Feature: Stephanie Terrell, Warm Current Board Member and member of the Quinault Tribe and Natalie Maxson, Warm Current Board Member and Member of the Makah Tribe
On the fog-lined shores of the Washington coast, a different kind of learning takes place, one rooted in culture, community, and connection to ancestral waters.
In this Spotlight Session, Stephanie Terrell, a member of the Quinault Tribe, and Natalie Maxson, a member of the Makah Tribe, both board members of Warm Current, share how surf camps for Native youth are creating far more than new surfers. In partnership with the Makah Indian Nation, Quileute Nation, Hoh Indian Tribe, and Quinault Indian Nation, Warm Current hosts camps that invite Native youth to reconnect with the ocean in ways that are empowering, joyful, and deeply meaningful.
These camps are about reclaiming space, honoring tradition, and promoting the physical and mental health benefits of outdoor recreation within Native communities. As children pull on wetsuits and carry surfboards toward the Pacific, they are learning not only how to ride waves, but also how to strengthen their relationship with land, water, and identity.
View this Spotlight Session and hear directly from Stephanie Terrell and Natalie Maxson about Warm Current’s mission, the impact they are seeing in Native communities, and what lies ahead.
If you’re interested in learning more about this amazing .ORG check out https://pir.org/for-orgs/org-in-action/riding-the-warm-current-surfing-toward-community-confidence-and-conservation/ to learn more.