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Surfrider Foundation | Washington, DC

is a community of everyday people who passionately protect our playground - the ocean, waves, and beaches that bring us so much joy.

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Who We Are

Our model is to engage environmental experts to co-create solutions, utilize local and national resources to protect the coast, and leverage our local knowledge while using a national perspective.

Meet The Team

Protection of Our Coastlines

Your donation makes you a member of the Surfrider Foundation and directly supports our local chapter's efforts to protect what we all love - our ocean, waves, and beaches.

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DC Coastal Hill Day (1)

Surfrider Washington, D.C.

The DC Chapter is represented by residents of the greater Washington, D.C. area. Our Chapter often draws coastal transplants who have found themselves landlocked. Because of our location in the Nation's Capital, our Chapter’s efforts include legislative activism, as well as community clean-ups and public education. Despite being hours away from the nearest beach, our local actions can significantly affect the health of our coastlines, the Potomac and Anacostia Rivers, the Chesapeake Bay, and the Chesapeake Bay Watershed!

The Chapter often holds volunteer events in the D.C. area and at our closest beaches. We partner with local environmental organizations and neighboring Surfrider chapters to tackle issues that arise, such as beach access, legislative disputes, coastal erosion, and  water-quality. We also help with national issues, as needed.

On top of that, we make time for the fun stuff. Surf trips, movie nights, and happy hours are all part of keeping the stoke alive for the large number of ocean lovers we have here in the National Capital Region.

Our Core Values

The Surfrider Foundation believes that getting outside and engaging with the natural world, especially the ocean, waves and beaches, is inspiring, supports healthier lifestyles, improves productivity and ultimately creates a better culture.

1. Honor the mission.

Surfrider is dedicated to the protection and enjoyment of the world’s ocean, waves and beaches for all people, through a powerful activist network. At the center of every action we take is our mission, our grassroots structure and local perspectives. We aim for positive impact and measurable results on behalf of the communities that we serve.

2. The beach is fun and Surfrider should be, too.

Surfrider comprises people who love the ocean, work hard to protect it, and need to enjoy it as part of keeping advocacy gratifying and fun. We are optimistic about the future of our ocean and coasts because our volunteers make a positive difference every day.

3. Be open and inclusive.

Our ocean, waves and beaches belong to all of us, and we welcome all who are interested in joining our movement. Through our principles of Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (JEDI), we seek to engage and represent the communities that we work in, and tosupport, create, foster and champion diversity at all levels within our organization.

4. Cultivate leaders.

We believe that the most effective way to build a coastal protection movement is to provide leadership opportunities for our volunteers. By cultivating their voices and skills, we are preparing the next generation of coastal defenders to lead within their own communities.

5. Be problem solvers.

We are solution-oriented. Surfrider applies science, critical thinking and innovation to assess problems and develop practical long-term solutions that protect our coasts.

6. The Surfrider culture is yours to create.

The Surfrider culture is defined by the people who show up with a love of the ocean and care deeply for its well-being. Through science, community and respect, we are people who joyfully take on the challenges before us. Our culture is one of selflessness, sharing, and bringing people together to achieve Surfrider’s mission.