Ohana Day 2011 a Success!

Tuesday, April 19th, 2011

Huntington Beach/Seal Beach Surfrider Foundation Hosts Ohana Day in Seal Beach, CA.

The Huntington Beach/Seal Beach Surfrider Foundation Chapter hosted Ohana “Family” Day on Saturday, April 16, 2011, in Seal Beach. It was a fun-filled beach day bringing friends and families out to the beaches for relaxation, fun and environmental education, just in time for Earth Day.

The Local HB/SB Chapter had plenty of volunteers on hand to talk about simple things we can all do in our own homes to improve water quality at our beaches. In addition, families took advantage of free surf lessons courtesy of M&M Surf School and learned about ways to reduce ocean pollution and protect endangered species from the Aquarium of the Pacific. Green Peace, Foam EZ-Westminster, California Surf Club, Vitamin Water, Harbor Surfboards, and Lokahi Outrigger Paddling were some of the other organizations represented at the event. There was a raffle featuring merchandise from a variety of supporting vendors in the beach communities, including Spaghettini, Aquarium of the Pacific, The River’s End Restaurant, Vitamin Water, Western Credit Union and more.

The HB/SB Surfrider Chapter is looking forward to having more of these events in the future and helping to create environmental awareness in the community. The chapter has developed a number of programs such as beach cleanups, water quality testing, creating ocean-friendly gardens, elementary education and a “Butts Out” campaign to reduce the number of cigarette butt litter on our streets and beaches. All of these programs were featured at Ohana Day – which was a great opportunity for people to get involved.

The Surfrider Foundation is a non-profit grassroots organization dedicated to the protection and enjoyment of our world’s oceans, waves and beaches. Founded in 1984 by a handful of visionary surfers in Malibu, California, the Surfrider Foundation now maintains over 50,000 members and 80 chapters worldwide.

We are looking forward to next year!

For more info visit: www.hsbsurfrider.org

Earth Day 2010

Friday, April 23rd, 2010

Surfrider Foundation Huntington/Seal Beach had a busy day celebrating the 40th anniversary of Earth Day with two events. One at Orangewood Children’s Home and the other at the Seal Beach Naval Weapons Station.

Orangewood Children’s Home – is an Emergency Shelter Home for abused, abandoned, and neglected children operated and owned by the County of Orange Social Services Agency with Juvenile Court authority. Orangewood Children’s Home uses a 21st century cognitive behavioral model to assist youth with social skills.
 
Tony Soriano presented to two groups;  K-6th grade first and then 7th-12th grade in their gym. Surfrider showed an interactive presentation “Sea to Summit” with Q&A.

Earth Day @ Seal Beach Naval Weapons Station

Ohana Day 2010 Photos

Wednesday, April 21st, 2010

Surfrider Foundation Huntington/Seal Beach
Ohana Day 2010 – April 18, 2010
Seal Beach Pier

Save the Date – Ohana Day – April 18, 2010

Thursday, March 25th, 2010

Ohana Day 2010

SURFRIDER HUNTINGTON/SEAL BEACH TO HOST OHANA “FAMILY” DAY

Friends and Families Invited to Join in Celebrating
Cleaner Beaches in Time for Earth Day’s 40th Anniversary

SEAL BEACH, Calif., March 29, 2010 – The Surfrider Foundation Huntington/Seal Beach Chapter to host Ohana “family” Day on Sunday, April 18th in Seal Beach from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Ohana Day will be a free & fun-filled family beach day hosted by the Huntington/Seal Beach Chapter(H/SB) of Surfrider Foundation to bring friends and families out to the beaches for relaxation, fun and environmental education, just in time for Earth Day.

Ohana Day is a great opportunity for families to come out for an enjoyable and educational day at the beach. Surfrider Foundation H/SB will have plenty of volunteers on hand to talk about simple things we can all do in our own homes to improve water quality at our beaches. In addition, families can take advantage of free surf lessons courtesy of M&M Surf School, interactive information on ocean pollution courtesy of Science 2 U, a recycling demonstration turning milk cartons into treasures, a bodyboarding clinic courtesy of Alternative Surf Bodyboards, skateboard lessons courtesy of Skatedogs, a rescue demonstration by the Seal Beach Lifeguards, live music from Kevin Shima, and a raffle featuring merchandise from a variety of supporting vendors in the beach communities. Friends and families are encouraged to bring their boards, beach chairs and a picnic lunch to enjoy a fun day at the beach! Kids ages 6-12 years are welcomed to participate in the Skatedogs skateboard lesson needing only a skateboard, helmet and knee/elbow pads along with their parent to sign a release waiver for one of the two sessions (9:30 & 10:15).

H/SB Surfrider is looking forward to gathering local beach friends and families to share the environmental programs the chapter has developed. These programs include: monthly beach cleanups, Rise Above Plastics (RAP); a campaign focused on reducing single-use plastics consumption, Blue Water Task Force; which monitors water quality testing, Ocean Friendly Gardens; elementary education opportunities and “Butts Out”- a campaign to reduce the number of cigarette butt litter on our streets and beaches. All of these programs will be featured at Ohana Day – a great opportunity to get involved.

The Surfrider Foundation is a non-profit grassroots organization dedicated to the protection and enjoyment of our world’s oceans, waves and beaches. Founded in 1984 by a handful of visionary surfers in Malibu, California, the Surfrider Foundation now maintains over 50,000 members and 80 chapters worldwide.
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Media Contact:

Halie Schmidt - haliewahine@gmail.com

Surfrider March General Meeting Recap

Thursday, March 25th, 2010

Dave Robinson from Sealife Conservation spoke to our members about the dangers of plastic in our environment.

Plastic is filling up our landfill and oceans. Land is precious and should not be wasted.

The ocean filling up with plastic affects the world community in a different way. Experts call swirling mass of plastic and other marine debris “The North Pacific Plastic Gyre”. The problem is that Plastic will not bio degrade. Therefore, all plastic manufactured is still here on this earth in some format. In the ocean, the fish are eating the plastic which is either killing them by a full belly of plastic and then starvation or filling their bodies with plastic that leaches toxin into their bodies. Humans or larger fish eat the toxic fish. This is how the toxicity is entering into the human food chain.

When will this become an emergency? We feel it is now. The North Pacific Plastic Gyre will not be solved easily, nor will it be solved tomorrow, and certainly will not be solved by us alone. Everyone needs to do their part by stopping the use of single use plastics.

Chris Rochfort from Star Water Solutions discussed their solution for filtering water. They specialize in the filtration of oil and other chemicals from the gutter water entering the storm drains. If you have any questions, call our rise above plastic chair, Jeff Coffman.