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Beach Day for Special Needs Children
September 23, 2017 @ 9:00 am - September 24, 2017 @ 2:00 am PDT
Have a blast sharing a day at the beach and making a difference in the lives of special needs kids. The Best Day Foundation is a volunteer organization that helps children with special needs build confidence and self-esteem through safe, fun, adventure activities at the beach. The organization is hosting events at Leadbetter Beach, in Santa Barbara on Saturday, September 23 and Sunday, September 24 from 9 am – 2 pm and is seeking registrants and volunteers. High school students and adults are encouraged to volunteer to assist participants, ages 4 – 24, with autism, Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, blindness, cancer, and other physical and developmental challenges to simply enjoy a day at the beach. Those with qualifying diseases are also welcome to register to participate in this free day at the beach. All adaptive gear is provided.
“Volunteers are not necessarily required to have any special skill set or experience,” explained Jen Gamez-Sparrow, a registered nurse and co-chair of the Santa Barbara events. The organization offers volunteer positions both in and out of the water, and while some require special skills other positions simply require an open mind and the desire to have fun. Beach activities include tandem surfing, stand-up paddle boarding, body boarding, kayaking, outrigger canoeing, and lots of beach-based fun. One of the most popular opportunities is becoming a beach buddy, where volunteers are paired with kids to help them make the most of their day. Help is also needed with set-up, registration, food service and event support. In the last six years, Best Day has hosted over 100 events serving more than 3000 children. To learn more or register to volunteer or participate, visit https://bestdayfoundation.org or contact info@bestdayfoundation.org.