About
Surf Dojo Youth Association is a Costa Rican nonprofit empowering young people from coastal communities through surfing, education, mentorship, and holistic athletic development. Its scholarship programs combine surf and surfskate training, swimming, fitness, sports psychology, nutrition, environmental education, and character development. By integrating athletic excellence with personal growth and ocean stewardship, Surf Dojo helps young people build confidence, discipline, safety skills, and leadership while developing a replicable model that preserves surf culture and creates new opportunities for coastal youth.
Impact
65
Local Students
Served Weekly
370+
Program Hours
Delivered
2,600+
Meals Served
Programs
Youth Development
Provides free after-school surfing, surfskate, swimming, fitness, and sports psychology training to build confidence and discipline.
High Performance
Offers advanced coaching, video analysis, and specialized training to support the development of promising young athletes.
Ocean & Community Education
Combines conservation, leadership, and surf culture to develop responsible young leaders committed to their coastal communities.
Current Need
Expanding access to opportunity is Surf Dojo’s priority for 2026, with a goal of providing full scholarships to 70–75 young people each week while maintaining over 90% retention. The organization also plans to strengthen parent engagement, student wellbeing tracking, safeguarding, staff systems, and fundraising while preparing for a second facility in Nosara. Donations, sponsorships, strategic partnerships, and volunteers will help expand scholarships and build a sustainable model for empowering more coastal youth.
Growing Stronger Every Year
We’re proud to participate in Amigos of Costa Rica’s Transparency Badge System, which evaluates organizations across three key areas: financial stewardship, governance, and community impact.
Organizations are recognized at four levels of growth: Seed, Sprout, Sapling, and Tree, helping donors better understand each organization’s commitment to transparency, accountability, and continuous improvement.
The badges displayed below reflect our current achievements and our ongoing commitment to strengthening our organization and maximizing our impact.
Finance
Governance
Impact
Ready to Join Our Mission?
Support this organization using the donation method that works best for you. Online giving is available through credit card, Apple Pay, Google Pay, and PayPal, with additional options including wire transfers, stock gifts, checks, Zelle, and cryptocurrency donations.