Our redesigned Surf Sister Summer Camp was a huge success! Historically, our summer camps were held Tuesdays to Thursdays in Half Moon Bay. This year, thanks to the Whale Tail Grant and a new partnership with East Bay Regional Parks, we were able to add an extra day at Alameda Crown Beach on Mondays. The additional day allowed us more time for team building, and learning about our amazing ocean. We developed an all new environmental education curriculum – including games about food chains, and activities linking climate change and pollution to our everyday actions. Through seine netting and plankton tow activities, campers discovered various critters that can be found in our local waters off Alameda – and we were surprised to find out that the same organisms can be found in Half Moon Bay! With more knowledge and curiosity, we explored the beach on the subsequent surf days and identified sea lettuce, isopods, jellyfish, crabs, and more!
We also piloted a new Counselors-in-Training Program, where girls who have been Rising Leaders for several seasons led teambuilding, environmental education, and surf activities for younger girls throughout the last session of summer camp. Clara, Shaunti, and Masai’a participated in this pilot program, and did an incredible job!!! They told us they “learned how to be leaders in a whole new way”. The girls demonstrated that our Rising Leaders are ready for more opportunities and responsibilities. We want to make the CIT program an integral component of Summer Camp in future years.
