Check-in is where the surf lesson day begins.
As a Check-In Volunteer, you help families feel welcome, confirm that kids are cleared to participate, hand out Brooklyn Surf Club hats, organize gear, and direct families to the right place.
You do not need surf experience for this role. You do need to be friendly, organized, and clear about one rule:
Waivers come first. No waiver, no participation.
Brooklyn Surf Club provides free surf lessons for kids ages 6–15 at Beach 67 in Rockaway Beach, Queens, NYC. Volunteer days usually happen on Sundays from 10 AM to 2 PM, June through September. Volunteers should arrive 30 minutes early and stay 30 minutes after the session.
Your Main Job
Help every child and volunteer get checked in before the lesson starts.
That means:
- Welcome families
- Confirm attendance
- Confirm waivers
- Give each child a Brooklyn Surf Club hat after waiver completion
- Ask kids to write their name on tape and stick it on the hat
- Remind kids that hats stay on the beach and do not go into the water
- Help with rash guards and wetsuits
- Track gear
- Point out sunscreen, hydration, and the Parent Zone
- Keep family information private
- Share any issues with the Event Organizer
Check-In Flow
1. Set up before families arrive
Prepare:
- Attendance list
- Waiver process
- Brooklyn Surf Club hats
- Tape and markers
- Rash guards and wetsuits
- Sunscreen
- Hydration area
- Gear tracking list
- Parent Zone instructions
Ask the Event Organizer who is expected, which waivers are complete, and which kids may take gear home.
2. Welcome families
Keep it simple:
“Hi, welcome to Brooklyn Surf Club. What name is the lesson booked under?”
Then:
“Great, I’ll confirm the waiver first, then we’ll get your child their hat and gear.”
3. Confirm waiver
This is the most important step.
No waiver, no participation.
If the waiver is missing, pause and help the parent or guardian complete it.
Good language:
“We just need the waiver completed before your child can join the lesson. Once that’s done, we’ll get them ready.”
4. Give the Brooklyn Surf Club hat
After the waiver is complete, each child gets a Brooklyn Surf Club hat.
Ask the child to:
- Take a piece of tape
- Write their first name on it
- Stick it on the hat
This helps volunteers learn kids’ names on the beach.
Important:
Hats stay on the beach. Hats do not go into the water because they can get lost in the waves.
5. Help with rash guards and wetsuits
Help kids find the right size.
Track:
- Rash guard size
- Wetsuit size
- What was given out
- What is returned
- What is approved to go home
Returning kids may take a wetsuit and rash guard home when approved.
Security deposit:
$20 per item
6. Point out sunscreen, hydration, and Parent Zone
Before kids join the group, remind families:
- Apply sunscreen
- Drink water
- Parents and guardians stay in the Parent Zone
- Hats stay on the beach
Parent Zone language:
“Parents stay here during the lesson. This keeps the surf zone safer for kids, instructors, and volunteers.”
7. Send kids to the group
Before sending a child over, confirm:
- Waiver is complete
- Attendance is marked
- Hat has a name label
- Gear is handled
- Parent knows where to stay
Then direct the child to the warm-up area, waiting area, or a Beach Assistant.
8. Handle late arrivals
Late arrivals follow the same process:
- Welcome them
- Confirm waiver
- Give hat and name label
- Handle gear
- Ask the Event Organizer where the child should join
Do not rush kids into the lesson without completing check-in.
9. Gear return
Near the end of the lesson, help track:
- Rash guards returned
- Wetsuits returned
- Approved take-home items
- Security deposits
- Lost items
- Damaged or missing gear
Share any issues with the Event Organizer before leaving.
Do This, Not That
| Do not do this | Do this instead |
|---|---|
| Let kids join without waiver | Confirm waiver first |
| Give hats before waiver | Give hats after waiver completion |
| Skip name labels | Ask kids to write their name on tape |
| Let hats go into the water | Remind kids: hats stay on the beach |
| Guess if a name is missing | Ask the Event Organizer |
| Hand out gear without tracking | Record rash guards and wetsuits |
| Let gear go home without tracking | Record item and $20 deposit per item |
| Discuss personal info publicly | Keep family information private |
5 Things to Remember
| Remember | Why |
|---|---|
| Waivers first | No waiver, no participation |
| Hat after waiver | Kids get their hat once cleared |
| Name on tape | Helps volunteers learn names |
| Track gear | Rash guards and wetsuits must be accounted for |
| Hats stay dry | Hats stay on the beach, not in the water |
Final Reminder
Check-in sets the tone for the whole surf lesson day.
Keep it warm.
Keep it organized.
Keep it clear.
Keep it safe.
That is what makes a great Brooklyn Surf Club surf lesson day.