Sanibel Sea School is honored to have been awarded a $4,000 grant from the Zonta Foundation of Southwest Florida and the Zonta Club of Sanibel-Captiva. The 2026 Empowerment Grant program supports initiatives that advance training and education for women and girls, helping them build the skills, confidence, and independence needed to claim their rights and thrive as individuals.

This grant will directly support Wahine Toa, Sanibel Sea School’s all-female-led paddleboarding adventure camp for girls ages 13–17. Named after a Polynesian phrase meaning “a strong, brave, or valiant woman,” Wahine Toa is intentionally designed to empower young women during a pivotal stage of adolescence when confidence can waver and opportunities for leadership, especially in outdoor spaces, are often limited.

Over the course of a week, campers build paddleboarding skills, learn urban life skills, earn CPR and First Aid certification, and complete an overnight camping trip on an uninhabited island. The experience culminates in a powerful final challenge: an epic paddle of just over six miles from a small island in San Carlos Bay to Fort Myers Beach. Campers prepare all week for that moment, celebrating their accomplishment together with a well-earned lunch at Doc Ford’s.

“Wahine Toa provides a supportive, female-led environment where girls can challenge stereotypes, take healthy risks, and discover their inner strength without comparison or intimidation,” says Sanibel Sea School Director Shannon Rivard.

Participants come from diverse backgrounds within our community, including many who have never had the opportunity to try activities like paddleboarding, camping, or safety training. What unites them is a shared desire for belonging and adventure, with one another and with the ocean.

The grant funds will help cover the cost of staff training and certifications, program supplies and equipment, transportation, and need-based scholarships. While tuition provides a consistent foundation of support, it does not fully cover the true operational cost. External funding, such as the Empowerment Grant, is essential to ensuring Wahine Toa remains high-quality and accessible for families.

“Sanibel Sea School is deeply grateful to the Zonta Foundation of SWFL and the Zonta Club of Sanibel-Captiva for investing in the next generation of strong, confident young women,” adds Rivard. “Through this support, Wahine Toa will continue to empower girls to see themselves as capable leaders on the water, in their communities, and beyond.”

Wahine Toa will take place this summer from June 22 – 26. Learn more about our summer camp offerings here: https://sanibelseaschool.org/programs/camps/