Surfrider Foundation’s continued priority is to the health and safety of our volunteers, activists, staff and community as we navigate through the current COVID-19 situation. Based on new information and recommendations from state agencies and the CDC we are immediately suspending all Surfrider Foundation planned chapter and club events, meetings and activations for the next 30 days or until further notice. This includes, but is not limited to the following:
- Earth Day Events
- Beach Clean ups of any size
- Blue Water Task Force Water Testing
- Executive Committee Meetings
- Public Gatherings of any size or nature
- General Meetings
However, that doesn’t mean we’re stopping our mission work to protect our coastal resources and engage volunteers. We are in the process of developing new resources, guidance and recommendations to our chapter and club networks to keep your volunteers and public engaged throughout this period. One of the keys will be consistency in our messaging and that will be covered too. In addition, we are developing similar resources to keep your executive committee members engaged, that focus on infrastructure recommendations and training opportunities. These will be online no later than the end of the week and can be found on ChapterNET.
As communities across the country experience the threat and disruption from COVID-19, many are wondering what they can do to keep themselves and their families safe. In addition to practicing social distancing, washing hands and spending more time at home, those of us in coastal communities may also seek the solitude, solace and maybe even a wave or two at our local beach. But does spending time in coastal waterways increase your risk of getting sick?
To help answer this question, Surfrider is working to stay abreast of emerging science and community concerns to keep the beachgoing public as informed and safe as possible. Read more in the informative post by Surfrider staff scientist Katie Day on the Coastal Blog.