Our Story
The SUPKids story starts in 2014, in Far North Queensland, Australia where we ran our very first program. We worked alongside the Royal Flying Doctor Service to deliver a SUPKids programs to an indigenous community just north of Cairns.
One program turned into two, then three … then a tour of Cape York, delivering vital water safety & environmental education to the very most remote communities, testing our inflatable SUP’s (and four wheel driving skills) to the very limit!
In 2015 we travelled to Thailand to hang out with the Starboard team and give them an opportunity to experience SUPKids for themselves. We realised our intentions were aligned; to enable kids to learn to SUP in a safe manner, whilst exploring their environment and becoming ambassadors for their planet.
Since that awesome trip, we’ve been training SUP coaches how to teach our program and setting up SUPKids Schools around the world.
Linzi Hawkin - SUPKids Founder
Linzi Hawkin is the Founder of SUPKids. Her work lies at the intersection of sustainability & creativity, and she’s passionate about finding innovative ways to create impact.
She’s also Co-Founder & Brand Strategist at Protect Blue. Her love for all things ocean & outdoors has not only defined the path she’s walked in life, but also the methodology she’s created for her work. Removing people from screens, boardrooms & aircon and plugging them into nature to spark curiosity and remind them why their work matters.
With a focus on the triple bottom line business model and trained in social impact analysis, design thinking & branding, Linzi is committed to working with purpose driven organisations and showing businesses how to become a force for good.
From teaching kids to surf, to running eco music festivals and working for the government in environmental awareness - the first ten years of her career were dedicated to creating memorable experiences that connect communities to the importance of nature.
She’s designed award-winning environmental education curriculum with a focus on experiential nature based learning and is dedicated to reframing the language we use and the approach we take in catalysing pro-ecological behaviour. Simply put - Keep it simple, keep it playful and make sure it means something.
Read more here : www.protect.blue and www.linzihawkin.com
Starboard
Since 2017 Starboard has grown their focus on social and environmental projects to protect the oceans that we love to enjoy and immerse ourselves in. Over this time they’ve planted 500,000 mangrove trees in Thor Heyerdahl Climate Park with Worldview International Foundation. Starboard calculated and released their first carbon footprint report, and with the help of Plastic Disclosure Project they established the first-ever Plastic Offset Program.
In 2018 Starboard became a certified B-Corp company. These strict standards allow them to ensure they are creating a positive impact for all employees, the community around them and of course, the environment. Overall, using business as a force for good.
Starboard continues to build high-performance eco-boards, reduce and absorbing more CO2 emissions by planting mangrove trees, reduce plastic usage and retrieve marine litter, all to develop our #DeepBlue life together with you in mind!
Read more here : www.blue.star-board.com