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A Community Can

by Jennifer Blonder

Community. It's something we are all a part of. It's something we sometimes forget the power of. Our local beach community is so precious, so powerful, and so caring that it came together again for the fourth year in a row to support education and promote the health of our beaches—the very heart center of our community.

This year marked the fourth annual "StokeFest," which was organized by the SLO Surfrider Foundation. Every year Surfrider asks the members of its local beach community to join together to raise the money to provide elementary children with an impactful education about our sea life and provide funds to continue testing the water at what we call "our beach." This year the event was held at La Perla Del Mar in Shell Beach and, even though it rained, the community flocked to the small venue and packed it full.

Artists, musicians, surfboard shapers, and many other locals donated their time and energy to provide entertainment and enrichment from the heart of our little town. Everyone involved gave with energy and passion.

The result? Surfrider and the community raised enough funds to take three classes of elementary children on a field trip to the Sea Life Center in Avila Beach, as well as provide funds for a year's worth of water testing in our local waters.

I was lucky enough to be a teacher that went on that field trip with those kids. I can tell you that there is no better feeling in this world than to see a child's face light up when they get to touch a live sea animal and learn about the role it plays in our ocean. There's nothing like the joy of seeing those children take pride and ownership in the fact that those creatures live right in their back yard. This community should pat itself on the back for turning on all those little light bulbs and beginning the awareness that is needed to keep our beaches alive and well.

As the organizer of Stokefest, I thank you all. I am going to list a few extra special people and groups that really gave a BIG helping hand in this endeavor: Shelly Malcom, Garin Sinclair, Firestone Walker Brewery, Honeymoon Café, The Nichols Foundation, The Mother Corn Shuckers, D'Mo Brown, The Kicks, Red Eye Junction, Forever Stoked, Jeff Scardine, Nick Cooper, Josh Kimball, Colleen Gnos, Jeff Malmen, Shell Beach Surf Shop, and The Sea Life Center. I can't express enough gratitude, love, and appreciation for everyone who was a part of StokeFest 2011.

A community can. You better believe it.

Peregrine Falcon Image on Banner by Cleve Nash.