San Diego Community Programs

Changing Tides Foundation is deeply rooted in the San Diego community. Our local programs empower women to build confidence, community, and connection through the ocean.

The work centers on surf & skate mentorship, environmental education, and community-building events, all powered by strong partnerships with local organizations.

Explore youth programs

Our Surf & Skate Mentorship Programs (also known as Women’s Outreach Mentorship Programs (WOMP) works with underserved teen girls through mentorship, surfing & skating, and education to help build confidence, community, emotional resilience, and a sense of belonging.

Through a multi-week surf-or-skate mentorship program, girls gain confidence, connection to nature, environmental awareness, and community belonging.  Each session also integrates environmental stewardship through beach cleanups, conversations about sustainability, and hands-on learning about local ecosystems.

Our San Diego Surf & Skate Mentorship Programs are delivered through meaningful partnerships with organizations serving underserved and housing-insecure girls, including:

San Diego Surf + Skate Mentorship Cohorts

Monarch School (unhoused/housing-insecure youth)
Casa de Amistad (education + mentorship for underserved youth)
GroundSwell Community Project (surf therapy + women’s healing)

  • Skate or Surf sessions (and ocean safety)

  • One-on-one mentor/mentee connection with local women

  • A supportive community of women & girls

  • A safe space for self-discovery and growth

  • Environmental stewardship

  • Movement, mental wellness, and women’s health practices

  • Community service & experiential learning

    *Mentors & mentees welcome.

What the San Diego Cohorts Include:

Learn More

Skate Mentorship Program (Launching 2026)

Launching in mid-March 2026 (with public fundraising beginning in February), our Skate Mentorship Program adapts the heart of our surf program for youth who live farther from the coast.

By bringing movement-based mentorship “inland,” the program removes logistical barriers and creates new pathways for girls and gender-expansive youth to access community, confidence, and consistent support.

Centered on skateboarding, sustainability, and local community connection, this program nurtures belonging and empowerment for youth who may not have access to ocean-based programs.

COMING SOON!

Get Involved Locally

  • Mentor

    New Mentors are always welcome for our ongoing Surf & Skate Mentorship Programs in San Diego. Learn more about the requirements and what to expect.

    Apply Now

  • Volunteer

    From helping at events to lending your skills & expertise behind the scenes, volunteers are the heartbeat of everything we do.

    Learn More

  • Donate

    Donations go toward supporting our empowerment programs for young women and expanding access to mentorship, surf, and skate opportunities.

    Support Local Impact

Follow Us on Instagram

Thank you to everyone who showed up for us on Giving Tuesday. If you didn’t get a chance to give and still want to contribute, you can. Every donation fuels mentorship, access, and safe community spaces for girls. 📷 @brookeraines_ #Changing
Join us — alongside our friends at @girlgromsurfclub and @surfinfire_oside — for our Surfer’s Holiday Hangout on Dec 12 at @shootsog in Oceanside. 6:30 PM · Free to join · All are welcome. Expect: • Live music
The ocean empowers us all. We asked our global community what the water means to them and their words remind us just how deeply the ocean connects, teaches, and strengthens us across cultures and coastlines. 📸 Banevis #ChangingTides #ChangingTide
From all of us at Changing Tides Foundation: thank you. 💙 This year, we made waves — literally. On Oʻahu, we stepped into the water, found freedom in the surf, and experienced the confidence that comes from being part of a supportive communit
We’re honored to welcome @@opoindex as a Changing Tides Foundation Ambassador. An artist and marine scientist, Oriana’s work bridges photography, fisheries, and marine conservation. Through diving, specimen collection, and experimental p
TODAY is the day — Giving Tuesday! Help us reach our $20,000 goal to expand surf mentorship and empower even more girls in new communities. Your tax-deductible donation directly supports: 🌊 Surf mentorship programs 🌺 Workshops on female heal

FAQs

  • Most programs serve teen girls ages 13–18.

  • All youth programs are free to participants thanks to donor support.

  • Check out our WOMP page to submit an interest form for our upcoming cohorts. Or apply to volunteer with us directly and a member of our team will reach out.

  • Qualifications for becoming a mentor include:

    • Experience teaching surfing or skating & working with youth

    • Strong knowledge of surf/skate etiquette and water safety

    • Must identify as female (all genders and sport ability are welcome for our community event volunteers)

    • Attend all weekly programming sessions (e.g. Wednesday evenings from 4:30-7:30pm + one 2 hour training session)

  • Yes! Check out our global programs on the main Programs Overview page.

Next

WOMP (Women's Outreach Mentorship Program)