The Surfrider Foundation's greatest strength is our grassroots, community-based focus and our ability to act as local activists for the protection of the coast. The method that has proved most effective for Surfrider is the development of programs for chapter implementation. The Surfrider Foundation's programs work because they are used at the community level.
Most surfers are natural students of weather, coastal physical processes and water quality.
Teaching oceanography and environmental protection from a surfer's perspective captivates students of all ages and makes learning about the ocean exciting, fun and very cool. The Respect the Beach program is brought into classrooms by Surfrider members, who represent ocean environmentalism from the surfers perspective, and who are role models that students can relate to. This water quality monitoring, education and advocacy program is utilized by our Chapters and members to alert citizens and officials in their communities about water quality problems and to work toward solutions. BWTF has demonstrated success by raising public awareness of coastal water pollution levels and precipitating the establishment of state and local government water quality monitoring programs in many communities where the program has been implemented. We are still working to raise awareness about the need for a comprehensive national beach water quality monitoring program.