youth programs
Rising Leader Surf Days (Fall)
Next Rising Leader Surf Day: Saturday, August 15th & Saturday, September 12th, 2026!
Rising Leader Surf Days: What to expect
Girls and gender-expansive youth ages 9-18 (or 19 if a senior in high school)
Youth of ALL water backgrounds (you do not need to know how to swim to join)
Our programs center the experiences of girls, women, and gender-expansive folks of color
Surf coaching that understands each individual’s unique relationship to the ocean and surfing
Welcoming community of surfers and ocean lovers of color
A space to make new friends
How to put on a wetsuit
Universal Ocean Safety Signals
Parts of a board
How to carry a board
Proper paddle techniques
Positioning on a board
How handle your board in the water
How to boogie board
Fun facts about the ocean and land around us
And More!!!
Water + Snacks
Wetsuits
Surf and Boogie Boards
Carpool from Oakland
Safety Equipment
Sunscreen
A bathing suit. Please arrive wearing your bathing suit UNDER your clothes. If you don’t have a bathing suit, anything form fitting that you don’t mind getting wet will work fine. Shorts and a tank top or sports bra will do the trick.
Towel
Warm layers (even when it is warm in Oakland, it can sometimes be VERY cold at the beach) Make sure you have at LEAST a sweatshirt and pants. You may also want a jacket and warm socks
A reusable water bottle
Sun protection (sunscreen, hat, sunglasses if you have them)
Beach shoes (optional)
A loose change of clothes for when you get out of your bathing suit.
A bag to put your wet bathing suit in at the end of the day.
If you carry medication (ex. EPI pen) or use an inhaler, please bring it
note about the ocean:
At Salted Roots we always put safety first. Our surf programs are subject to change due to weather and air quality. While we use all the means at our disposal to predict conditions ahead of time, sometimes conditions on site the day of an event do not align with the forecast.
register for rising leaders
summer camp
A gentle and immersive introduction to ocean recreation, nature connection, wave riding, arts and expression with our ocean loving community. Summer camp is for youth ages 9 – 18 of all different surf levels and relationships with the water. Youth are introduced to the history, art and practice of surfing and wave riding, while connecting with fellow ocean joy seekers and building community and friendships. Cost is sliding scale ($25-$2000) and no one is turned away for lack of funds. All equipment, wetsuits and snacks and lunch will be provided. Summer Camp is located in Half Moon Bay.
2026 Summer Camp dates:
Week 1: July 20-23
Week 2: July 27-30
Week 3: August 3-6
additional information
- How to put on a wetsuit
- Universal Ocean Safety Signals
- Parts of a board
- How to carry a board
- Proper paddle techniques
- Positioning on a board
- How handle your board in the water
- How to boogie board
- Fun facts about the ocean and land around us
- A FULL refillable water bottle (hydration is VERY important!)
- WARM LAYERS
- Even when it is warm in Oakland, it can often be cold and windy at the beach. Make sure you have at LEAST a sweatshirt and pants. You may also want a jacket / windbreaker and warm socks.
- The water that we play in is COLD, so please make sure your youth has comfortable and warm clothing they can change into after our time in the water!
- Bathing suit
- Please arrive wearing your bathing suit UNDER your clothes.
- If you don’t have a bathing suit, anything form-fitting that you don’t mind getting wet will work fine. Shorts and a tank top or sports bra will do the trick.
- Any personal medication (ex. EPI pen, inhaler, emergency medications)
- Towel
- Beach shoes (optional)
- Sun protection (sunscreen, hat, sunglasses if you have them)
- A bag to put your wet bathing suit in at the end of the day
- Wetsuits
- Booties (if needed)
- Surfboards and boogie boards
- All surf related safety equipment
- Lunch and snacks
Surf Program Leaders in Training (SPLIT)
This leadership program is for youth who are interested and ready to grow as interdependent surfers by building their own surfing skills and learning how to co-facilitate our summer camp program. To allow for more depth in mentorship, the SPLIT cohort consists of 5-10 youth, and is recommended for youth ages 14 – 18. SPLITs will complete training in Ocean Safety, Consent-Based Facilitation, and Surf Facilitation skills so that they can step into their stretch zones as role models and mentors for our campers. SPLITs will also have their own surf and ocean explorations days during the spring!
Applications will open later this year
SPLIT Roles and Responsiblities
As a SPLIT, you are learning how to be a leader in this community. Attending orientation and trainings is essential to building trust with your team, understanding your responsibilities, and gaining skills as a surfer and program facilitator.
A crucial part of being a Bay Area surfer/SPLIT is learning all the behind-the-scenes work that goes into surfing/running a surf program. You will be expected to arrive early in the morning at our surf shed to help the Salted Roots team prepare equipment for the day, load the van, and welcome participants. At the beach you will help set up and co-facilitate the surf program. When we return to the shed, we will unload the van, clean the equipment, and have an end-of-day team debrief.
Setting the tone for campers. Leading/supporting activities such as: HuManifesto, warmup, games, bottom check. Helping facilitate transitions. Responsible for looking out for campers during the day: supporting them with wetsuits, leading some activities and group time with them to bring more fun elements to summer camp, etc. As environmental stewards, CITs will also lead campers on activities like trash pick ups, and participate actively in discussions about our relationship to the environment.
On surf days, you will receive wave riding coaching and mentorship as you learn to become a more independent surfer on your choice of wave riding craft (surfboard, boogie board, and/or your own body!)
You represent what Salted Roots stands for both within and outside of this community. You are an ambassador for Salted Roots, our mission and values. We also encourage you to speak about Salted Roots program events with a friend, classmate, or family member and invite them to be part of the community
You are an environmental leader and a steward of the land and the sea. On program days, we show up together and show love and respect to our community and to the ocean from which we receive so much joy and nourishment.
Being a SPLIT means you are showing up with care and respect, and modeling the values of our community expressed through our HuManifesto. This includes, but is not limited to, fostering a welcoming environment, including everyone, teaching others about ocean safety and awareness, and encouraging each other -especially during wipeouts!
You are responsible for your communication and timeliness as a SPLIT. We expect you to review your SPLIT schedule, communicate any conflicts ahead of time, ask questions as they come up, and show up on time during program days. We encourage you to work with your support system to make sure you are staying on top of necessary communications with Salted Roots staff. Repeated tardiness, absences or no-shows during your mandatory SPLIT training and surf days can jeopardize your ability to get a summer camp assignment.
additional important information
For any further questions regarding the SPLIT Program, you can email jr@saltedrootssurf.org
- Girls and gender expansive youth ages 14-18 (or 19 if a senior in high school)
- Youth of ALL water backgrounds (you do not need to know how to swim or surf to join)
- Youth who are able to attend all mandatory dates listed below
- Our programs center the experiences of girls, women, and gender expansive folks of color
- Access to surf coaching
- Leadership development
- Stipend for completing summer camp trainings and co-facilitating camp
- Welcoming community of surfers and ocean lovers of color
- New friends
- Communication
- Full tuition is $1200
- 20-90% scholarships are available and will be part of the application process
- Payment plans are available
- If accepted into the program, we will send information about how to pay
*Locations and times of all trainings and programs will be communicated if accepted into the program
- Monday, January 26 – SPLIT Applications Close
- Virtual interviews will be held on a rolling basis until Friday, February 6th
- Saturday, March 7 – Program Orientation (Mandatory, In Person)
- Saturday, May 9 – Surf Day (Optional, In Person)
- Thursday, June 11 – Ocean Safety Training & Surf Day (Mandatory, In Person)
- Tuesday, June 16 – Morning Tide Pooling (Optional, In Person)
- Wednesday, July 15 – Curriculum and Land Facilitation Training (Mandatory, In Person)
- Thursday, July 16 – Summer Camp Team Run Through (Mandatory, In Person)
- Saturday-Sunday, September 26-27 – SPLIT Graduation Camping Trip (Optional, In Person)
*SPLITs must attend all mandatory trainings. During these days they will receive training on their responsibilities as a SPLIT, including, but not limited to, ocean safety protocols, program facilitation, camper mentoring, and surf instruction. If completed, SPLITs will be assigned to one week of summer camp and will receive a stipend for their work during summer camp. Repeated tardiness, absences or no-shows during mandatory training days can jeopardize the ability to get a summer camp assignment.
- Summer Camp – SPLITs will provide their availability on the application and be assigned to 1-2 weeks
- Week 1: July 20-23
- Week 2: July 27-30
- Week 3: August 3-6
- Monday, January 26 – SPLIT Applications Close
