volunteer

We are committed to building equitable access to the ocean, amplifying the voices of surfers of color, and taking care of the earth.

Salted Roots does a volunteer intake once per year, from December to January. After our intake and interviews, those accepted into the volunteer cohort will have a series of volunteer trainings and workshops to build necessary skills and foster community connections. Due to our training and program schedule, we are unable to take volunteer applications outside of December and January. We will contact you once our process is complete to let you know of your acceptance status and next steps.

Please note that due to the high volume of applications we receive, we are not able to accept all applicants, and your volunteer roles will be determined based on your skills and experience, and our organization’s needs for the new program year.

Please read about the roles and responsibilities below.

By becoming a Salted Roots volunteer, you are becoming a crucial part of our community and our movement.

Applications are open for 2027. If you have any questions about our volunteer program please email ava@saltedrootssurf.org.

apply to be a volunteer

volunteer roles

Surf Facilitator

Helping participants with land lessons and in-water lessons. In this role you will be paired with a participant, giving them surf lessons on land and in the water where you will be pushing them into waves. This role requires you to be an intermediate surfer and comfortable navigating yourself in the ocean in various conditions. Consent-based Facilitation, Surf Facilitation, and Ocean Safety training are ALL required for this role.
Boogie Facilitator

Facilitating boogie board sessions in the ocean. In this role, you will be supporting and monitoring the boogie boarders so that they stay in the “safety zone” and stay at hip depth. You do not have to be a strong surfer for this role, but a strong awareness and ability to read ocean conditions and comfort in the water is critical. Consent-based Facilitation and Surf Facilitation training are required.
Rescuer

This role is for advanced, seasoned surfers only. You will be part of the emergency response team alongside staff members, potentially supporting in identifying an emergency, passing along important emergency response directions and messages, towing a victim with a surfboard, and performing CPR (if certified). To be a rescuer, you must have a regular surfing practice of surfing (on average) twice a week and have the ability to stay calm under pressure, and comfortably navigate yourself in choppy, rough waters. Although not necessary, CPR and/or lifeguard certification is HIGHLY desired for this role. In addition to the mandatory Ocean Safety, Consent-based and de-escalation training, and Surf Facilitation training, rescuers will also be invited to attend seasonal in-service days where we practice and rehearse various ocean de-escalation and rescue techniques.
Water Guardian

Our Water Guardian has an essential role in keeping us safe during programs! As a water guardian, your main role is to ALWAYS KEEP your eyes on the water, especially during surf lessons. You will be part of the team “condition check” at the beginning and middle of a program day, and support staff in making safety calls and decisions in response to ocean conditions. During the surf and boogie lessons, you will stand between the two safety cones on the beach and monitor what is happening in the water, so that you can give important safety signals and alert staff on anything that requires their attention. Our Water Guardians are also our timekeepers for the surf lesson component of our programs, so you will be calling out “last wave” at the end of each surf session. You are not required to be a strong surfer for this role – however, this role does require focus, attentiveness, a strong understanding of ocean safety, and familiarity with the Salted Roots Emergency Response Protocols. Consent-based Facilitation, Surf Facilitation, and Ocean Safety Trainings are all required for this role.
Land Guardian

This role is mostly based on land and does not require getting into the water. As a land guardian, you play a key role in making folks feel welcomed, cared for, and supported while they are sharing space with us on the beach. Your responsibilities include: Greeting participants as they arrive at programs, setting up the snack table and helping with lunch preparations, keeping an eye on people’s personal belongings while they are in the surf lesson, handing out warm layers if people are cold, leading arts and crafts activities for those who decide to hang on the beach, and serving as the de-escalator for folks who might need social/emotional support after an incident in or out of the water (guiding them to the first aid bag, giving them space to process a wipeout, etc.) Consent-based Facilitation and De-Escalation Training is required for this role.
Food Fairy

In this role, you’ll help fuel our community by providing delicious snacks for everyone to share on the beach! Our highest need for this role is during our youth summer camp season in July, but you can also support other seasons and programs throughout the year. Food fairies can drop off their donations in the morning at our Oakland location before we head to the beach, or during program time while we’re on-site. Please be mindful of allergies and dietary needs, and label every ingredient if you’re preparing something yourself. Simple, store-bought items like watermelon, edamame, popcorn, or seaweed snacks are always a hit! This role has a big impact on the energy of our participants and staff during program time, and food fairies are welcome to join us on the beach when making a drop-off.
Arts + Media

Our Arts & Media volunteers include photographers, videographers, visual artists, musicians and performers who bring creative spirit and storytelling to programs and beyond. Photographers and videographers join us on program days or community events to capture our beautiful memories at the beach. Photographers and videographers are responsible for bringing their own gear to programs. If you are interested in volunteering your time to create a special video, zine, or other forms of visual storytelling to share our mission with the world, you can discuss your ideas with the team! We’d love support to organize a summer kick off music fundraiser show, an end of year art show, and other creative Wisdom Weavers workshops throughout the year. Arts & Media Orientation is required for this role.
Advocacy

By joining our advocacy cohort, you’ll support Salted Roots in campaigns focused on Equitable Coastal Access and Water Quality issues in the Bay Area. This role involves attending seasonal meetings and assisting the Executive Director in organizing and energizing participation in advocacy efforts throughout the year. Experience in community organizing, campaign strategy, online advocacy, and coastal and water quality issues is highly desirable, and space in the cohort is limited. Advocacy Cohort Orientation is required for this role.
Language Justice

Salted Roots is hoping to offer communication and materials in different languages in order to connect with families in Oakland whose first language may not be English. This volunteer opportunity involves reviewing and editing drafts of translated materials, coming to our surf programs as a Spanish interpreter, and supporting the Salted Roots program team with learning basic Spanish words and phrases we can use that relate to surfing, ocean recreation, and program facilitation. Language Justice Orientation is required for this role. Consent-based facilitation and surf program facilitation trainings are optional.
Community Outreach
Wisdom Weaver

Interested in leading a workshop about checking surf conditions, how to read surf reports, how to fix a ding on a surfboard, or leading an art or photography workshop for our community? Our Wisdom Weaver Workshops are led by our volunteers and staff members. These workshops are intended to strengthen and celebrate our interdependence with each other as we continue to share insights that will support our surf journey, both with ourselves and each other. If you have a workshop idea we’d love to hear from you!

“I’ve been volunteering with Salted Roots for five years, and I always look forward to spending time with this community. The staff, fellow volunteers, and youth leaders create such a welcoming and supportive environment. Whether it’s participating in programs or helping out at community events, everything Salted Roots does is filled with joy and intention. This organization truly knows how to celebrate nature, community, and the simple joy of playing in the ocean.”

Michelle

2025 Cohort Volunteeer

“I’ve loved being part of the volunteer cohort! It’s been such a great experience connecting with like-minded individuals while feeling closer to the water, my shared history, and the power of community. I highly recommend everyone volunteer with Salted Roots!”

Vanessa

2025 Cohort Volunteer

A note to prospective volunteers:

Salted Roots works to create learning spaces for our participants and our staff. As a volunteer, you are not expected to come to the beach as an expert, but rather we invite you to come as both a learner and a teacher! We welcome diverse perspectives and experiences and offer different volunteer roles based on your skillsets, interests, and our organization’s needs. We believe that all of us have something to contribute and that we can learn something new from each other and the ocean, each time we come together.

additional information

What volunteers can expect from us:
A joyous space that centers the leadership and wisdom of girls, women, and gender-expansive people of color who love to play in the ocean and at the beach
A community that celebrates all relationships to water and wave riding
A place to deepen your connection with the ocean and community
Resources to expand surfing knowledge and experience including gear, additional instruction, and connection to other community surf organizations
The invitation to share your individual style, practices, wisdom, and interests
A culture of reciprocal learning, feedback, and accountability
We invite volunteers who:
Can commit to fostering an environment and culture that prioritizes the physical, social, and mental safety and sense of belonging of our community members, participants, their families, and beyond
Are willing to learn and use consent-based practices and ocean safety protocols to deliver Salted Roots values and mind-body-ocean curriculum
Recognize the power and privilege that their identities may hold and are committed to centering, uplifting, and amplifying the voices and experiences of girls, women, and gender-expansive surfers of color
Are committed to cocreating a culture of reciprocal learning, feedback, and accountability
Are aged 18 years or older
Volunteer Commitment
Cycles are for one year, with volunteer opportunities from Spring to Fall
Volunteers are expected to attend all required trainings for their specific volunteer roles
Volunteers are responsible for submitting their availability for each season
Volunteers are not expected to volunteer every season, or for all programs -give and take as you can throughout the year!
Important Training Dates

Spring Trainings
Sat, February 28th – Volunteer Orientation (Daytime, in-person, Oakland)
Required for all new volunteers. Highly encouraged for returning volunteers.
Wed, March 4th – Consent & De-escalation Training (PM, zoom)
Required for new Surf Program volunteers. Optional for returning volunteers.
Wed, March 11th – Language Justice Cohort Orientation (PM, zoom)
Required for Language Justice volunteers
Sat, March 14th – Surf Program Basics Training (AM, in-person, Alameda)
Required for new Surf Program volunteers. Optional for returning volunteers.
Wed, March 18th – Virtual Ocean Safety Training (PM, zoom)
Required for all Surf Program volunteers including: surf facilitators, rescuers, boogie facilitator, water guardians & land guardians.
Sat, March 21st – Ocean Safety Training (Daytime, in-person, Alameda)
Required for all Surf Program volunteers including: surf facilitators, rescuers, boogie facilitator, water guardians & land guardians..
Wed, March 25th – Arts + Media Cohort Orientation (PM, zoom)
Required for all Arts + Media volunteers
Sat, March 28th – [BACKUP] Surf Program Basics / Ocean Safety Training
in case of poor conditions 3/14 or 3/21
Sat, April 4th – [BACKUP] Surf Program Basics / Ocean Safety Training
in case of poor conditions 3/14 or 3/21
Wed, April 8th – Advocacy Cohort Orientation (PM, zoom)
Required for all Advocacy volunteers
Sat, April 18th – Surf Facilitation Training (Daytime, in-person, Half Moon Bay)
Required for Surf Program volunteers including: surf facilitators, rescuers, boogie facilitator, water guardians & land guardians. We will not be able to schedule you to programs that take place in Half Moon Bay such as Summer Camp, Rising Leader Youth Surf Days, or Soul Surfer Days if you miss this training.
Tues, April 21st – Community Outreach Cohort Orientation + Screenprinting Training (PM, in-person, Oakland)
Required for Community Outreach volunteers, optional for Arts + Media volunteers
Sat, April 25th – [BACKUP] Surf Facilitation Training
in case of poor conditions 4/18

Summer Camp Trainings
Wed, May 27th – In-Water De-escalation & Emergency Response Training
Highly encouraged for Rescuers and Summer camp volunteers
Sat, Jul 11th – Surf Facilitation & Land Guardian Training
Highly encouraged for Summer camp volunteers
Tue, July 14th – Ocean Safety Training (Day time, in-person, Location TBD)
Highly encouraged for Summer camp volunteers
Wed, July 15th – Land Facilitation training (Day time, in-person, location TBD)
Highly encouraged for Summer camp volunteers
Thu, July 16th – Summer Camp Program Run Through (All Day, in-person, Half Moon Bay)
Highly encouraged for Summer camp volunteers