About us
At Brooklyn Surf Club, we are a passionate community of individuals dedicated
to supporting diversity and empowering young minds through surfing.
We provide free surf lessons, mentorship, and ocean-based programming designed to build confidence, teamwork, and resilience in children and teens who may otherwise lack access to safe, structured outdoor experiences.
How It All Started
Brooklyn Surf Club was born from a simple idea: to bring the joy and confidence of surfing to young people in New York City who might never otherwise have the opportunity.
Just two months after the organization’s founding in May 2023, Brooklyn Surf Club turned that idea into reality with its first community surf event: Surf’n Smile Day at Rockaway Beach. On August 5, 2023, the Club offered free surf lessons to children from underserved communities, marking the first step in delivering on its mission to promote access, open water safety, and joy through the ocean. The event brought families together to laugh, learn, and experience the water in a supportive environment, setting the tone for the programming that followed.
Since that inaugural event, Brooklyn Surf Club has continued to grow its free programming, build community partnerships, and expand opportunities for youth to connect with the ocean safely and confidently.
Our Mission
Brooklyn Surf Club exists to empower underserved youth and promote lifelong wellbeing through surfing, water safety education, and environmental stewardship.
Specifically, our mission is to:
- Empower and foster confidence, teamwork, and resilience in underserved youth through the joy of surfing
- Establish partnerships with local schools and community organizations to identify children in need and provide free surf lessons, surfboards, and safety equipment
- Conduct outreach programs to raise awareness of our initiatives and promote open water safety education
- Foster a deep respect for nature and the ocean from a young age by instilling lifelong values of sustainability, conservation, and environmental stewardship
What We Do
Brooklyn Surf Club delivers free youth surf programs that combine:
- Beginner surf instruction
- Open water safety education
- Environmental learning
- Mentorship and positive role modeling
- Community outreach
We provide all necessary equipment, including surfboards and safety gear, and operate through trained volunteers and instructors in a supportive, inclusive environment.
Our programs are designed to meet children where they are, whether they are stepping into the ocean for the first time or building confidence through repeated experiences.
Who We Serve
We serve children and teens age 6-15 across New York City, with a focus on youth from underserved communities.
Many of the young people we support have limited access to outdoor recreation or structured enrichment programs. Brooklyn Surf Club removes financial and access barriers so every child can participate.
Our Values
- Youth Empowerment – Building confidence and resilience through experience
- Safety – Prioritizing physical and emotional wellbeing
- Community Partnership – Working with schools and local organizations
- Environmental Stewardship – Teaching respect for the ocean and natural world
- Equity – Ensuring access regardless of background or means
