The Power of One Thing: Why Our 2026 Surf-A-Thon Has a Single Focus

For a long time, when people asked what Bodhi Surf + Yoga gave back to the community, the honest answer was: a lot of things…

Environmental projects. Youth programs. Local needs that came up. Opportunities where someone asked for help and it felt right to say yes.

None of it was wrong. All of it came from good intentions.

But over time, we started to feel uneasy – not because we weren’t doing enough, but because we weren’t being clear about what specifically we were responsible for. If someone asked where our impact dollars went, we’d have to list several things. If a guest wanted to learn more, the explanation got complicated. And if we asked ourselves what would still matter five or ten years from now, we weren’t sure how to answer. Impact work carries weight. Not just to help, but to help well. 

So we made a decision that felt uncomfortable at first. We chose one thing.

Why We Chose the Reef

We narrowed our focus to coral reef restoration, not because other needs disappeared, but because this one sits at the center of the place we call home. The reefs support marine life. The marine life sustains the Marino Ballena National Park. The park sustains the community around us.

For those of us learning to surf, the reef is not just a beautiful backdrop. It shapes the break, protects the coast, and supports the living ecosystem beneath the waves. When the reef suffers, everything above it is affected, too. Standing up for the surf means standing up for what lives beneath it.

Once we made that choice, things changed.

Our traveler philanthropy stopped being abstract. Guests weren’t choosing between causes – they were meeting the people doing the work. Visiting the coral reef lab. Asking real questions. Seeing the impact up close.

Our support stopped being scattered. It became steady. Reliable. Guests matched donations more often. So much so, the greater support has been enough for someone on our team to build a life and career around protecting this beautiful corner of Costa Rica.

The Power of One Thing

When you choose one thing to do, you can’t hide behind good intentions. You have to stay involved. You have to listen. You have to be willing to adjust when things aren’t working.

This shift reshaped what it means for us to be a B Corp and a responsible business. We realized true impact isn’t about doing everything; it’s about deep, sustainable commitment to the ecosystem that sustains us. It’s easy to spread yourself thin in the name of helping. It’s harder to commit – fully, to one responsibility and carry it forward over time.

But that’s what this work asks of us. Not to fix everything. But to do right by something – one thing.

A Year-Round Commitment for Every Guest

While the Surf-A-Thon is our biggest single day of action, our commitment to the reef isn’t just a once-a-year event. It is woven into every single week of our season. You don’t have to be in Costa Rica on June 21st to be part of this movement. Through our Traveler’s Philanthropy Program, a portion of every Bodhi Session fee ($20 per full-paying guest) goes directly to Costa Rica Coral Restoration’s (CRCR) coral farming and restoration efforts. 

Furthermore, year-round guests have the unique opportunity to visit the CRCR lab during their stay. You can see the micro-fragmentation process up close, meet the scientists, and witness the coral nurseries in action. For many of our guests, stepping out of the surf and into the lab to see the tangible results of their visit is the most profound ‘Pura Vida’ moment of their entire vacation.

Smile Above. Restore Below.

This is why the 2026 Surf-A-Thon: Smile Above. Restore Below. exists. It is our community’s day to rally behind this single, vital responsibility.

On June 21, we paddle alongside our partners in conservation and education for the living ocean we call home. Every wave, every smile, and every moment we share connects us to the life beneath the break.

This campaign helps equip the lab for the future of coral restoration, research, and education. When you donate, your support goes directly toward:

• Research & Lab Capacity: Funding vital equipment for coral monitoring, health assessments, restoration trials, and research-quality data collection.
• Hands-On Education & Community Participation: Providing learning tools and restoration materials that help students, local community members, and visitors see coral up close and take part responsibly.

Join the Surf-A-Thon 2026

However you show up – by paddling, donating, sharing, or cheering from the sand – you become part of the work.

The Details:

• When: Sunday, June 21, 2026 | 7:00–11:00 AM
• Where: Playa Chaman entrance, Marino Ballena National Park
• Who: Everyone is welcome. Paddle out, come to the beach, donate, share, or support however you can.

[DONATE TO THE 2026 SURF-A-THON HERE]

(Click here to securely fund Costa Rica Coral Restoration via our official donation portal)

Take the Challenge!

Help us spread the word from wherever you are in the world. Post a photo or short video of you by the ocean, make a donation using the link above, and challenge someone else to join. Just copy and paste this caption:

“We’re taking the Smile Above. Restore Below. Challenge to support Costa Rica Coral Restoration. We’re donating, sharing, and challenging @_____ to do the same! #SurfAThon #CostaRicaCoralRestoration

(If your organization would like to support this work as a sponsor, we would love to connect. Join us in standing with the reefs, the community, and the next generation of ocean guardians. Reach out to [email protected]or use our contact page).

Frequently Asked Questions about the Surf-A-Thon 2026

What is the Surf-A-Thon?

The Surf-A-Thon Smile Above. Restore Below.  is an annual community event. This year we have teamed with Costa Rica Coral Restoration in Uvita, Costa Rica. The 2026 event is 100% dedicated to raising funds and awareness for coral reef restoration within the Marino Ballena National Park. Participants gather to surf, celebrate the ocean, and support vital marine conservation efforts alongside Costa Rica Coral Restoration.

How does my Bodhi Session vacation fund the reef?

You don’t have to attend the Surf-A-Thon to make a difference! Through our Traveler’s Philanthropy Program, $20 from every full-paying guest’s Bodhi Session goes directly toward Costa Rica Coral Restoration. Guests also have the opportunity to visit the coral lab in person during their retreat to see the conservation work in action.

How can I participate if I am not in Costa Rica?

You can participate globally by taking the “Smile Above. Restore Below. Challenge.” Simply post a photo or video of yourself, whether near the water or not, make a direct donation using the link Smile Above. Restore Below. And don’t forget to use the hashtag #BodhiSurfAThon, and tag a friend to challenge them to do the same!