Girls on Boards

What Girls on Boards does

Girls on Boards is a registered Canadian non-profit organization founded in 2017 by Mia Lockhart and headquartered in Halifax, Nova Scotia. The organization delivers body-confidence and self-love programming by combining board sports instruction (Stand Up Paddle Boarding, skateboarding, snowboarding, surfing) with facilitated vulnerable conversations for girls and youth ages 8-18. Core delivery is executed through a distributed licensed provider network of women trained and certified via the Girls on Boards Leadership Program, operating in 12+ communities across Canada (Nova Scotia, BC, New Brunswick, Ontario), Scotland, and Wisconsin, with municipality partnerships for insurance coverage on skateboarding programs.

The underlying technology stack is composed entirely of third-party SaaS tools rather than proprietary systems: Peek.com for event booking, Square for payments and merchandise e-commerce, SamCart for the Certified Leader Training course platform, Eventbrite for women's retreat listings, and a Strikingly-hosted website. The proprietary asset is the Girls on Boards Leadership Training Curriculum itself — an online group training program covering mission, facilitation, administration, marketing, funding, partnerships, and recertification, delivered with ongoing grant resources and provider community support. The Licensed Provider certification seal functions as the primary brand-licensing mechanism.

Revenue is generated across six streams: youth program fees, women's retreats (private group bookings that sponsor teen retreats), international Women's SUP Adventures (e.g., Belize at $2,350 CAD per person via Island Expeditions), Certified Leader Training fees, merchandise sales through Square, and tax-deductible donations. The organization is supplemented by sponsorships including Canadian Tire Jumpstart and operates with approximately three core team members (Founder Mia Lockhart, Co-Director Rosalind, Program Leader Rebecca) plus the distributed licensed provider network. Customer segments span youth participants, adult women, certified provider leaders, municipalities, and donors.

Name

Girls on Boards

Legal name

Girls on Boards

Website

https://girlsonboards.co

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Girls on Boards is a Canadian non-profit running board-sport programs (SUP, skate, snow, surf) for girls aged 8-18, paired with body-confidence conversations, delivered through a network of licensed provider leaders across Canada, Scotland, and Wisconsin, supplemented by adult women's retreats and certification training.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Outdoor Recreation and Wellness Programs

NAICS

Sports and Recreation Instruction (61162)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Adventure Multi-Sport Camps & Skills Academies (THAAAKAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

Surf Schools & Surf Camps (THAAAKAC), Ski & Snowboard Schools (Instruction & Coaching) (THAAAJAC), Water & Marine Guiding Services (Kayak, Canoe, Raft, SUP, Sailing) (THAAALAB)

Keywords

• Youth recreation programs
• Board sport instruction
• Stand up paddle boarding
• Women empowerment retreats
• Community nonprofit sports

Headquarters

HQ city

Halifax

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. Youth Board Sport Programs: Stand Up Paddle Boarding, Skateboarding, Surfing & Snowboarding Experiences for Youth Ages 8-18. Revenue generated from program fees for youth participants.
2. Women's SUP Adventures: International SUP tours for women including the Belize Lodge-to-Lodge trip ($2,350 CAD per person). Revenue from trip fees, supporting local sustainable tourism while also sponsoring teen retreats.
3. Women's Private Retreats: Private paddle boarding retreats designed for growth and community. Bookings sponsor teen retreats.
4. Licensed Provider Training: Certification program for women to become Girls on Boards Leaders in their communities. Training fees charged for the leader certification program.
5. Merchandise Sales: T-shirts, stickers, wristbands, and merchandise sold through the online store. Licensed providers can order at group rates.
6. Donations: Tax-deductible donations supporting youth program costs. Donations go directly to costs associated with girls & teen programs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Girls on Boards delivers recreation empowerment programs combining instruction in stand up paddle boarding, skateboarding, snowboarding, and surfing with facilitated vulnerable conversations about body confidence and self-love, targeting girls and youth ages 8-18 and adult women. The organization also runs a Licensed Provider certification program that trains and certifies women to deliver these programs in their local communities, alongside women's SUP retreats, international SUP adventures, and branded merchandise.

Product overview

Girls on Boards is a registered non-profit organization offering a portfolio of recreation empowerment programs centered on board sports. The core offering consists of Board Sport Programs for Girls+ (SUP, Skate, Snow, Surf) targeting youth ages 8-18, combined with vulnerable conversations about body confidence. The flagship Licensed Provider Program trains and certifies leaders to deliver these programs in their own communities. Additional offerings include Women's SUP Adventures (international lodge-to-lodge trips), Women's SUP Retreats, Pay-It-Forward Tours for adults, and Certified Leader Training. The organization also operates a merchandise store. All offerings are designed to create empowering and accessible experiences through outdoor recreation and body-positive conversations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Board Sport Programs for Girls+ (SUP, Skate, Snow, Surf) Recreation empowerment programs teaching youth ages 8-18 stand up paddle boarding, skateboarding, surfing, and snowboarding combined with vulnerable conversations about body confidence and self-love, delivered by certified leaders across 12+ communities in Canada, USA, and Scotland.
• Women's International SUP Adventures International stand up paddle boarding trips for women featuring lodge-to-lodge experiences in destinations like Belize, combining SUP instruction, marine exploration, and body-positive conversations; priced at $2,350 CAD per person.
• Women's SUP Retreats Private group paddle boarding retreats designed to create growth and community experiences for adult women, with proceeds sponsoring teen retreats. Conversations cover confidence in body, life, relationships, and work.
• Pay-It-Forward Tours Adult SUP tours and lessons whose proceeds contribute to sponsoring youth program experiences.
• Girls on Boards Licensed Provider Program Leadership training and certification program that enables qualified individuals to become official Girls on Boards licensed providers for SUP, Snowboard, Surf, or Skateboard programs in their communities. Includes online group training, ongoing support, grant resources, and recertification requirements.
• Certified Leader Training Course Online group training course for aspiring Girls on Boards leaders covering mission and impact, program facilitation, administration, marketing, funding and grants, partnerships, business practices, and practical application. Delivered via SamCart with group rates available for municipality training.
• Girls on Boards Merchandise Store Online store selling T-shirts, stickers, wristbands, and merchandise featuring the Girls on Boards brand. Licensed providers can order at group rates.

Quantifiable outcome

• Founded in 2017, has run multiple youth programs annually across multiple sports and locations
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Island ExpeditionscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLeading adventure travel company operating in Belize for 30 years. Designs and guides the Belize SUP adventure trips, providing local expertise, accommodations, equipment, and certified Belizean guides for the international women's SUP tours.
• Paddle CanadacoreTechnology or IntegrationCertification body for SUP Advanced Flatwater Instructor Certification. Licensed providers must obtain SUP instructor certification through Paddle Canada or equivalent for insurance coverage purposes.
• Municipalities and Recreation DepartmentsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLocal government recreation departments partner with Girls on Boards for skateboard programs. Insurance coverage for skateboarding events typically comes through partnership with local municipality insurance rather than individual provider insurance.
• Sutherland Adventure CompanyminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartner organization in Sutherland, Scotland hosting Girls on Boards programming under licensed leader Beth Simco.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Adventure Women: Established women's adventure travel company offering active trips worldwide. Comparable to the Girls on Boards Women's SUP Adventures (e.g., Belize) as a women's adventure travel offering, though broader in activity mix.
• REI Co-op: Large outdoor recreation co-op running classes, events, and youth programs across North America. Overlaps with Girls on Boards on outdoor board-sport instruction and women's outdoor programming, but at significantly larger scale and broader portfolio.

Direct peers

• Outdoor Empowered: Youth-focused outdoor adventure programming, often led by certified local leaders. Comparable to Girls on Boards' licensed-leader approach for delivering outdoor recreation experiences to young participants.
• The Wahine Project: Non-profit that creates surfing opportunities and community for women and girls, including events and learn-to-surf programs. Closely parallels Girls on Boards' surf and women's empowerment track.
• Surf EmpowHer: Surf school and empowerment program for women and girls with a focus on confidence and community in the water. Mirrors Girls on Boards' blend of surf instruction with body-image and confidence conversation.
• Paddle Into Fitness: SUP instruction and fitness programs with a strong female participant base and certified instructor network. Directly comparable to Girls on Boards' SUP programming and licensed-instructor model.
• Skate Like a Girl: Non-profit organization that empowers girls, women and gender-expansive people through skateboarding. Closest mission-aligned peer to Girls on Boards' skateboarding track, combining board-sport instruction with empowerment programming for the same demographic.
• Brown Girl Surf: Surf instruction and community for women and girls of color, with a mission-driven emphasis on access and body confidence in the water. Comparable to Girls on Boards' surf and SUP programming in both activity and empowerment-led positioning.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/moregirlsonboards
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/we-are-girls-on-boards

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Girls on Boards