Bronx Skate Scouts

I am a lifelong skateboarder and educator in the Bronx. I have teamed up with three friends—Ricardo, Luis, and Adrian—to create an afterschool skateboarding program. We have recruited students from the school where I teach, as well as from another local neighborhood school.

Our program will take place at a local skatepark in the Bronx, just two blocks away from the school, two days per week from 3-5 PM. Our goal is to encourage students to develop a love for skateboarding while building important life skills such as perseverance and resilience, community and social skills, and staying active as a means to improve mental health.

The program will occur on a seasonal basis - the first season will include twice per week sessions until Thanksgiving Break. Each session, students will be exposed to a new lesson to develop their skills - pushing, what a stance is, how to ride a board, how to ride down a ramp, and more. As students master skills, they will get a badge to put on their skate scouts t-shirt. Our hope is to eventually expand the program across the Bronx and NYC, and to expand into free summer camp programs for the youth.

Currently, we have a location to do the program, students who are interested in participating, and a dedicated team who will lead the program. We are looking to get funding to purchase around 15 skateboards, and 15 helmets for the students.

In an era where our youth are increasingly spending more of their childhood on their phones, we believe it is our duty to foster a love for skateboarding and being outdoors exploring the city. We hope this program will not only enhance students' academic performance but also improve their mental health and overall well-being.