The annual Sea Turtle Hospital Lobster Dinner Benefit and Auction was held September 25^th at the Topsail Community Center. Surf Camp was proud to have two huge tables front and center full of instructors, office staff, and friends in attendance. Our camp founders, Rick and Jen, proudly support the Sea Turtle Hospital and attend this annual benefit each year! This was my first year at the benefit and I have to say that it couldn’t have been better. Before we took our seats everyone was socializing and browsing through items that were among the silent auction.

Once we all had taken our seats dinner was served… and was it ever! My plated was piled high with lobster, potatoes, corn on the cob, rolls, and cucumber and tomato salad. It was a funny sight to see everyone sitting at their tables cracking these massive lobsters while wearing plastic bibs. Surf Camp was directly responsible for eating 23 lobsters:) After dinner the Hospitals volunteers then came around with a dessert tray. I really don’t think that I could’ve eaten anymore food!

With everyone’s bellies full of such a delicious feast the live auction commenced. There were so many amazing works of art, jewelry, and unique items up for the cause. While I didn’t bring anything home (other than the 10lbs I probably gained) Rick and Jen are now the proud owners of a beautiful new surf board that a local artist painted sea turtles across. It’s a truly beautiful piece to add to their collection and you should’ve heard the eruption of cheers from the Surf Camp table when they had the highest bid! Giving to this amazing organizataion means a lot to them, especially since they share the same passion of coastal conservation. Jen even finds time in her hectic life to volunteer. After being fortunate enough to participate in an event that so many wonderful people support and seeing the passion that they have, it makes me want to volunteer too! If you are interested in the Sea Turtle Hospital and would like to help out it’s cause visit their website. Hope to see you there!!

- Amber

We are very excited to announce the unveiling of our brand new Facebook page! With our sights set on the future and our 2009 programs we thought that this was a great way to keep in contact with our loyal clients. While you’re checking out our events you’ll notice that we have added some new programs that we are totally psyched about. There is also a section where you can give us your reviews and comments on the programs. This is your chance to voice your opinions. Post a thread on our discussion boards and connect with past campers that maybe you’ve lost contact with.  This is the perfect way to catch up with friends and even plan reunions to attend new Surf Camp programs together! We will be updating the page weekly with photos from previous year’s camps, videos, and keeping you up to date on all the happenings here at Surf Camp. If you have photos we’d love for you to post them. Also, keep us up to date on your continued surf progress. Maybe you’ve been shredding up a storm or planning your summer vacation. So to get started click here to check us out! Surf’s up…

-Amber

Wow!!!! was the first thing I said when I looked under the surface of the water with my snorkel gear on our second day in St. John. Neither my husband, Jason, nor I had ever snorkeled before, and it was without a doubt the highlight of our vacation. There is nothing as clear and blue as the waters of the Caribbean, and to be shown the epitome of the top notch snorkeling spots by our friends…….we felt so blessed! Okay, let me back up. Upon arrival in St. Thomas, we were greeted by our friends of 13 years. We hopped in their rugged 4-Runner and took off to the ferry. I am thankful I wasn’t given the responsibility of driving during this adventure because the switchbacks, hills, and the fact that you drive on the opposite side of the road made for an interesting journey for these two stateside residents! Once on St. John, we arrived at our friends’ house in Maho. What a view they have of the blue waters of the Caribbean and a natural salt pond……truly paradise. I know I looked like a kid on Christmas Day because that is exactly how I felt. We unloaded our luggage and then headed down to Maho Beach for a swim. How amazing that warm, clear water felt after traveling. I could feel the relaxation overtaking my body and the salty sea water doing its job. I now know what our clients feel like who attend our Adult Caribbean Surf Camp who have never been to this part of the world before. You never want to leave!!! We cooked up a yummy dinner of fresh tuna tacos, rice, and beans, and settled in for the evening. The next day was to be our snorkeling adventure!

We woke up early and had our morning cups of joe, and then headed down to board the Sadie Sea for a day of snorkeling and hiking. As I said, the snorkeling was absolutely amazing. We snorkeled a place called Tektite, which has an interesting history having to do with NASA and experiments……………………..I won’t go into the details.. But very cool place to snorkel! Lots of caves to explore, but this amateur wasn’t quite ready to do any free diving yet. Jason said it best….. “I feel like I’m in an aquarium!” During this awe-inspiring excursion, we hiked up the Petroglyph Trail. How incredible to see petroglyphs that are hundreds of years old, tucked away deep in the tropics of the Caribbean. After our boating adventure, we took a rinse in Hawksnest Bay, which was the perfect ending to the day!     

The rest of the week was filled with swimming, snorkeling, and hiking………………….I felt like a true island girl! One day we decided to really immerse ourselves in island living, and we visited a salt pond where we covered ourselves in the mineral-filled mud found deep within the pond. After getting nice and muddy, we went over to Drunks Bay on the Atlantic side to let the mud seep in. Surrounded by coral, we baked on the rocks and thought about how good it feels to be alive. What an experience to remember! I cannot express enough how much I enjoyed this vacation. I truly felt one with nature, and as my lungs inhaled that clean, Caribbean air, I thought to myself, “This is what life is all about!”

-Chelsea