About MTC Surf
Questions and Answers
Answers before you arrive
Families and surf events
Who does MTC Surf serve?
MTC Surf hosts supported surf events for foster, adoptive, and kinship families and youth affected by trafficking. Current event pages show the region, date, location, availability, and registration status.
How much does an MTC Surf event cost?
MTC Surf events are free for participating families. A beach or parking facility may have its own parking rules or fees; check the individual event details before you travel.
How do I register my family?
Open Events, choose an event, and select Register when signup is open. One registration can include up to six children. An account is optional, but signing in saves registrations and status in your MTC Surf account.
What if a child is not a confident swimmer?
Tell MTC Surf the child's current swim ability during registration. Staff uses that information to plan support and will confirm whether the event can safely meet the child's needs. Contact the event lead before registering if you are unsure.
What should we expect on event day?
Your event details will explain arrival and check-in. Families can expect a welcoming beach team, equipment preparation, a supported surf experience, and a celebratory Tunnel of Honor sendoff.
Can I register more than one child?
Yes. Add each child to the same family registration. Capacity is tracked per child, so siblings may receive different confirmed or waitlisted results.
Accounts, forms, and privacy
Do I need an account to register?
No. You can register as a guest and receive a private status link. Signing in saves the registration in your MTC Surf account.
Which guardian forms will be required?
MTC Surf has supplied its 2026 liability waiver and photo/video release. Both forms open during registration. The liability waiver is required before participation; the signer must read and accept it for every participant in that registration, make one yes-or-no choice for the optional photo/video release, and sign once. Declining media permission does not affect participation. Acceptance and signature records are saved with the registration.
What happens if I decline the media release?
Declining the optional photo/video release does not affect participation. One unselected yes-or-no choice applies to the participants in that registration, and the shared signature applies to the media release only after an explicit yes.
Where can I see registration status?
Signed-in guardians can use their MTC Surf account. Guests can request a fresh private status link using the email entered during registration.
How is family and donor information protected?
Family and donor records are not displayed on public pages. Private screens require sign-in and check account, role, and family access on the server. Contact, donation, and form records are kept out of shared caches, and card details stay with Stripe when online payments are available. Registration and payment options appear only when MTC Surf has enabled them for the current site and event.
Volunteering and support
How do I become a volunteer?
Create or sign in to an MTC Surf account, submit one volunteer application, and track the review in your MTC Surf account. Approved volunteers receive Volunteer Hub access and may be assigned to events by MTC Surf staff.
Do volunteers need surfing experience?
No. Events need both water and beach support. Choose every role that fits your skills and comfort level; MTC Surf staff reviews role interests before approval and assignment.
How can I donate?
The Donate page is for one-time gifts and lets you add an optional tribute and decide whether to help cover the estimated processing cost. For monthly support, choose Surfers for Freedom. Card details are entered only on the secure payment provider's checkout and are never stored by MTC Surf.
Who should I contact?
Email elle@mtcsurf.org for family registration, volunteer, or general event help. Regional contact information also appears on event and registration pages.
Still have a question?
Elle can help you find the right next step.