LA Surf Bus

The idea behind the LA Surf Bus is simple: bring eager kids ages 5-17 and their attendants from challenging LA and OC County neighborhoods for a day at the beach and back on a chartered city “SURF BUS.”

The LA SURF BUS experience:

Surf Academy’s program introduces the group to the beach and ocean environment through safe age-appropriate games and challenges that build safety awareness and confidence. The groups have committed to one day a week all summer which is 8 visits over 8 weeks. They will be picked up at a set time and location by a chartered bus.

Surf Academy’s staff ratio for water activities is 1:10 or less. The visiting group brings their own supervisors. Ultimate ratio is 1:5 with combined staffs. A variety of activities are planned around the surf conditions of the day:

Learn about waves
Learn to body board
Build sandcastles
Learn about rip currents & tides
Beach arts and crafts
Exhausting beach games
Meet the lifeguard
Simple wave games
Learn about environment
Surf lessons

The groups going:

Monday thru Friday the following groups attend:

Algin Sutton Recreation Center
Aguin Sutton Childcare
Bellevue Recreation Center
Boyle Height Sports Center
Central Recreation Center
Chevy Chase Recreation Center
Costello Recreation Center
Cypress Recreation Center
Denker Recreation Center
Eagle Rock Recreation Center
Echo Park/Lake Street Recreation Center
El Sereno Recreation Center
Elysian Valley Recreation Center
EPICC
Evergreen Childcare
Evergreen Recreation Center
Fred Roberts Recreation Center
Garcia Recreation Center
Harbor City Recreation Center
Harvard Recreation Center
Hollenbeck Recreation Center
Hollywood Recreation Center
Huntington Beach Volunteers of America
Jim Gilliam Recreation Center
LA County HEAT Clubs
Lemon Grove Recreation Center
Loren Miller Childcare
MacArthur Park Recreation Center
Martin Park
Normandie Recreation Center
Pamela Park
Panorama Recreation Center
Penmar Recreation Center
Poinsetta Recreation Center
Queen Anne Recreation Center
Rancho Cienega Sports Center
Roosevelt Park Summer Day Camp
Rose Hill Park
Ross Snyder Recreation Center
San Pedro Boys and Girls Club
Seoul International Park
Slauson Multipurpose Center
Soboba Surf Camp
South Park Recreation Center
South Seas House
St Andrews Recreation Center
State Street Recreation Center
Stoner Recreation Center
Sun Valley Recreation Center
Toberman Recreation Center
Trinity Recreation Center
Valley Plaza Park
Valleydale Park Summer Day Camp
Van Ness Childcare
Van Ness Recreation Center
Van Nuys Recreation Center
Vineyard Recreation Center
Wm. Nickerson Recreation Center
Youth Opportunity Movement
Yucca Park

Locations:

The three locations these youth groups visit are:

Santa Monica at Ocean Park; Lifeguard tower #29
Dockweiler State Beach; Lifeguard tower#58
Huntington Beach at Dog Beach: North of Lifeguard Tower #24

Special Thanks:

Community Collaboration

Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe, whose help in 2003 with 2 buses a week helped launch LA Surf Bus into reality. Now we need about 30 buses a week! I wish he could help that much but others need to step up now.
City of Santa Monica, especially Ebba Valenzuela, Anita Ybarra, and Wendy & Trinnie of Open Space Management.
Los Angeles County Department of Beaches and Harbors, especially Marketing Supervisor Lynn Atkinson, Lifeguard Chiefs Garth Canning, Mickey Gallagher, and Phil Topar.
City of Huntington Beach, especially Lifeguard Chief Kyle Lindo and Community Service Supervisor Dottie Hughes.
City of Los Angeles Recreation and Parks, especially Supervisor Anita Meacham and countless recreation center directors.
City of Los Angeles Council members Tom LaBonge, Bernard Parks, Gil Garcetti, and Jan Perry.

Corporate Support

Body Glove Wetsuits, especially President Russ Lesser and Marketing Director Scott Daley.
NASCAR Angles and Goodyear Tires (an amazing video, vibe, and van).
AAA of Southern California for their yearly support from the Earth Day Battery Round-up.
SIMA- Surf Industry Manufactures Association Humanitarian Award- grant due October 2007.
Past years help: Realm wetsuits 2005, Reebok 2003, Cliff Bar 2006, BZ Bodyboards 2004.

Individual Thanks

Postal Carrier Jim of Hermosa Beach- First Donation in 2003!
Jim Riley of Huntington Beach (2006)
Lifeguard Captain Steve Mosely (2005)
Keith Davenport (2006)
Carol Mayer (2006)
Quagletti Family Trust (2003)
Anonymous Donor through US Trust (2006)
Surfers everywhere who have dropped of good condition used wetsuits and surfboards.

Thanks!

Plans for 2007

We need volunteers! Please send an email to info@lasurfbus.org and let us know of your interest. We will respond and let you know of training days etc.