What is a co-op?

A homeschool co-op is a group of families who meet together and work cooperatively to achieve common goals. structured groups of families who want to share some of the benefits of group learning opportunities. Activities and classes are led by parents and parent volunteers. The cost of our Surf Skate Classes is a shared expense determined by the cost of materials, board rentals and coach fees. Parents are encouraged to participate, volunteer, build friendships, support one another and have fun with us. This helps us to keep costs as low as possible and create a strong community. We also love to have parents surf and skate with the students, share their careers in STEAM, help organize field trips, suggest labs/learning ideas and help fundraise to help us lower the costs even further. Our curriculum is targeted to 3rd grade and up, however younger students can participate with parents help. They must be good swimmers and parents must be willing to help them in the water and at the skatepark. Our facilitators will also be available to show parents the best way to help.

 

Why are we not a drop off program?

The main reason is that we value community. Community is one of the main reasons we started Surf Skate Science. We all need each other! Our kids need friends but so do our parents. And in this homeschooling journey, support from others is everything. Having more hands on deck not only keeps our costs low & increases safety in the park/lan/water, but allows parents to be part of the learning process. And….you may learn to love surfing and skateboarding as much as your kids do. With that said, some parents carpool, go for a run and get a needed break, relax and chat or even work while we do class....and that is absolutely ok with us! 

 

How are our programs run?

Families meet for one and a half hours each week. We spend about 45 minutes doing a hands-on STEAM focused lab and then spend 45 minutes surfing or skateboarding. All classes are developed taking high school standards into consideration for physics, engineering, art, STEM, etc. Parents can choose to use Surf Skate Science a their child’s science and physical education credit when putting together their transcript. We will also provide materials to include in your students portfolio review including a syllabus, worksheets and more.

 

How long does each semester run?

Each semester is 14 weeks. We alternate between one week of Skate Science and one week of Surf Science. Semesters run August to December and January to May. Families can decide to attend both (all 14 weeks) or choose just  Skate Science or Surf Science (7 weeks). Looking for a full semester credit for STEM. Our class sessions give an intro into the subject of the week. We then send out follow up information to help you dig deeper into the subject at home. Homework is optional but if you are looking for a full semester credit of learning, the more you dive in, the more your student will learn.

​

How are students grouped?

We break our classes into age groups: 6 to 11 and 12 to 16. However, we know every kid is different. So if you feel your younger child will fit in with the older group better or prefer to keep your kids together, etc. that is up to each parent.

​

Volunteer opportunities students ages 16-18

Yes! We are always looking for student leaders. We will train them in coaching surf and skate. They will also learn how to assist in science labs and lead small groups. Plus, they will earn community service hours. In addition, those who are committed can be trained to do private lessons and earn a significant income working flexible hours. Interested? Email us at info@surfskatescience.com

 

Do students need experience in surfing or skateboarding?

Absolutely not. Our team has decades of experience teaching all levels of skateboarding and surfing. Just like science, both sports involve learning from your failures and trying again. Because all surfers and skateboarders are learning regardless of their level, they all fall sometimes…so there is no need to be afraid or embarrassed to try. We can laugh when we fall and celebrate together when we land those tricks! However, you student must be a good swimmer. For students younger than 3rd grade, we ask that parent get in the water and help push their kids when needed and be willing to help them with labs and in the skatepark.

 

Do students need a surfboard and/or skateboard?

Surfboards and skateboards will be available for use, but students may bring their own. For surfing we use foam top surfboards provided by Island Water Sports. These are the best choice for South Florida waves and the safety of our students. However, if you kid is an experienced ripper, then grab a short board and enjoy! We have several loaner skateboards and let students borrow them for classes on a first come, first serve basis. We strongly encourage you to not buy a board from a store like Target or Walmart. These boards are not worth the investment. Head to your local skate shop instead. We will also offer an option to purchase a skateboard, helmet and pads before class starts at a significant discount. Plus, if you are attending our fall session, each student will create a custom designed pro grade skateboard deck as part of the skate science program that they can keep. We will offer low-cost ruck packages for them to build a complete skateboard to use.

 

What do we need to bring to class?

All lab materials are included in our class cost. We will provide pencils, notebooks, etc. For Skate Science, please wear proper footwear, bring a skateboard helmet (different than a pointed bike helmet) and pads. For Surf Science, please wear a modest bathing suit with a rash guard, a towel and sunscreen. Bring a towel and reef-safe sunscreen! ALWAYS BRING A REFILLABLE WATER BOTTLE TO STAY HYDRATED!

 

What does Action Sports have to do with science anyway?

The focus of Surf Skate Science is to create a condition and setting where students want to and are able to learn. Surf Skate Science 3 purposes we hope to facilitate in each student:

• PERSONAL: Help students identify their passions, then turn these passions into valued skills. We hope to enable students to engage with the world within them as well as the world around them.

• SOCIAL: We hope to enable young people to become active and compassionate citizens so that they apply these valued skills in ways that contribute to their community and society as a whole.

• CULTURAL: We hope to enable students to understand and appreciate their own cultures and respect the diversity of others. Action sports are the perfect example of this/

 

What can students learn from Action Sports?

Action sports teaches vital skills needed for the next century:

• Creativity and innovation - Skateparks and skateboards are bursting with physics, geometry, science, engineering and math. Plus, Skateboarding doesn’t have any rules or limitations. The way you do tricks and the style you showcase matters a lot more than the tricks themselves. Creativity rules skateboarding. It’s all about expressing yourself and testing fresh ways to have fun with your board.

• Resilience and Complex problem solving - Falling and failing in skating and life is inevitable. Skaters know how to fall smart, get back up and try again. A skater knows that when things go wrong, they cope by rolling, sliding and using their pads to distribute the energy of the crash. There is always a lesson to apply to the next hundred tries it takes to master a trick.

• Cognitive flexibility - Skateboarding is an unstructured, athletic and creative outlet for body and soul. Skaters take and make all kinds of terrain and turn it into a canvas for creative movement.

• Critical thinking - Contrary to popular belief, skaters aren’t daredevils. They’re taking, what we’d like to call, calculated risks. When you see someone jumping down 10 stairs, he isn’t careless nor suicidal. They built up to the trick and jumped down gaps hundreds, if not thousands, of times before.

• Decision making & Negotiation - Experienced skaters become skilled diplomats who know their place in the skatepark and the world. Just watch any group of skaters lined up around a bowl. They (mostly) wordlessly know: a) when it is their turn, b) whether the kid in the bowl got more air off the hip than his last run and merits a board clap and c) how many tricks and runs they can grind out before annoying the group waiting to go next.

• Emotional intelligence - Through skating, you’ll meet people from all ages, ethnicity and social status. Skateboarding encourages strong independent thinking and the drive needed to take on challenge after challenge. Skateboarders learn to find and make their own lines amid the beautiful chaos of a busy skatepark.

​

Neurodivergent Students

 

We know that all students are unique and learn in different ways. Our goal is to provide a place for all students to find their passions and enjoy learning.

 

We often hear the word “spectrum”, but have you ever actually looked at a photograph of a color spectrum? The reality is that you cannot draw clear lines between colors. It is impossible to do. The transition from red to orange to yellow to green to blue to violet takes place in nearly unlimited degrees, each hue is infinitely different from the ones on either side of it.

 

Neurodiversity in the classroom or while learning on a board (surf or skate) is somewhat the same. There are no clear lines, no easy delineations between differences between children who are at various degrees on the spectrum. We are all wired differently. We see these differences as gifts. Surf Skate Science hopes to create a class environment to help all students learn and grow into their best selves. and to make classes as effective as possible as we teach to the strengths of students in each of these areas:

 

1. Learning disabilities

2. Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder

3. Autism

4. Intellectual disabilities

5. Emotional and behavioral disorders

 

As a co-op, we are here to help facilitate students and families in the learning process.

Here is how we can work together:

​​

• Safety is our highest priority, so if a student is not capable of being in the water alone, we ask that their aide or parent be in the water with them. We will help guide aides/parents in the best helping students as they surf. If you are unable to do this, we can work on finding a private instructor that can be hired specifically to work with your student during our surf time. 

• We are happy to invoice you according to your needs for reimbursement of the Florida Family Empowerment Scholarship.

• We all know our kids best, if you student struggles in a certain area, please be active in helping to direct them during class in the best way possible.

• We limit each class to 3 nuerodivergent learners in order to be able to give all students the attention needed.

• If any student engages in property destruction, physical harm to themselves or others, or aggressive verbal behavior, our first priority must be to protect all students in the class.​

​

Scholarships

Our program is fully reimbursable through the Florida Family Empowerment program. StepUpForStudents.org This is a great option! This year, there are major changes being made in the program and we will update you as we get information.

 

We are happy to offer payments to break payments down to make it easier. For this just email us and we can invoice you to pay as you can.

​

On May 11, 2021, Governor DeSantis signed House Bill 7045 into law, resulting in several changes to the state's K-12 scholarship programs, including an extensive expansion of the Family Empowerment Scholarship Program.

​

House Bill 7045 expanded the Family Empowerment Scholarship Program to include two branches of eligibility, the Family Empowerment Scholarship for Educational Options(FES EO) and the Family Empowerment Scholarship for Students with Unique Abilities (FES UA). Many families have been able to be reimbursed for our classes under these scholarships. For more information apply here.

​

December 1st, after the early registraion period, we release the  scholarship application through are partners at Vela Ed Fund. This will give up to 25% of the normal price of class.

​

Discounts

​

• Until July 1st we offer $50 off the normal fee for the 7 week program and $100 off for the 14 week program. After July 1st, we offer a 10% sibling discount.

• Groups of 10 or more will receive an additional 10% Discount. 

• Early discounts, sibling discounts and group discount can not be combined.

​

Groups, Discounts, Cancelation and Rescheduling Policy

 

We understand that sometimes cancellations and rescheduling are necessary, and we aim to be as accommodating as possible. To ensure transparency, we have established the following guidelines for refunds and rescheduling:

1. Cancellations received at least 4 weeks in advance of the start of the semester will be eligible for a 90% refund.

2. Cancellations received at least 2 -4 weeks in advance of the start of the semester will be eligible for a 50% refund.

3. Cancellations within 0-2 weeks of the start of the semester will be eligible for a 25% refund.

4. Cancellations requested after the day prior to the class will not be eligible for a refund.

​

Rain days will be rescheduled, providing an opportunity to make up missed sessions due to weather conditions.

​

In the event that a child falls sick, they may attend one of our available rain make-up days at the end of the semester, subject to availability. Unfortunately, sick days will not be refunded due to the incurred costs of staffing and supplies.

​

For Microschools and groups, we kindly ask for a commitment to the original number of students and the agreed-upon price, even if a student does not attend on a specific day. If a Microschool or group is unable to attend a scheduled class, they will still be responsible for the class's cost, unless an alternative arrangement has been agreed upon at least two weeks prior to the class.

​

Please note that semesters cannot be split, meaning participation in one semester for surfing and another semester for skating is not possible.

We hope these guidelines provide clarity on our policies and promote a positive experience for all participants. If you have any further questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to reach out to our team. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.

​