A Look at Folly’s surf-centric nonprofit and community fixtures
by Liz Wolfe | Contributing Writer
Women have been surfing Folly Beach since the sport became popularized in the early 1960s. And while there are even more women and girls surfing now than back then, there is still work to be done to increase diversity of all kinds in the water.
Nadia Klincewicz and I founded Shes On Edge surf and skate collective in 2023 with the goal of creating inclusive, feminist spaces where we challenge norms, foster connection, and uplift the amazing women in our community. We do that by hosting free, monthly BYO-board surf and skate hangs as well as other specialty events and programming for ladies of all ages and skill levels.
After running a community-facing and serving business for the last two years, we’ve decided to officially step into the nonprofit space and are actively transitioning to become a 501c3.
Despite being the new kids on the nonprofit block, we’ve had the pleasure of meeting and collaborating with a number of amazing organizations that are showing us what it means to be catalysts for positive change in surfing and ocean advocacy.
I recently had the pleasure of chatting with a few of those local organizers on what fuels them, how they address challenges to their mission and the hopes they have for their long-term success.
While all of those below are amazing organizations making a difference in our beach community, this is by no means an exhaustive list. Thank you to all those who are doing their part to keep the stoke on Folly strong.
Warrior Surf Foundation
Clayton Merritt is the Executive Director of the Warrior Surf Foundation, a Veteran-founded organization that addresses post-service transition challenges through surf therapy, yoga, wellness sessions, and community.
Merritt, an Army Veteran and former Surf Operations Director for Warrior Surf, says the idea of “one wave at a time” is the most powerful part of Warrior Surf’s mission. “It’s this subtle but powerful emphasis on being present and focusing on the now,” he says.
A big misconception about Warrior Surf that Merritt is hoping to change is the idea that it’s a community just for Veterans, active duty Service Members, and their families. While their 12-week surf program is exclusive to those affiliated with the military, many of their other community events are for everyone to enjoy “The more the merrier is our mindset,” he says.
To learn more about Warrior Surf and how you can get involved, visit www.warriorsurf.org.
Surfers Healing
Surfers Healing is an organization that seeks to enrich the lives of people living with autism through surfing. Surfers Healing hosts annual events all over the country, including Folly Beach. I was unable to connect with a representative from Surfers Healing to discuss their programming, but you can visit surfershealingfolly.org to learn more.
The 2025 Surfers Healing will be held on Folly Beach on Wednesday, Aug. 20. To learn more about Surfers Healing and to learn about volunteer opportunities, visit www.surfershealingfolly.org.
Charleston Surfrider Foundation
Zach Watkin is the Chair of Surfrider Charleston, a nonprofit committed to plastic reduction, ocean protection, beach accessibility, clean water, and environmental advocacy and education.
More than just an advocacy and education group, Surfrider Charleston is also all about building community, says Watkin. “We want to be a space where — even if you don’t already know a ton about the environmental challenges we’re facing — you feel safe to come out, meet people, and learn something new.”
Watkins and the rest of the Surfrider Charleston crew are incorporating that friendly approach into other aspects of their outreach as well. “We’re really focused on helping local businesses instead of criticizing them,” he says. By building these positive relationships, he says, Surfrider Charleston is more likely to have the support it needs to continue to “fight the good fight.”
To learn more about Surfrider Charleston and how you can get involved, visit www.charleston.surfrider.org.
Waves 4 Women
Sarah Butler is the Executive Director of Waves 4 Women, a women-led community organization that uses group surf instruction and guided wellness discussions to teach adaptive life skills.
Butler says Waves 4 Women is known for their work with adult women, but they also do a lot of programming for teens and young girls. “We have an afterschool program that meets two days a week with Meeting Street Academy; a camp for underserved children in the Charleston community called Horizon’s at Ashley Hall; and a partnership program with Mad Park, where we decrease barriers to accessing the ocean by bringing children to the beach.”
There’s so much work that goes into preparing for these clinics, says Butler, “but then you see how it pays off in the smiles of the women and girls participating and volunteering.”
To learn more about Waves 4 Women and how you can get involved, visit www.waves4women.org.
Youth 2 Ocean
Daniel Yost is the Founder of Youth 2 Ocean, an organization that provides at-risk and underserved youth with positive personal development opportunities through water sports, environmental education, and nature exploration.
Yost founded Youth 2 Ocean to combat the accessibility issues he was seeing due to Charleston’s lack of public transportation to its beaches. “There are lots of kids in North Charleston, Summerville, and even downtown that have never seen the beach,” says Yost.
Youth 2 Ocean works with 300-500 children annually, planning fun beach trips that not only remove barriers to access but also instill in its participants a newfound appreciation for nature. “We try to teach kids that the beach is our public property, it’s ours to enjoy and also ours to take care of,” says Yost. “The more folks we get to love the ocean, the better off we will be.”
To learn more about Youth 2 Ocean and how you can get involved, visit www.y2o.org.
South Carolina Beach Advocates
Nicole Elko is the Co-Founder and Administrator for the South Carolina Beach Advocates (SCBA), a 501c3 committed to educating the public, governmental authorities, and elected officials on the environmental, economic, and societal impact of South Carolina’s beaches and inlets.
Elko meets with the governor and mayors from across the South Carolina coast annually to discuss the challenges facing our beaches and the positive economic impact of investing in our ecosystem.
This includes projects like beach renourishment, which protects homes and fragile animal nesting areas while also maintaining our ability to surf the waves that so many of us enjoy. “Think of that feeling you get when you’re at the beach,” says Elko. “That is what we’re preserving.”
To learn more about SCBA and how you can get involved, www.scbeaches.org.
