In July, the Santa Cruz community pauses to remember and celebrate the life of a visionary whose impact continues to ripple through our waters, classrooms and hearts. Jack O’Neill — surfer, inventor, conservationist and beloved community member — passed away in 2017 at the age of 94. Yet his legacy is very much alive, etched into the many aspects of our lives along the coast.

Best known as the man who helped revolutionize surfing, O’Neill didn’t just change the sport — he reshaped how people across the globe connect with the ocean. But beyond the waves, O’Neill was something more: an adventurer fueled by curiosity, a preservationist who revered nature and innovator whose motto, “Be good to the ocean, and the ocean will always be good to you,” still guides new generations today.

Following his passing, the Santa Cruz surfing community honored him in the way he would have loved most: with a paddle out along Pleasure Point. Since then, July 9 has become an annual day of remembrance, not only to reflect on his many accomplishments, but to be inspired by the example he set — an example rooted in passion, generosity and responsibility.

O’Neill’s life was inseparable from the ocean. When he needed inspiration, he could often be found floating in the kelp beds near Pleasure Point, immersed in the environment that fueled his ideas. One of those ideas was the creation of the O’Neill Sea Odyssey, an ocean-based education program that has served over 131,000 students since its founding. O’Neill Sea Odyssey was born from O’Neill’s desire to pass on his deep love for the sea to the next generation — and to empower young people as stewards of the planet.

What makes O’Neill Sea Odyssey especially unique is its commitment to civic environmentalism — an educational approach that goes beyond classroom learning. Civic environmentalism empowers students to engage in real-world problem-solving, work collaboratively with adults and drive change in their own communities. It’s not just about recycling or picking up trash — it’s about fostering a sense of agency and commitment to the long-term health of our ecosystems.

A key part of O’Neill Sea Odyssey’s curriculum is the Student Action Project, where students take what they’ve learned aboard the program’s 65-foot catamaran and apply it to projects that benefit their neighborhoods, schools or local environments. This past academic year, more than 170 student groups participated. Some wrote letters to city officials or

created educational posters and podcasts; others led cleanup efforts in parks, schoolyards and beaches.

Their impact was both tangible and transformative. One teacher shared, “Even living next to the ocean, students don’t often think about their role in conservation. The field trip and Student Action Project opened their eyes to a world bigger than themselves.” Another noted, “Students really gained insight on how much trash they throw on the ground. By making them aware of the garbage, we saw how they began picking up after themselves and others. They were shocked at the amount of trash they collected.”

These moments — when young people realize their power to create change — are the heartbeat of O’Neill’s legacy.

This month, we invite the entire Santa Cruz community to honor that legacy by participating in Plastic Free July, a local movement that encourages people to reduce single-use plastics in their daily lives. Locally, Waste Free Santa Cruz is leading efforts to inspire change and encouraging members of the community to make small changes that can lead to big impacts. Whether it’s saying no to plastic bags, packing reusable containers or simply picking up litter on your walk to the beach, every small act matters.

O’Neill lived by and for the ocean. He understood its power to heal, to bring joy, to teach — and to demand care. He was deeply concerned about the health of our local beaches and watersheds, and he spent his life ensuring that others could access and protect those spaces.

So this July, take a moment to do something in O’Neill’s honor. Pick up a piece of litter. Educate a child about the ocean. Take part in a beach cleanup. Bring a coffee cup next time you go out for coffee. Visit the beach and let yourself be inspired. The ocean O’Neill loved still needs our help — and each of us has a role to play in safeguarding it for future generations.

Let’s continue the work he started. Let’s be good to our ocean backyard.

Tracey Weiss is the executive director of the O’Neill Sea Odyssey. She is working to support the residents of Santa Cruz County with the information that allows them to connect, impact and understand the ocean ecosystem and the regional environment we call home. She can be reached at osoexecdirector@oneillseaodyssey.org.