First Push Syndicate, established in 2021, hit the ground running with a singular mission: to put skateboards in the hands of as many kids as possible.
Through our flagship initiative, the Get On Board program, we've worked to integrate skateboarding into physical education (PE) classes, aligning with the principles of Meaningful Physical Education (MPE) to inspire a lifelong love for physical activity in students across the country.
The beginnings of Get On Board trace back to 2010 when the program was first launched by Beau Lambert, then general manager of Rye Airfield.
What began as a local initiative in New England has now grown into a robust educational movement.
Even after Rye Airfield closed its doors in December 2020, the program gained new life through a unique partnership with schools and PE classes.
Since then, Get On Board has reached over 50,000 students, providing them with an opportunity to learn skateboarding while developing essential motor and social skills.
In 2023 alone, we logged 22,693 student learning hours.
These numbers reflect the immense potential skateboarding has to engage kids and enrich their social, emotional, and physical experience.
Our approach to physical education aligns closely with the principles of MPE, which emphasize personal relevance, social interaction, and delight in movement.
Gear Grants Available
Skateboarding naturally lends itself to these concepts.
The creativity and individuality inherent in skateboarding foster personal expression and lifelong enjoyment of physical activity while also promoting social bonds as students learn and improve together.
Through MPE, we aim to make skateboarding a gateway for students to connect with physical activity in a meaningful and lasting way.
Thanks to an external grant received in the summer of 2024, First Push Syndicate is now poised to take Get On Board to the national stage.
Our new initiative, the Gear Grant, allows us to provide public (traditional and charter) schools across the United States with the equipment necessary to launch skateboarding programs at no cost to teachers or schools.
Each Gear Grant includes a "gear pod" containing skateboards, helmets, and protective pads, ensuring students have everything they need to learn safely.
In addition to gear, grant winners will get training and ongoing support to help ensure an easy implementation into their PE curriculum.
The Gear Grant offers a game-changing opportunity for schools, districts, and individual PE teachers to bring skateboarding into their communities.
PE teachers interested in learning more or applying can do so by visiting our website, firstpush.org, under the Get On Board tab.
The deadline to apply is January 1, 2025.
Words by Zach Steere | Media Coordinator at First Push Syndicate