Here's some useful information that will be helpful for the day of the event and will help us run the event smoothly and give you a sense of what's to come
CANCELLATIONS
We run this event rain or shine. The only reasons we will cancel are for thunder and lightning or dangerous surf conditions and when we do cancel (rarely) it’s just before we’re ready to set up. The weather at the beach is fickle, so if you are driving a considerable distance, it’s up to you to make the decision whether it’s worth the drive.
PARKING
For our Kennebunk events there is legal parking along Route 9 from the beach back to town, on the same side of the road as the Monastery, all the way to the Monastery. We may have a FREE shuttle (with handicap access!) from Washington Hose Company, 159 Port Rd, Kennebunk, ME 04043. If we do, please park in the public parking area out back near the Tommy McNamara Whiffle Ball Field or the "Firehouse Place" mini mall and meet the shuttle by the sign for “Lower Village Park”. After 5:00 PM you can park in Firehouse Place, at Port Hardware, 153 Port Road, Kennebunk. You might have to park along route 9. Make sure you are parked legally. Look for email updates about shuttles.
The town of Kennebunk waives the parking permit requirement from 3:00 P.M. on, so beach parking is okay for all. Please remember that we need to bring equipment to and from the beach and our teams need to have easy access to the beach. Please consider those who arrive with physically challenged guests/participants, especially near the wheelchair ramp at the east end of the beach. If you can walk a short distance, please do.
Please also be considerate of our neighbors when parking. Stay off lawns, don’t block driveways and always take your trash with you. Our neighbors are always gracious and generous, let’s keep them happy.
SAFETY
We have lifeguards, EMTs and an Ambulance on shore. The lifeguards are the eyes and ears and also they are the weathermen and women, calling the event off if impending lightning threatens the safety of all on the beach and in the water. Full authority has been given to the lifeguards with respect to calling the event due to weather.
We have many health care professionals who volunteer. Look for the Alert Team with Red Tee Shirts, they can find the medical professionals or call 911 in case we need to bring them in on a situation.
The setup of the equipment is directly relative to safety. We spread the boards out along the beach intentionally so that when a team grabs a board to use, and then walks in a straight line to the water, they have some distance from the surf team next to them. We encourage people to spread out and this should be expressed to all teams.
We will have Alert Teams, people on shore watching for an emergency or event that requires help. When the Safety Team sends out an alert, we send lifeguards or emergency personnel or both.
GENERAL OPERATIONS
All participants and volunteers must sign in and sign a waiver. Specific volunteer tasks have different jobs. We have job descriptions on the registration forms explaining what the responsibilities are on the WHAT TO REGISTER FOR section.
All boards must be SOFT boards with flex fins, we are very specific with what we use for these events. No hard boards are allowed in or near our program.
We have Volunteer Surfers as the team leader in the water. Surfers have water knowledge and can time the waves for successful rides. The Surfer’s Assistant, is an added safety measure to “direct traffic”, keeping the Super Surfers going in and out in “lanes” to keep an orderly pattern of flow in and out. these Assistants also help monitor our participants for swallowing water, going under, getting cold. We also ask teams to spread out along the beach to keep distance between surfers.
For the Heightened Security Surfers, we have teams of specially selected surfers, therapists and aides who have been trained to form a gauntlet to ensure the rider is safe, upright and on a clear path to the shore. We have a system where we strap special seats to soft Stand Up Paddle boards. These boards are extra buoyant and stable, chosen specifically for their wide and stable riding design. We also have “pontoons” for enhanced stability. One experienced surfer from the team is positioned behind the chair surfer, holding on to the chair and riding behind the Heightened Security Surfer. The surfer’s weight should be considered, relative to the weight of the Special Needs participant. The board and riders are then sent into the wave to shore with the gauntlet of volunteers along each side of the surfers. Two or three of these “Gauntlet” volunteers closest to shore then return the riders to the outside team. Each Heightened Security team has a team leader who has been trained and has a safety meeting with the rest of the team.
To attach chairs to the boards, we balance the positioning so that the weight of the participant is leveled by the weight of the surfer riding on the back, holding the chair struts for stability. This “Outside Team” (the people out the deepest) need to have extensive water knowledge. Having a tall team member is a bonus, as touching the bottom and guiding the chair board are essential. The surfer “driving” the board in needs to be able to steer and balance the board. The team providing the push needs to know when the wave will crest, when to start pushing or when to hold steady or brace. There are many small details that result in a successful ride, and it’s easy to stray from a straight line. The “Gauntlet” is a way to keep the board on the proper line. The Gauntlet can be made up of anyone who wants to get wet, but they need to pay attention, watching every ride for the entire ride. If the board starts to stray it’s up to them to give it a gentle nudge to straighten the trajectory. Ideally, depending on how far out the waves are breaking, we should have each person in The Gauntlet at an arm’s length from each other.
NOTE FOR PARENTS/CARE GIVERS
If you’re having trouble, look for a volunteer with a Special Surfer Tee Shirt or ask anyone! Let us know if you need help, we want you to relax and have a nice time!
There will be photographers documenting the festivities. Your waiver contains a model release. If you do not wish to have your photographs made public, please print and bring a recent photo of your special surfer and write your and your special surfer’s name on it and note that you do not want photos to be made public. Please hand it in when you register.
Families should bring whatever they would normally bring to the beach; beach chairs, blanket, beach towels, sunscreen, sunglasses & hats, beach toys, etc. We do have participant wetsuits that you may borrow but you might want to bring your own to be sure of sizing. If you purchase a wetsuit for your child/special surfer, please support our sponsors. Your Special Surfer should wear a swimsuit under their wetsuit. Some kids opt for rashguards as well, to keep their neck from chafing. If you have a life preserver that your child requires/wants, please bring it. If your surfer is in Special Ops, please bring an extra beach towel that can get wet as it may be helpful to pad their neck from the harness straps. If you think your Special Surfer will be cold, here's a TIP, bring a thermos with shower temperature water. After the session, pour the water down the neck of the wetsuit. AHHHHH.
Parents and guardians. Please remember this night is for the participants. If you bring your other children or friends, keep them out of the water near the main activities. If you have a child or friend who wishes to get wet, please send them (with a helper) to the periphery. There will be many bodies in the water and we want everyone to enjoy this event safely.
NOTE FOR VOLUNTEERS
Tips for Working with Individuals who have disabilities.
Please interact with all of our friends with total respect. When speaking with someone who has a disability, make eye contact and talk to them as you would any other person. Assume they are 100% present and listening, whether they look it or not. Always show respect. When referring to someone with any disability or special need, remember to put the person before the disability: "Person with spinal cord injury" or "person with a disability/Special Need" instead of "disabled person" or "the disabled."
It is best not to touch someone's wheelchair without asking them first. A wheelchair is often considered to be part of someone's personal space. However, it is appropriate to offer assistance.
Always respect participants' privacy. It may be considered rude to ask someone about their injury, unless they initiate the conversation.
Lifting and transferring individuals with a spinal cord injury or disability is a specialized process. It is preferred that someone has training before attempting a lift or transfer and does so with the consultation of the person who needs it.
A person with a spinal cord injury or disability may not feel, and may not notice, a cut, burn, or injury that occurs below the level of spinal cord injury, or they may be extra sensitive to touch. It is our responsibility to monitor and ask for input from participants and their caregivers regarding their comfort and safety.
Wetsuit Fitting Protocol
Sensitivity and privacy are integral when assisting with wet suit application. Volunteers should take their lead form the aide, parent or participant. Often the participants need 2 or 3 volunteers to help with the wetsuit. It helps to put a plastic baggie on the person’s extremities to make it slide into the sleeve or leg opening. PLEASE be sure to stress the importance of keeping the baggies out of the pollution stream. Baggies kill seals, among other things.
Safety Concerns
Ask the parent/aide/participant if there are any health issues to be aware of such as seizures, behavioral issues, sensitivity, aspiration risk. Parents and Caregivers are our first source of information and they recognize changes in behavior and demeanor. If in doubt, ask.
Volunteer teams need to be aware of body temps and hypothermia risk. If in doubt, ask the parent/guardian or an attendant lifeguard/health professional.
Ask the parent or aide if there are any biting, punching, kicking hazards (etc.) that you need to be aware of. Some of these kids do some pretty extreme stuff when they are having fun or when they don’t want to stop. You are advised to keep yourself out of biting or swinging range!
The boards are lined up along the wall in a deliberate attempt to mark some distance between each team. Please be aware of the attempt to spread out the teams, to keep a safe distance between the lanes of riding in and returning to the waves and team Wave Captain. We should try to use the entire beach to maintain as much distance as possible.
Objectives/goals The main objective is for the Special Surfers to have fun. Whether they belly ride, knee ride, stand up, get barreled J or swim and blow bubbles… They are here for some unrestricted non-judgmental fun. Their parents are also enjoying some time watching their children shine and have a good time. Whatever they like, it’s their time, respect that and don’t impose our ideals of what they should be accomplishing. As long as they’re enjoying themselves, we’re good.
Boards The surfboards are great for beginners, soft, floaty, stable. The bigger the board, the easier to ride. If you have a tiny or light surfer, please choose a smaller board and leave the bigger boards for the bigger participants. If you find that your Special Surfer is having trouble, signal to a volunteer on shore to get you a bigger board. Dry volunteers, please watch for this and help with board appropriation.
Please do not use leashes. Leashes can tangle and hurt fingers, necks, arms (especially volunteers arms and hands when they push the kids into waves). Another good reason to space out evenly, maintain your distance.
Tell the kids that when they fall, to come up with their hands over their heads, elbows forward, to keep from being hit in the head and face with torpedoing boards. Tell the kids not to dive off. (They might not appear to be listening, but tell them anyway, you’ll be surprised what they absorb when you least expect it.)
We have Surfer’s Assistants to bring the kids (and young at heart adults) back to the surfer (Wave Captain) to help maintain some order. Please let your kid ride all the way to the beach (don’t lift them off the board as they ride by or stop the board from moving). Please keep an eye on incoming kids and possible collision targets, and alert bystanders and people in harm’s way. Assistants, please take your kid directly back to the Wave Captain as soon and as quickly as possible, the least likely place for a collision is out with the Captain or on shore. It is your job to be aware of all moving objects and to ensure the safety of those in the water and at the water’s edge (Give a loud “head’s up” if your kid is headed for a bystander who is not paying attention). If your kid becomes tired or bored, please make sure you hand them over to the person who is in charge (parent, guardian, caregiver). Under no circumstances should a participant be allowed to leave your care without supervision.
Wet Volunteers- If you find that you are free to take another kid out, check back in with the volunteer coordinator.
If your Special Surfer finishes up and doesn’t want to surf anymore, please, if you have a big board, look around for someone who might be happy to have a bigger board (remember the smaller boards are harder to ride).
ALWAYS have your Special Surfer’s feet to the back of the board (close to or touching the little leash cup/cord). You might have to place yourself behind the board, put the back of the board to your belly and pull the Special Surfer’s feet back to the fin screws (the black dots at the back of the board). Often we see the kids respond to us pointing or patting the back of the board and saying something like “put your feet here” or “bellybutton here” (middle/back of board, obviously). Some kids will resist, but eventually they give in, sometimes not, but this method prevents “pearling”, where the nose of the board dips below the surface and the Special Surfer slides forward face first to the bottom of the sea. We like to see them ride on the TOP of the water if at all possible ;)
Special Surfers on the spectrum (Autism Spectrum) are often very literal. You need to be super specific if you want to convey a message or directive. Example. If your Special Surfer is floating out to sea and you would like to get closer to shore, you could say “we need to get close enough to the sand so that your feet can touch the bottom with your head above water”. Or, “we will take one (or 5…) more wave(s) and then we will take this surfboard to the wall and you will take off your wetsuit and your parents will take you to your car” … pretty much be as clear as possible. Sarcasm and implied messages are often interpreted as literal, so think about what you say. You might find that your Special Surfer is quite sarcastic or funny, go with it.
Keep an eye out for strays. Some kids wander off randomly. Many of these families arrive with more than one child and it’s a lot for them to keep everyone corralled. There is so much going on and so many people it’s easy for these Special Surfers to blend in and walk away. We’ve had a few wanderers. We also had a water wanderer who was out past the “line up” (the deepest surf teams) and headed for the jetty. Her dad was walking along the beach, following, but saying nothing. Needless to say, don’t wait for it to be a crisis. If it looks fishy, address the issue, coax the Special Surfer back to the beach or sidewalk, wherever is appropriate.
Thanks for making these events possible, fun and amazing!
We run this event rain or shine. The only reasons we will cancel are for thunder and lightning or dangerous surf conditions and when we do cancel (rarely) it’s just before we’re ready to set up. The weather at the beach is fickle, so if you are driving a considerable distance, it’s up to you to make the decision whether it’s worth the drive.
PARKING
For our Kennebunk events there is legal parking along Route 9 from the beach back to town, on the same side of the road as the Monastery, all the way to the Monastery. We may have a FREE shuttle (with handicap access!) from Washington Hose Company, 159 Port Rd, Kennebunk, ME 04043. If we do, please park in the public parking area out back near the Tommy McNamara Whiffle Ball Field or the "Firehouse Place" mini mall and meet the shuttle by the sign for “Lower Village Park”. After 5:00 PM you can park in Firehouse Place, at Port Hardware, 153 Port Road, Kennebunk. You might have to park along route 9. Make sure you are parked legally. Look for email updates about shuttles.
The town of Kennebunk waives the parking permit requirement from 3:00 P.M. on, so beach parking is okay for all. Please remember that we need to bring equipment to and from the beach and our teams need to have easy access to the beach. Please consider those who arrive with physically challenged guests/participants, especially near the wheelchair ramp at the east end of the beach. If you can walk a short distance, please do.
Please also be considerate of our neighbors when parking. Stay off lawns, don’t block driveways and always take your trash with you. Our neighbors are always gracious and generous, let’s keep them happy.
SAFETY
We have lifeguards, EMTs and an Ambulance on shore. The lifeguards are the eyes and ears and also they are the weathermen and women, calling the event off if impending lightning threatens the safety of all on the beach and in the water. Full authority has been given to the lifeguards with respect to calling the event due to weather.
We have many health care professionals who volunteer. Look for the Alert Team with Red Tee Shirts, they can find the medical professionals or call 911 in case we need to bring them in on a situation.
The setup of the equipment is directly relative to safety. We spread the boards out along the beach intentionally so that when a team grabs a board to use, and then walks in a straight line to the water, they have some distance from the surf team next to them. We encourage people to spread out and this should be expressed to all teams.
We will have Alert Teams, people on shore watching for an emergency or event that requires help. When the Safety Team sends out an alert, we send lifeguards or emergency personnel or both.
GENERAL OPERATIONS
All participants and volunteers must sign in and sign a waiver. Specific volunteer tasks have different jobs. We have job descriptions on the registration forms explaining what the responsibilities are on the WHAT TO REGISTER FOR section.
All boards must be SOFT boards with flex fins, we are very specific with what we use for these events. No hard boards are allowed in or near our program.
We have Volunteer Surfers as the team leader in the water. Surfers have water knowledge and can time the waves for successful rides. The Surfer’s Assistant, is an added safety measure to “direct traffic”, keeping the Super Surfers going in and out in “lanes” to keep an orderly pattern of flow in and out. these Assistants also help monitor our participants for swallowing water, going under, getting cold. We also ask teams to spread out along the beach to keep distance between surfers.
For the Heightened Security Surfers, we have teams of specially selected surfers, therapists and aides who have been trained to form a gauntlet to ensure the rider is safe, upright and on a clear path to the shore. We have a system where we strap special seats to soft Stand Up Paddle boards. These boards are extra buoyant and stable, chosen specifically for their wide and stable riding design. We also have “pontoons” for enhanced stability. One experienced surfer from the team is positioned behind the chair surfer, holding on to the chair and riding behind the Heightened Security Surfer. The surfer’s weight should be considered, relative to the weight of the Special Needs participant. The board and riders are then sent into the wave to shore with the gauntlet of volunteers along each side of the surfers. Two or three of these “Gauntlet” volunteers closest to shore then return the riders to the outside team. Each Heightened Security team has a team leader who has been trained and has a safety meeting with the rest of the team.
To attach chairs to the boards, we balance the positioning so that the weight of the participant is leveled by the weight of the surfer riding on the back, holding the chair struts for stability. This “Outside Team” (the people out the deepest) need to have extensive water knowledge. Having a tall team member is a bonus, as touching the bottom and guiding the chair board are essential. The surfer “driving” the board in needs to be able to steer and balance the board. The team providing the push needs to know when the wave will crest, when to start pushing or when to hold steady or brace. There are many small details that result in a successful ride, and it’s easy to stray from a straight line. The “Gauntlet” is a way to keep the board on the proper line. The Gauntlet can be made up of anyone who wants to get wet, but they need to pay attention, watching every ride for the entire ride. If the board starts to stray it’s up to them to give it a gentle nudge to straighten the trajectory. Ideally, depending on how far out the waves are breaking, we should have each person in The Gauntlet at an arm’s length from each other.
NOTE FOR PARENTS/CARE GIVERS
If you’re having trouble, look for a volunteer with a Special Surfer Tee Shirt or ask anyone! Let us know if you need help, we want you to relax and have a nice time!
There will be photographers documenting the festivities. Your waiver contains a model release. If you do not wish to have your photographs made public, please print and bring a recent photo of your special surfer and write your and your special surfer’s name on it and note that you do not want photos to be made public. Please hand it in when you register.
Families should bring whatever they would normally bring to the beach; beach chairs, blanket, beach towels, sunscreen, sunglasses & hats, beach toys, etc. We do have participant wetsuits that you may borrow but you might want to bring your own to be sure of sizing. If you purchase a wetsuit for your child/special surfer, please support our sponsors. Your Special Surfer should wear a swimsuit under their wetsuit. Some kids opt for rashguards as well, to keep their neck from chafing. If you have a life preserver that your child requires/wants, please bring it. If your surfer is in Special Ops, please bring an extra beach towel that can get wet as it may be helpful to pad their neck from the harness straps. If you think your Special Surfer will be cold, here's a TIP, bring a thermos with shower temperature water. After the session, pour the water down the neck of the wetsuit. AHHHHH.
Parents and guardians. Please remember this night is for the participants. If you bring your other children or friends, keep them out of the water near the main activities. If you have a child or friend who wishes to get wet, please send them (with a helper) to the periphery. There will be many bodies in the water and we want everyone to enjoy this event safely.
NOTE FOR VOLUNTEERS
Tips for Working with Individuals who have disabilities.
Please interact with all of our friends with total respect. When speaking with someone who has a disability, make eye contact and talk to them as you would any other person. Assume they are 100% present and listening, whether they look it or not. Always show respect. When referring to someone with any disability or special need, remember to put the person before the disability: "Person with spinal cord injury" or "person with a disability/Special Need" instead of "disabled person" or "the disabled."
It is best not to touch someone's wheelchair without asking them first. A wheelchair is often considered to be part of someone's personal space. However, it is appropriate to offer assistance.
Always respect participants' privacy. It may be considered rude to ask someone about their injury, unless they initiate the conversation.
Lifting and transferring individuals with a spinal cord injury or disability is a specialized process. It is preferred that someone has training before attempting a lift or transfer and does so with the consultation of the person who needs it.
A person with a spinal cord injury or disability may not feel, and may not notice, a cut, burn, or injury that occurs below the level of spinal cord injury, or they may be extra sensitive to touch. It is our responsibility to monitor and ask for input from participants and their caregivers regarding their comfort and safety.
Wetsuit Fitting Protocol
Sensitivity and privacy are integral when assisting with wet suit application. Volunteers should take their lead form the aide, parent or participant. Often the participants need 2 or 3 volunteers to help with the wetsuit. It helps to put a plastic baggie on the person’s extremities to make it slide into the sleeve or leg opening. PLEASE be sure to stress the importance of keeping the baggies out of the pollution stream. Baggies kill seals, among other things.
Safety Concerns
Ask the parent/aide/participant if there are any health issues to be aware of such as seizures, behavioral issues, sensitivity, aspiration risk. Parents and Caregivers are our first source of information and they recognize changes in behavior and demeanor. If in doubt, ask.
Volunteer teams need to be aware of body temps and hypothermia risk. If in doubt, ask the parent/guardian or an attendant lifeguard/health professional.
Ask the parent or aide if there are any biting, punching, kicking hazards (etc.) that you need to be aware of. Some of these kids do some pretty extreme stuff when they are having fun or when they don’t want to stop. You are advised to keep yourself out of biting or swinging range!
The boards are lined up along the wall in a deliberate attempt to mark some distance between each team. Please be aware of the attempt to spread out the teams, to keep a safe distance between the lanes of riding in and returning to the waves and team Wave Captain. We should try to use the entire beach to maintain as much distance as possible.
Objectives/goals The main objective is for the Special Surfers to have fun. Whether they belly ride, knee ride, stand up, get barreled J or swim and blow bubbles… They are here for some unrestricted non-judgmental fun. Their parents are also enjoying some time watching their children shine and have a good time. Whatever they like, it’s their time, respect that and don’t impose our ideals of what they should be accomplishing. As long as they’re enjoying themselves, we’re good.
Boards The surfboards are great for beginners, soft, floaty, stable. The bigger the board, the easier to ride. If you have a tiny or light surfer, please choose a smaller board and leave the bigger boards for the bigger participants. If you find that your Special Surfer is having trouble, signal to a volunteer on shore to get you a bigger board. Dry volunteers, please watch for this and help with board appropriation.
Please do not use leashes. Leashes can tangle and hurt fingers, necks, arms (especially volunteers arms and hands when they push the kids into waves). Another good reason to space out evenly, maintain your distance.
Tell the kids that when they fall, to come up with their hands over their heads, elbows forward, to keep from being hit in the head and face with torpedoing boards. Tell the kids not to dive off. (They might not appear to be listening, but tell them anyway, you’ll be surprised what they absorb when you least expect it.)
We have Surfer’s Assistants to bring the kids (and young at heart adults) back to the surfer (Wave Captain) to help maintain some order. Please let your kid ride all the way to the beach (don’t lift them off the board as they ride by or stop the board from moving). Please keep an eye on incoming kids and possible collision targets, and alert bystanders and people in harm’s way. Assistants, please take your kid directly back to the Wave Captain as soon and as quickly as possible, the least likely place for a collision is out with the Captain or on shore. It is your job to be aware of all moving objects and to ensure the safety of those in the water and at the water’s edge (Give a loud “head’s up” if your kid is headed for a bystander who is not paying attention). If your kid becomes tired or bored, please make sure you hand them over to the person who is in charge (parent, guardian, caregiver). Under no circumstances should a participant be allowed to leave your care without supervision.
Wet Volunteers- If you find that you are free to take another kid out, check back in with the volunteer coordinator.
If your Special Surfer finishes up and doesn’t want to surf anymore, please, if you have a big board, look around for someone who might be happy to have a bigger board (remember the smaller boards are harder to ride).
ALWAYS have your Special Surfer’s feet to the back of the board (close to or touching the little leash cup/cord). You might have to place yourself behind the board, put the back of the board to your belly and pull the Special Surfer’s feet back to the fin screws (the black dots at the back of the board). Often we see the kids respond to us pointing or patting the back of the board and saying something like “put your feet here” or “bellybutton here” (middle/back of board, obviously). Some kids will resist, but eventually they give in, sometimes not, but this method prevents “pearling”, where the nose of the board dips below the surface and the Special Surfer slides forward face first to the bottom of the sea. We like to see them ride on the TOP of the water if at all possible ;)
Special Surfers on the spectrum (Autism Spectrum) are often very literal. You need to be super specific if you want to convey a message or directive. Example. If your Special Surfer is floating out to sea and you would like to get closer to shore, you could say “we need to get close enough to the sand so that your feet can touch the bottom with your head above water”. Or, “we will take one (or 5…) more wave(s) and then we will take this surfboard to the wall and you will take off your wetsuit and your parents will take you to your car” … pretty much be as clear as possible. Sarcasm and implied messages are often interpreted as literal, so think about what you say. You might find that your Special Surfer is quite sarcastic or funny, go with it.
Keep an eye out for strays. Some kids wander off randomly. Many of these families arrive with more than one child and it’s a lot for them to keep everyone corralled. There is so much going on and so many people it’s easy for these Special Surfers to blend in and walk away. We’ve had a few wanderers. We also had a water wanderer who was out past the “line up” (the deepest surf teams) and headed for the jetty. Her dad was walking along the beach, following, but saying nothing. Needless to say, don’t wait for it to be a crisis. If it looks fishy, address the issue, coax the Special Surfer back to the beach or sidewalk, wherever is appropriate.
Thanks for making these events possible, fun and amazing!
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