in is advocating for a Plastic Reduction Ordinance and single use plastic ban within the City of Irvine. We were able to collaborate with City Council members, members of North OC Surfrider Foundation Chapter, CALPIRG UCI, Sierra Club, and other local climate organizations to spread awareness and gather people to speak at city council meetings. We attended several city council meetings ourselves where we spoke in support of the ordinance. Although it has not yet passed, it was a very memorable experience that has taught me a lot about what it takes to enforce new policies."
Faye Riebe: Cape Fear Academy
What is your favorite part about being on the Club Leadership Council?
"I love learning about all the other ideas people have. It can be hard coming up with new ways to create engaging and fun club activities, so hearing what everyone else is doing is so helpful. It’s also very inspiring to be part of a group of people my age so dedicated to the environment."
What has been one of your favorite projects/events that your Surfrider club has engaged in?
"My favorite things my club has done are definitely our basic beach cleanups. They’re so fun to do with friends and the community, you get to walk on the beach, and you’re helping keep plastic out of the ocean!"
Isabella Mensik: Los Osos High School
What is your favorite part about being the Club Leadership Council?
"My favorite part about being in the Club Leadership Council is the ability to meet students from across the US who are all connected by their shared love of stewardship. Being able to collaborate and learn new ways to be a better leader has been incredible."
What has been one of your favorite projects/events that your Surfrider club has engaged in?
"Participating in Hill Day was amazing because I was able to meet with representatives from my state and it showed me that if you are passionate about what you do then others will take notice that. Age doesn’t need to define your affect on the world around you. Also, doing a year-long art project of taking trash and making it into treasure was so fun with my club members!"
Kate Macasieb: Kempsville High School
What is your favorite part about being on the Club Leadership Council?
"My favorite part about The Club Leadership Council is that we get to work together as one to achieve one main goal of Coastal preservation as students from all over the country. I love how the Council makes us all come together as one."
What has been one of your favorite projects/events that your Surfrider club has engaged in?
"The Waves of Change Environmental Expo with the Virginia Aquarium and Surfrider VA was my favorite event this year that my club engaged in. It was so exciting to help share our knowledge of coastal preservation with many kids and adults. We also learned so many new things ourselves. We made some great friends with different people in our community that I will forever be grateful for."
Lalitha Muttulingam: San Diego State University
What is your favorite part about being the Club Leadership Council?
"The Surfrider Foundation’s inclusion of student led clubs and activism is unlike any other organization I’ve seen, and allows for amazing connections and learning opportunities between clubs. I love being able to collaborate with other Surfrider Foundation Club leaders to share new ideas and initiatives. I’ve been able to learn tips and tricks for leading a club from other members, and to share projects and strategies that worked well for me and my club."
What has been one of your favorite projects/events that your Surfrider club has engaged in?
"While I was at Redondo Union High School, our club worked directly with the Surfrider Foundation South Bay’s student led Blue Water Task Force Program, Teach and Test, to collect ocean water samples from our local beaches and run a serial dilution lab to test for enterococcus bacteria. Teach and Test is an incredible way for club members to learn and have hands on science experiences that can lead to them pursuing stem careers. It also encourages community involvement among students as the results are posted to inform people of unsafe ocean water conditions."
Molly Jones: Virginia Tech
What is your favorite part about being on the Club Leadership Council?
"I've really enjoyed my time on the Club Leadership Council, especially because it has given me the chance to connect with many people who are passionate about the same cause. I love being able to engage in meaningful conversations every month with like-minded peers from all over the country. The community is what makes the Surfrider Foundation so special to me!"
What has been one of your favorite projects/events that your Surfrider club has engaged in?
"One of the most memorable activities I have taken part in as a member of the Surfrider Leadership Council was creating a hype video for the Global Plastics Treaty. We made the video with the aim of raising awareness about the significance of a robust Global Plastics Treaty. My favorite part of this experience was being able to showcase the video during one of our meetings. As part of this effort, the club leaders, including myself, educated others about this issue and then encouraged every student to sign a postcard which we planned to mail to the White House, in order to advocate for this crucial piece of legislation."
Nikolette Warycha: UC Berkeley
What is your favorite part about being on the Club Leadership Council?
"Being apart of The Club Leadership Council has been amazing! I have gotten the opportunity to meet so many amazing people who share similar goals and values as me regarding conservation. It has really widened my perspective to the interconnectivity of the club network and the drastic impact each member, volunteer, and supporter can have. Because of the Council, I feel like I have friends all around the globe and the ability to create actual change in the Surfrider Club Network."
What has been one of your favorite projects/events that your Surfrider club has engaged in?
"My favorite club project was our elementary curriculum. Our club had worked with our biology and environmental science teachers to put together a digestible lesson for students from kindergarten to fifth grade. The lesson consisted of understanding where our trash goes, practicing sustainability, and the 3-bin system. It was so fun presenting and getting to interact with children who showed so much excitement for the topic."
Savannah Smith: Menlo School
What is your favorite part about being on the Club Leadership Council?
"My favorite part about being in The Club Leadership Council is being able to meet and discuss with club leaders across the country. Many of us are involved in similar projects and so its super interesting to discuss the similarities and differences between what we do. I also love having a platform where I can bring any issues or questions to the table and everyone is always super supportive and helpful. I always have a whole new list of ideas every time I log off a meeting!"
What has been one of your favorite projects/events that your Surfrider club has engaged in?
"My favorite event that my club has engaged in was my towns Earth Day Event. Our local Surfrider Chapter provided us with tabling supplies, so we were able to set up a super cool table with information on a range of activities and projects that not only our club is involved with but additionally the San Mateo Chapter. We were able to meet similar clubs and organizations in the area that we hope to collaborate with in the upcoming year."