It is our Earn Your Stripes system, combining skateboarding progression with core life principles.
I CAN
Skateboarding lessons for kids & beginners in Toledo
Designed for first-time riders, beginners, and youth who need a positive environment
Our program is designed for kids ages 6–17, first-time riders, beginners learning how to skateboard, and youth looking for a positive, structured environment. If you’ve been searching for skateboarding lessons near me, skateboard lessons near me, or skateboarding classes near me, this is a local, trusted program built for Toledo families.
- Kids ages 6–17
- First-time riders and beginners
- Youth looking for a positive, structured environment
- Families who want free local access to skateboarding lessons
What makes our skateboarding program different
A principle-based youth program addressing inequity through skateboarding
We are a principle-based youth program addressing cultural and economic inequities through skateboarding. Our focus is long-term change through practice, support, and structure that helps students keep growing.
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Mental & Physical Wellness Skateboarding builds balance, coordination, stress relief, and confidence.
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Safe Skateable Spaces We actively create and maintain environments where kids feel safe learning and progressing.
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Social & Emotional Growth Resilience, patience, inclusion, and self-expression grow naturally through repetition and support.
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Structured Opportunity A trusted local program for youth looking for consistency, encouragement, and room to progress.
Our curriculum: Earn Your Stripes
Earn Your Stripes
Our program follows a structured progression called Earn Your Stripes (EYS)—a step-by-step system that teaches both skateboarding and life skills. Students advance by earning colored grip tape stripes tied to the principles of courage, commitment, consistency, and confidence.
Each level builds both skill and mindset through real challenges, trial and error, and perseverance that carry far beyond the skatepark.
Curriculum breakdown
Expandable sections
Students overcome fear while learning the absolute basics.
They build their skateboard, learn safety and proper falling techniques, explore skatepark design ideas, and create custom grip tape designs.
Skills learned: stance awareness, pushing and riding, turning and control, tail stops, and 180° power slides.
They build their skateboard, learn safety and proper falling techniques, explore skatepark design ideas, and create custom grip tape designs.
Skills learned: stance awareness, pushing and riding, turning and control, tail stops, and 180° power slides.
Students begin mastering the Ollie, the foundation of most tricks.
This phase teaches repetition, dedication, and how progress is built through committed practice.
Skills learned: ollies and variations including fakie, frontside, backside, switch, nollie, plus 180s and half cabs.
This phase teaches repetition, dedication, and how progress is built through committed practice.
Skills learned: ollies and variations including fakie, frontside, backside, switch, nollie, plus 180s and half cabs.
Students begin manipulating the board independently.
This phase reinforces persistence and the discipline to keep trying through frustration and failure.
Skills learned: frontside and backside shove-its, fakie, switch, nollie variations, and pop shove-its.
This phase reinforces persistence and the discipline to keep trying through frustration and failure.
Skills learned: frontside and backside shove-its, fakie, switch, nollie variations, and pop shove-its.
Students learn advanced flip tricks and build real self-belief.
Clear stripe students begin to recognize that they can handle challenge, recovery, and continued growth.
Skills learned: kickflips, heelflips, and fakie, switch, and nollie variations.
Clear stripe students begin to recognize that they can handle challenge, recovery, and continued growth.
Skills learned: kickflips, heelflips, and fakie, switch, and nollie variations.
Students who complete the program become mentors for newer students and receive a brand-new professional skateboard.
Graduation means more than a finished curriculum—it means visible progress, real pride, and proof that consistency changes what feels possible.
Graduation means more than a finished curriculum—it means visible progress, real pride, and proof that consistency changes what feels possible.
Ready to start your journey?
Sign Up NowBeyond the board
STEM / STEAM Programs
We introduce integrated STEAM and STEM curriculum for students ages 10–17. Students build their own skateboards, learn how parks are designed using CAD, design skate apparel, and market the program through social media. As they grow, skateboarding becomes a doorway into teamwork, problem-solving, entrepreneurship, and self-reliance.
The dye grip pathways
Career-connected skills
- Videography & editing
- Marketing / branding / social media
- Graphic design (apparel)
- CAD design (ramps & parks)
- Engineering / constructing ramps
- Entrepreneur opportunities
How our skateboarding lessons work
Warm-up, skill progression, coaching, practice, and community
A typical session includes warm-up and fundamentals, skill progression training, one-on-one coaching, practice and encouragement, and community building. We keep group sizes manageable to ensure every student gets real attention.
- Warm-up and fundamentals
- Skill progression training
- One-on-one coaching
- Practice plus encouragement
- Community building and accountability
Where are the lessons held?
Frederick Douglass Center in Toledo, Ohio
Our skateboarding classes near Toledo take place at the Frederick Douglass Center. It is a trusted local location for families searching for skateboarding lessons near me in the Toledo area.
Frederick Douglass Center
Toledo, Ohio
Free lessons
About The On-Deck Alliance
Founded by Joshua Cunningham to empower youth through skateboarding and mentorship
Founded by Joshua Cunningham, the On-Deck Alliance is committed to empowering youth through skateboarding and mentorship. Our coaches are passionate about helping the next generation build confidence, discipline, and life skills.
Frequently asked questions
What families usually want to know
We teach step by step, starting with balance, safety, and riding basics before moving toward tricks and progression.
Yes. The current program is for youth ages 6–17.
We meet through the Frederick Douglass Center in Toledo, Ohio.
Use the signup form below to get started and our team will follow up with next steps.
We keep groups structured and manageable to ensure individual attention and support.
Ready to start?
Sign up for free Toledo skateboarding lessons
Give your child the opportunity to learn, grow, and build confidence through our free Toledo skateboarding lessons. Beginners are welcome, equipment support is available, and every session is designed to help students progress.
Ages 6–17
Beginners welcome
Toledo youth