Mentoring
Mentors are the heart of the program.
Fill out an application today
We use surfing as a metaphor for life and build on the experience of surfing to get kids stoked on life and make healthier choices. Volunteer Surf Mentors are key to the success of the program!
Our mentors come from all walks of life: they are architects, attorneys, doctors, yoga instructors, teachers, construction workers, filmmakers, writers, musicians, designers - you name it. Bound together by their passion for surfing and their love of our community, they are the heart of Surfrider Spirit Sessions. Click the button below for current dates for the Spirit Sessions Eight-Week Program. Note: all mentors are background checked.
Time commitment
We meet for 4.5 hours on 8 consecutive Saturday mornings at Kuhio Beach in Waikiki (by the Duke Statue).
Teens need you
The majority of Spirit Sessions youth suffered challenges and trauma, and have already had to make tough decisions in their lives to survive. They haven’t always made the best choices, nor have they always used the wisest coping mechanisms. Many struggle with depression, bullying, loss, abuse and neglect, anger or anxiety, and often lack joy and a healthy outlet. Many are frequently isolated and lonely, and long for adult support, guidance, positive attention, and feedback. Your role as a mentor is to be their friend and coach and help fill the void. You can support them by being a role model and helping them to make healthier choices in their lives that allow them to succeed at school, at home, and in their communities.
Mentoring requirements
As a mentor, you'll work one-on-one with youth, but you’ll also be in a group setting with other mentors and their mentees. We will be there to support and guide you as you need, and we will provide guided activities and equipment for everyone at each session. All you need to do is show up and be yourself!
You are ready to be a mentor if you…
Are at least a low intermediate-level surfer (able to catch waves, paddle, and be comfortable on a longboard)
Embody and demonstrate healthy life choices (even if your path has been a bit bumpy, we welcome those who have made course corrections and are currently walking a healthier lifestyle!)
Are a minimum of 22 years old
Are dedicated, reliable, caring, and patient
Can commit to the session time frame of 4.5 hours on Saturday for 8 consecutive weeks
(Willingness to mentor outside the program is not required but is a bonus)
Mentor orientation and training
Mentors are required to attend a 4-hour training. Additionally, we provide Ocean Safety training and ongoing training to support you as a mentor. These additional trainings are not required, but highly encouraged and free! Trainings may be in-person, video, or virtual. Training allows you to get acquainted with our staff, policies and procedures, and safety protocols and learn more about working with youth through a trauma-informed lens.
Mentoring is rewarding
All it takes is sharing your love of the ocean and the joy of surfing. Your perspectives, attention, and compassion make a difference. Studies show that when kids enjoy a regular, positive activity with an adult mentor, those kids are significantly less likely to use drugs, skip school, participate in high-risk behaviors, or commit crimes. These youth are also more likely to improve their academic performance, have better decision-making skills, more self-confidence, and a sense of belonging.
During sessions, mentors act as “Surf Buddies,” coaching youth in the water, cheering them on, and offering assistance. Spirit Sessions staff members and instructors conduct surf lessons and are also in the water offering support. Mentors help youth journal their experiences and offer their perspectives and life-skills wisdom in talk circles. Mentors are invited to share their manaʻo (knowledge) and often take the lead in pre-surf stretching and sharing in the lesson.
Come be a part of making a difference in the lives of our youth today!
For questions or more information, please CONTACT US.
If you know of anyone who might be interested, please feel free to forward this page link to them.
“Each and every kid that comes to SSS has a heart of gold. These kids deserve a positive experience. While hearing their stories I recalled running into many of the same obstacles they had in earlier years, and I think I turned out alright. Generally, it takes a long time to let your guard down and fully enjoy someone. The exception is SSS, where some twenty mentors and twenty mentees are unleashed with longboards into the heart of the Waikiki surf swarm. It’s like meeting for coffee in the middle of a dangerous intersection. The bonding is instantaneous, and the life lessons provided by surf and the ocean are endless. I must mention here that the operation is meticulously planned, organized, and executed with tremendous results of safety. Most importantly, something great happens to these kids. ”