On last Saturday, our whole family went to our local beach and volunteered with a group called Surfers for Autism. This is a fairly new non-profit organization that reaches out to kids on the spectrum. They engage them via surfing. The entire event is FREE for the families.
They divide the kids up into four groups and then have three to six volunteers per child. The volunteers teach the kids the basic pop-n-stand for getting up on the board and then take them to the water. The volunteers are lined up one near shore, one mid-way out and one out about 50 feet. The farthest volunteer chooses the wave and gives the kids a push-off. The middle volunteer steers them towards shore and the shore volunteer catches them and pushes them back out.
The event lasts from 8am until 4pm and FREE lunch is provided for the families and volunteers. I strongly encourage you to either volunteer with them or sign your child up for the event. No surfing experience needed!!! Even SG and HJ were able to help. We rounded up kids on the shore whenit was their time to surf. Each group surfs for about 25 min, then they switch to the next group.
Most of the kids end up standing on their first or second ride. Many of the kids have smiles and laughs by the time they reach the shore. This is a GREAT group and if you can take advantage of this opportunity for your kid, you should give it a try.
Here are their upcoming events:
Aug 28: Daytona Beach
Sep 25: St. Augustine Beach
Oct 23: Jacksonville Beach
The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it. Matthew 13:44-46
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