Meet Elizabeth Royster, founder of Shred Love.
What is the mission of Shred Love?
Shred Love teaches inner city and at-risk youth life lessons and values through snowboarding. Our program serves youth ages 8-18, providing them with everything necessary to enjoy snowboarding; transportation, lessons, lift tickets, gear, rental equipment, and food at no cost to them.
We currently serve youth from Jersey City, Bayonne, Willingboro, Delran, Trenton, and New York. For the 2011 – 2012 season, we are looking to serve youth from Newark, New Jersey and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania as well.
How did you get involved?
I founded Shred Love to expose more inner city and at-risk youth to winter sports and offer them guidance on setting goals and being their personal best. I felt that snowboarding was perfect because it requires a lot of dedication, courage, and offered an escape to city life.
For most of our students, our trip(s) to the mountain is the only traveling they do all year. Our time on the slopes gives everyone the opportunity to detach from their problems, hang ups, and issues and enjoy winter, teamwork, falling, landing a new trick, linking turns, or simply making it down without falling. These small accomplishments lay the foundation for tackling other challenges in the student’s life, since the same basic principles can be applied.
Shred Love makes mentoring fun, giving both the mentor and the student the opportunity to switch roles and learn from one another.
What kinds of activities do you do?
Our core curriculum is a 4 day learn-to-ride program, hosted at Windham Mountain. As a part of SOS Outreach’s Recreation Outdoor Initiative, each day of our program, we focus on a specific core value – Courage, Discipline, Integrity, Wisdom, and Compassion. We teach our students how these values can be applied to both the slopes and everyday life.
We also offer day trips to other youth-based organizations, again focusing on our core values. For our day trips, we visit local mountains in New Jersey, such as Hidden Valley Club and Mountain Creek, both in Vernon, New Jersey.
These trips offer the youth an escape from it all and a chance to see life outside of their neighborhood. In most instances, it’s the first time the students have ventured out of their communities.
Do these kids look ready to tackle this mountain? With Shred Love, they are more than ready!
Does Shred Love have any upcoming events or announcements?
We are currently planning our fundraiser events for the upcoming season, which will include bowling, our annual dinner, and possibly a summer outing, since Shred Love turns 2 on June 27!
Visit us at www.shredlove.org and subscribe to our newsletter to stay informed of upcoming events.
How can people support Shred Love or get involved themselves?
Shred Love – www.shredlove.org
To pre-register for our 2011-2012 season, send an email to info@shredlove.org. In the email, include the student’s name, age, date of birth, and guardian’s contact information.
We also work with other youth-based organizations. If you would like to schedule a day of snowboarding for the youth in your organization, please email us at info@shredlove.org.
To volunteer as a mentor, event planner, or volunteer any special skills and/or services you may have, please email us at volunteer@shredlove.org.
To make a monetary donation, please visit our website: http://shredlove.org/get-involved .
To donate in-kind products or services, email us at donate@shredlove.org. We can arrange to pick up donations, if necessary.
Don’t forget to follow us on Twitter – @shredlove_np and friend us at Facebook – http://www.facebook.com/people/Shred-Love/100000024597203
If you could change one thing in the world, what would that be?
Preconceived notions – I think it’s the most crippling thing ever, yet the easiest to change. We often times limit ourselves based on prejudices, thinking we have to think, behavior, and live a certain way because of our color, size, education, financial status, etc. People don’t allow themselves to experience life, learning what they like and dislike based off of their own experiences. We never really get to experience life first hand because of our own prejudices and preconceived notions.
The easiest way to break this is to live life in the moment. For one day, try to accept each experience for what it is, with no expectations. Allow yourself the space and freedom to enjoy life and all that it has to offer, regardless of what others say.
The Shred Love Crew.
Do you have any favorite action sports shops or businesses in your area?
Snowboard Addiction
Use ""shredlove"" to receive a 20% percent discount on your purchase and Snowboard Addiction will donate 10% of your purchase to Shred Love!
Aratik USA Board Sports Trainer
Windham Mountain
Windham, NY
Hidden Valley Club
Vernon, NJ
Mountain Creek
Vernon, NJ
Nine Lives Skateshop
298 Newark Avenue
Jersey City, NJ 07302
(201) 610-0200
Classic Skate Shop
776 Broadway
Bayonne, NJ 07002
(201) 243-0400
Tell us about your secret other life…
I’m a secret agent for the FBI… no just kidding, lol! I’m a 34 year old, single mother of three – Shanelle 18, Savion 11, and Tyson 7. I also take care of our extended family – Pebbles, our pug, Slim Thug, our turtle, King Blaze, the hamster, and the fish. During the day I test software for a financial firm in Jersey City. At night, I work on all things related to Shred Love, workout, make ice cream, knit, dance, paint, draw, sing (off key), and go for long bike rides with my family. I’m a Big Sister to Monique, as a part of the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Hudson, Essex and Union counties.
In the warmer seasons, you can catch me at the beach or at bbqs with family and friends. In the winter, you know where I’ll be – snowboarding!
