Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/1487796
(several lifeguards and firefighters are regular club volunteers), students learn water safety, surfing skills and how to stand up on the board. " We put safety first but still give the opportunity for fun," Smallwood says. "Now, we're getting kids signed up for swim les- sons, kayaking trips and visits to the Monterey Bay Aquarium." e club goes surfing six times a school year – once a month outside of winter. Smallwood says they also now offer summer scholarships through the club's sister surf program, e Wahine Project ( thewahineproject.org). Surf club members are separated into skill-based groups, so students can go at their own pace and comfort level – some ride surfboards, others boogie boards, and some enjoy spending time getting used to being in the ocean. Smallwood says the volunteer instructors are all veteran surfers teaching real techniques to their learners. "ey're getting good lessons," he says. "ese kids are further along than I was at their age." In a sport where most surfers are white, a big part of the Salinas Surf Club is introducing these Latino students to the wonders of the ocean and affirming that they belong there. "We want to make sure every single kiddo knows they have a place and deserve to be there just like anybody else," he says. "And it helps if there's a wave, too." For Smallwood, the club is a labor of love. Building the club from the ground up took great dedication and effort but was completely worth it to be able to share surfing with a new gen- eration of little shredders. "It's the one thing that makes my profession complete. I think I'd burn out without it," he says. "I get to bring a part of what I love to my students." Smallwood says SETC is a big club supporter ("they backed me up when we tried to make this work"), with fellow educators volunteering with everything from driving students to and from the beach to taking photos of their outings. He appreciates all the volunteers who help make the magic happen. Smallwood's message for educators: Share your passions with your students. "Don't be afraid to teach them those things you value. ey love to learn the things you love. It's where the best learning takes off." Follow the Salinas Surf Club on Facebook at @SalinasSurfClub and Instagram at @Salinas_Surf_Club, where you can also contact Smallwood about starting a surf club in your community. Photos by James Craig, Salinas Elementary Teachers Council. "We want to make sure every single kiddo knows they have a place and deserve to be [on the water] just like anybody else. And it helps if there's a wave, too." —Jeff Smallwood, Salinas Elementary Teachers Council Los Padres Elementary School educator Jeff Smallwood started the Salinas Surf Club in 2017, sharing his love of surfing with his students. Smallwood and dedicated volunteers teach water safety and surfing skills. The club also offers swim lessons, kayaking trips and visits to the Monterey Bay Aquarium. Students go at their own pace, with many standing up on the board their first time out. 17 D E C E M B E R 2 0 2 2 / J A N U A R Y 2 0 2 3