Surf the Earth, Support the Mission

Subscribe to get notified about new events!

Surf the Earth Mental Health Community

Surf the Earth Mental Health Community fosters connection and normalizes mental health discussions. Through events and workshops, we create safe spaces for individuals to seek help and support, ensuring our programs remain free and accessible to all.

Enter the Burton Pow Surfing Drawing 🏂🌊 and stand with Surf the Earth Mental Health Community in honoring Ali&rsquo;s legacy. Your entry helps raise real, local support for mental health awareness and honest conversations around grief, stigma, and healing. Every ticket fuels our work&mdash;from MindAlign meetups and Shred the Stigma events to our Community Kindness Garden. Thank you for showing up for yourself, for others, and for a community where mental health is seen, heard, and embraced.

Burton Pow Surfing Drawing

Shred the Stigma 2026

Shred the Stigma 2026 - Silent Auction Item

Our Mission Surf the Earth Mental Health Community exists to spread kindness and shred the stigma of mental illness, one kindness at a time. Through art, connection, and honest conversation, we&#39;re building a community rooted in kindness and compassion across Charlevoix and Emmet counties. About The Kindness Gardens Our Kindness Gardens are welcoming spaces where anyone can pause, take a painted kindness rock, leave one behind, and be reminded of one simple message: you matter. Our Growing Gardens<ul fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;"><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Boyne District Library: Our first Kindness Garden is now complete at the entrance of the library&#39;s community room. It features local artwork, a mural, sculptural elements, and a river of kindness made with community input.</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Inspiring Inner Growth Yoga, Petoskey: A Kindness Garden now welcomes visitors in Petoskey.</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">North Central Michigan College: A Kindness Garden created in collaboration with the college.</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Boyne City High School (coming soon!): Students in the wood shop class drafted the design for an indoor garden box that will sit right inside the school&#39;s entryway, where everyone can enjoy messages of kindness each day. Phase 1 begins October 16, when we&#39;ll put it together alongside students during their service day.</li></ul>Why It Matters for Charlevoix and Emmet Counties These gardens are for our neighbors across northern Michigan. For the kid visiting the library with their parent. For the high school student heading to class on a tough morning. For the college student far from home. For the person stepping into a yoga class looking for calm. For the visitor passing through our towns. For anyone having a hard day who needs a reason to pause. Here in northern Michigan, long winters, small towns, and miles between neighbors can make it easy to feel alone, and support isn&#39;t always close by. Each garden is a visible, everyday reminder that our communities show up for one another. Together, they connect our two counties with one simple message: you matter, and you&#39;re not alone. How You Can Help Each garden needs care to keep growing. We&#39;re looking for help with:<ul fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;"><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Supplies for the high school garden, including river rock for the base of the bed and decorative pieces to make it a calm, welcoming space</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Signage for each garden, including resources for anyone who may need support</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Ongoing upkeep and fresh supplies for all of our Kindness Gardens</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Community outreach to bring more people into the gardens and the conversation</li></ul>Create Your Ripple Every contribution is a ripple, and ripples reach further than you think. Your gift helps fund the materials, artwork, signage, and upkeep that keep these gardens growing, plus the programming that grows alongside them. Help us build something rooted, visible, and lasting across Charlevoix and Emmet counties. Thank you for being part of it.

Our MissionSurf the Earth Mental Health Community exists to spread kindness and shred the stigma of mental illness, one kindness at a time. Through art, connection, and honest conversation, we're building a community rooted in kindness and compassion across Charlevoix and Emmet counties.About The Kindness GardensOur Kindness Gardens are welcoming spaces where anyone can pause, take a painted kindness rock, leave one behind, and be reminded of one simple message: you matter.Our Growing GardensBoyne District Library: Our first Kindness Garden is now complete at the entrance of the library's community room. It features local artwork, a mural, sculptural elements, and a river of kindness made with community input.Inspiring Inner Growth Yoga, Petoskey: A Kindness Garden now welcomes visitors in Petoskey.North Central Michigan College: A Kindness Garden created in collaboration with the college.Boyne City High School (coming soon!): Students in the wood shop class drafted the design for an indoor garden box that will sit right inside the school's entryway, where everyone can enjoy messages of kindness each day. Phase 1 begins October 16, when we'll put it together alongside students during their service day.Why It Matters for Charlevoix and Emmet CountiesThese gardens are for our neighbors across northern Michigan. For the kid visiting the library with their parent. For the high school student heading to class on a tough morning. For the college student far from home. For the person stepping into a yoga class looking for calm. For the visitor passing through our towns. For anyone having a hard day who needs a reason to pause.Here in northern Michigan, long winters, small towns, and miles between neighbors can make it easy to feel alone, and support isn't always close by. Each garden is a visible, everyday reminder that our communities show up for one another. Together, they connect our two counties with one simple message: you matter, and you're not alone.How You Can HelpEach garden needs care to keep growing. We're looking for help with:Supplies for the high school garden, including river rock for the base of the bed and decorative pieces to make it a calm, welcoming spaceSignage for each garden, including resources for anyone who may need supportOngoing upkeep and fresh supplies for all of our Kindness GardensCommunity outreach to bring more people into the gardens and the conversationCreate Your RippleEvery contribution is a ripple, and ripples reach further than you think. Your gift helps fund the materials, artwork, signage, and upkeep that keep these gardens growing, plus the programming that grows alongside them.Help us build something rooted, visible, and lasting across Charlevoix and Emmet counties.Thank you for being part of it.

Surf the Earth Mental Health Community

Surf the Earth Mental Health Community

Past events

Past events

View event

Burton Pow Surfing Drawing

More ways to support us

Learn more

Shred the Stigma 2026

Donate now

Shred the Stigma 2026 - Silent Auction Item

Donate now

Community Kindness Garden

Powered by

.css-1t4i7sy a{color:inherit;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}.css-1t4i7sy a:hover{-webkit-text-decoration:underline;text-decoration:underline;text-decoration-color:hsl(36, 0%, 100%);}Surf the Earth Mental Health Community

Past events

Past events

View event

Burton Pow Surfing Drawing

More ways to support us

Learn more

Shred the Stigma 2026

Donate now

Shred the Stigma 2026 - Silent Auction Item

Donate now

Community Kindness Garden

Powered by

Surf the Earth Mental Health Community