Byron Ellis

Ms. Kepler

Junior Seminar

28 November 2022

Pre-High School Surf Clinic

For my junior project, I wanted to teach kids in the community how to surf and set

up meetings introducing MIL surf competitions. I asked myself, “How can I bring surfing

to the kids in the community and offer support for a future of competing in the MIL?”. I

began by talking to Mr.Goring as a mentor for some input. I spoke with Maui Wave

Riders in Kihei, they let me use boards and booties for my project. Next, I created an

advertisement flyer and a liability waiver. I had my parents and friends share it on social

media. I gave a few lessons and informed the kids about potentially competing in the

future. I love surfing and I think others can too.

A few surprises throughout this project are well everything was put into place and

was executed. I was unsure about how much fun the kids would have since they were

shy and honestly a little freaked out, but a bit into the lesson they were having tons of

fun. I enjoyed looking back at the lesson and liking how everything worked out. Each kid

I taught progressed throughout the lesson.

A few goals I had, in the beginning, were to set up meetings for surfers that

wanted to learn more or wanted to compete in the MIL. After I sent out the flyer I

realized I didn't really get any responses and I decided for most people wanting to join

probably have a team at their school. Due to this, I decided to inform kids I taught about
competing in their future with the MIL. My main goal was to teach kids and to have them

have fun. To meet this goal I had Layla come out for a few lessons and she was great

with the girls, this made the girls and I feel more comfortable.

I have had a few challenges that set me back. One challenge was bad

conditions, as summer ended so did the swells. I planned to do a lesson at the cove

with 2 girls and a boy, but it fell out and we had to reschedule because it was flat.

Another challenge was communicating, one of our parents couldn't speak good English

and had trouble finding the cove. If I redid this project I would have sent out the

advertisements earlier and given myself more time to give lessons. I looked at this

project as if the steps were a main part of the project, but the lessons were more time

beneficial.

Advice for juniors next year would be to find a project that you’ll have fun

participating in. I would also recommend setting goals for each week that must be

covered. Next year I want to make sure I give more time to the more important factors of

my project. I think this project well covered Civic Literacy and Engagement since I

helped strangers/community members' kids learn to surf. In all this project was

successful in my terms and I’m proud of how it turned out and how the pieces were

played out.