SUPKids

The SUPKids program is designed to teach youth SUP, water safety & environmental education
Stand up Paddle Club

SUPKids school holiday camp

Take a SUPKids holiday while still learning and engaging with your surroundings

SUPKids 5-week weekend programme

Make changes in your life and others’ on a SUPKids long-term schedule you won’t forget

SUPKids 10-week term study

Be proud of a SUPKids project, actioning change through environmentalism and life skills

The SUPKids Programme

Every kid, child, youth and teenager wants to discover themselves, their competencies and confidence. Their age group is all about seeking the truth in themselves and understanding their surrounding. Through Stand up paddle boarding – as a mode of transport – we learn about local issues, local environments and local communities.

Kids, children, youth and teenagers feel more connected through our programmes that teach them activity skills, how to take action on climate change, understanding the effects of waste and having a grass-roots conscience.

SUPkids is more then simply going stand up paddle boarding. It is more than just a sup hire hanging around at the beach. We delve deeper into the full-immersion experience, actually teaching participants foundational techniques, safety and awareness because we have a longer time to do so.

Stand up Paddle boarding ecological tours and wildlife encounters

Explore new places with others. The Hauraki gulf – and beyond – offers a diverse ecosystem hosting much flora and fauna.

You may encounter the most endangered bird in New Zealand while Stand up Paddle boarding; the 40-50 remaining Fairy Terns (‘Tara Iti’). It is not uncommon for us to encounter stingray, jellyfish, seals, dolphins, orcas, bioluminescence, fish, glow worms though we shall not spoil the rest…

Specifically on our Stand up Paddle boarding ecological tours and wildlife encounters we invest 10% of your booking to wildlife protection in local places!

How SUPKids began

The World Oceans Day saw the official launch of SUPKids, an educational program designed to teach kids SUP, water safety & environmental education. The SUPKids story starts in 2014, in Far North Queensland, Australia where the team ran their very first program. They worked alongside the Royal Flying Doctor Service to deliver a SUPKids program to an Indigenous community just north of Cairns.

One program turned into two, then three … then a tour of Cape York, delivering vital water safety & environmental education to the most remote communities, testing their inflatable SUP’s (and four wheel driving skills) to the very limit !

In 2015 the SUPKids team travelled to Thailand to hang out with Starboard and gave them the opportunity to experience the program for themselves. It became obvious that both SUPKids & Starboard were working towards the same goal; enabling kids to learn to SUP in a safe manner, whilst exploring their environment and becoming ambassadors for their planet.

Now all the way to New Zealand – the first and only – with Social Nature Movement.

‘SUPKids innovates sharing on environmental protection and water safety through paddle boarding. The SUPKids program could be included in most elementary schools curriculum. We at Starboard are proud to be a part of all the wonderful work that Linzi is creating with the visionary SUPKids project.’

– Svein Rasmussen, Founder & CEO Starboard

Lesson 1 – Safe SUP

 

Lesson 1.1 SUPKids Rules
Lesson 1.2 Hazard Maps
Lesson 1.3 Water Session: Rope Rescues
Capture 3
Capture 4

Lesson 2 – SUP Adventures

 

Lesson 2.1 Understanding Our Oceans
Lesson 2.2 Micro Adventures
Lesson 2.3 RIP Currents
Lesson 2.4 Water Session: Micro Adventures

Lesson 3 – Ocean Plastics

 

Lesson 3.1 Micro Plastics
Lesson 3.2 Great Pacific Garbage Patch
Lesson 3.3 Water Session: Paddle and Pick
Capture 5
Capture 6

Lesson 4 – Healthy SUPKids

 

Lesson 4.1 Make Your Own Trail Mix
Lesson 4.2 Water Session: Surfing

Lesson 5 – Ambassador for the Planet

 

Lesson 5.1 Understanding Climate Change
Lesson 5.2 Last SUPKids Lesson
Lesson 5.3 Water Session: Rafts
Capture 7

What do SUPKids do?

‘We’ve taken environmental education out of the classroom, to the great outdoors, where we think it belongs. We know what it’s like to fall in love with being in the ocean. And we know that, with a passion for SUP comes a responsibility to take care of our environment. Our vision is to create experiences for our SUPKids that will enhance their appreciation, respect & understanding for sustainable living.’

Linzi Hawkin, Founder of SUPKids

The program is run in an inclusive, non-competitive environment with a real focus on building self esteem. SUPKids use games, drills & water based activities to ensure that all SUPKids walk away with vital water safety skills that will stay with them for life.

SUPKids can be delivered in the ocean, on a lake, or any safe waterway. The program delivers in various ways; As a 5 day camp (during school holidays), as a 5 week program (on the weekends or after school) or as a one day activity.

The program is based on 5 core lessons : Safe SUP, SUP adventures, Ocean Plastics, Healthy SUPKids & Ambassadors for the Planet.

 

Blue minds, blue planets and a blue-tiful kids

We’re committed to giving back and we’re passionate about delivering programs to kids who wouldn’t otherwise have the opportunity to do so. A % of every SUPKids Delivery Centre license fee goes towards our Giving Back programs – taking SUPKids to communities who need it most.

Giving Back means taking care of our planet as well as our people. We plant a mangrove tree at the Thor Heyerdahl Climate Park in Myanmar for every SUPKid who takes part in one of our programs.

We’re partnered with Parley for the Oceans, a collaboration network where creators, thinkers and leaders raise awareness of the beauty and fragility of our oceans and work together on projects that seek to end the destruction of the oceans.

We really believe that we we can have the biggest impact when we collaborate with like-minded people. Working together will always enable us to learn from each other & do more good ! We’ve also partnered with Sustainable Surf, a CA based non-profit environmental organization, focused on transforming people who love water – into a powerful force for protecting the ocean playground! ‘

Primary and Secondary Schools

Students love learning adventurously through Stand up Paddle boarding elements of authenticity, agency, mystery and mastery. We design Education Outside their Classroom (EOtC) with the New Zealand curriculum and include fundamental features of Health and Physical education.

Social Nature Movement is experienced teaching students years 1-13 and we deliver NZQA education qualifications at levels one, two and three for Stand up Paddle boarding. Below is an example of an assessment form for NZQA 91330 “perform a physical activity in an applied setting”.

A2 Regular physical activity,
A3 Safety management,
B1 Movement skills,
C3 Interpersonal skills,
D2 Community resources.

 

Stand up Paddle boarding School Holiday Programmes

Stand up Paddle boarding is great as a holiday activity for school children. We run a programme every holiday. The emphasis is on fun, skill development and exploration.

 

SUP Safety

Safety is first for us while Stand up Paddle boarding. Our instructors are International Surfing Association (ISA) certified, first aid providers and police vetted. Our equipment is tested and maintained. Our ‘Water Safety’ programme has three main learning outcomes:

Self; on, in and around water,
Others; inclusion, team building and leadership,
Place; fostering a respectful relationship with our watery world.

 

Stand up Paddle boarding tour locations

Goat Island
Leigh
Omaha
Matakana
Orakei Basin
Mahurangi
Wenderholm
Orewa
Whangaparaoa
Auckland Mangroves

 

Check out our booking tab, click the book now button or make a trip enquiry.

Get help booking. Have questions? Click our FAQ’s, call a specialist (0800 76 62 66) or message one (support@snm.nz)

Capture

SUPKids Credentials

SUPKids
SNM are the only SUPKids school in New Zealand.

The SUPKids program is designed to teach kids SUP, water safety & environmental education. 

NZ SUP
SNM are NZSUP members and Qualified SUP Instructors.

NZSUP inc. organises the national race championships and teams for international events, oversees SUP schools and instruction, and campaigns on behalf of all paddleboarders in New Zealand on matters of safety, legislation and all other aspects of negotiation and liaison with other governing bodies.

Manukau Harbour Restoration Society
SNM are Manukau Harbour Restoration Society members.

The Manukau Harbour Restoration Society (MHRS) was formed in 2011 by Auckland residents living around the harbour committed to improving the condition of the harbour and its environs.

Boating Education Coastguard
SNM are Day Skipper, Sea Kayak , VHF Marine Radio and Boastmaster trained.

Coastguard Boating Education courses for all members of the family or crew, including those new to boating. Particularly suited to those with responsibility of being a skipper on their own vessel.

Pest Free Auckland
SNM are Pest-Free operators within the Hauraki Gulf

Helping keep Hauraki Gulf islands pest free by checking bags and gear for pests, cleaning shoes and gear, closing bags and containers. Read more here

x