Connect Skateboarding: Skateboard Program With J.V. Forrestal Elementary School

As a JVF Falcon alumni, bringing a 5-week school skateboard program to J.V. Forrestal Elementary was an incredible experience. We had the chance to give a group of amazing kindergarten and 1st graders an experience they will never forget.

To welcome our crew in, each child received a special welcome bag with some amazing gear including a fresh pair of shoes, thanks to Adidas Skateboarding.

The real creativity began when we handed out their blank skateboard decks. Each student became an artist, designing a one-of-a-kind graphic for the skateboard they would use throughout the program.

With the decks completed, week two rolled right into action. Everyone was so excited to finally see their complete skateboards and couldn't wait to get on them.

We geared everyone up with their helmets and pads and got straight into the fundamentals. We focused on the basics: finding their balance, learning how to stand on the board correctly, and taking those first tentative pushes. It was a week of smiles, and the first taste of that incredible feeling of skateboarding.

By week three, the progress was incredible. Students were getting more comfortable on their boards and building on the skills from the previous week. To wrap up things up, we ended with everyone's favorite game: skate limbo! It’s our favorite way to practice balance and board control without even realizing it. 

Week four was time for another custom project: tie-dyeing their very own JVF x Connect Skateboarding tee shirts.

 

Our final week had everyone skating with newfound confidence, and tackling small challenges with big smiles.

Wrapping up our amazing time together, each student got to take their complete, custom-designed skateboard home with them. Knowing they have all the tools to continue their skateboarding journey was so amazing.

We had such an incredible time, and this program wouldn't have been possible without the amazing support of Principal Sessoms-Wiggins. We want to send a major thank you for making this all happen. We are so grateful for the opportunity to spread our program into schools like JVF. We can't wait to be back!!

Check out our video recap HERE