Southport Magazine

Surfs Dream Club is doing their part
story by Alyssa Crouson
Do you want to spend the day in the sun while your kids are learning how to surf for free? Well, this year the Surf Dreams Club is hosting a surfing day event for kids of all ages! Take a kid surfing day is presented by the Surf Dreams Foundation and hosted by the SBHS club on May 12. Anyone is welcome to attend the event and there you will be taught one free 45-minute lesson with all equipment supplied.

This is an opportunity for kids to learn how to surf without the burden of the cost of equipment and instructors. The Oak Island Rescue Team will be there to achieve ongoing safety among the new surfers of our community. The club is hoping that anyone and everyone will attend so that they can teach as many people as possible how to ride the waves. With a big turnout, the club hopes to have another occurrence in the future. This event will be located at 16th Street SE beach access on Oak Island, from 8 am until 1 pm. They hope that any child that wants to learn can make it to this super fun, summertime event.
About the Club
The club was established at South Brunswick High School, fall of 2017, and is a local branch of South Carolina’s Surf Dreams Foundation. Sophia Ordonez is the president of the club and is currently a Freshman attending South Brunswick High School. Ordonez started the club with the help of the Surf Dreams Foundation and SBHS’ social worker, Jennifer Ordonez. Sophia Ordonez decided to start this community-based club because her and her family have always enjoyed surfing and she thought it would be an enjoyable club for anyone at the school that loves the ocean and beneficial to the safety of the community. The members of the club want to make it possible for every kid in the area to have the opportunity to learn how to surf and to help as many people as possible to understand how to be safe and have fun at the beach. The club wishes to grow and be able to help other students become educated about ocean safety and the art of surfing. The fairly new club has hosted many community-based fundraisers for the Surf Dreams Foundation since their start last fall. The Surf Dreams Foundation is a 501c3 out of South Carolina and is the originator of the club’s aspirations. Their main goals are; fundraising for Surf Dreams Foundation to provide equipment to those who cannot afford them, the “Take A Kid Surfing Day” event, and safety seminars for children from 3rd grade until 5th. The SBHS Surf Dreams Club welcomes any student at South Brunswick High School that loves the ocean and is interested in joining this fun and educational surf club that is focused on community service.
Student Involvement
Many students are involved with the club and its many activities in the community. Noah Sheldon is currently working on his senior project with the help of the Surf Dreams Club. Sheldon will be performing a presentation as his product on ocean and beach safety to the 5th graders at Southport Elementary and Bolivia Elementary. He will be teaching them how to enjoy the beach while also being safe. Sophia Ordonez’ brother, Mathew will also be working with Noah on his project for his similar senior project next year. Fundraisers are abundant in this club, they has previously carried out a T-shirt design contest for the prize of a hoodie and gift certificate and another contest to win a surfboard. The club also provided water for the competitors in the recent Oak Island Run. All of their events have had great effort put forth by many students and community members .
Hopes for the Future
The SBHS Surf Dreams Club hopes to acquire a great community turnout on May 12 for the Surf Day to hopefully one day have an event annually. The foundation has at least five every year and that is something the club is going to be working towards as the club grows. In the future, the club hopes to implement some type of annual ocean safety lesson or permanent ocean safety curriculum at the elementary schools to ensure the safety of our young ones. The Surf Dreams Club would really appreciate any member that loves the ocean and is willing to improve the safety of our community.