The “off-season” at Surf Camp is “off” only in the respect that since summer is over, we are not in the water instructing our stoked campers on their newfound love of surfing. They are in school, studying hard so that their parents will reward them with another summer of Surf Camp in 2009!!!! This time of year, we are hard at work brainstorming on ideas for new programs and making them a reality. That is exactly where our our new program Surf & Community Service Camp came from. Since we have always incorporated curriculum about coastal conservation into our programs, we thought that taking this a step further and getting campers involved with hands-on service projects was ultimately a win-win situation for everyone.

As environmental activism continues to grow in the US and around the world, it inspires all of us at Surf Camp want to do more. Beach cleanups have always been a part of every camp we run, but we want to broaden teens’ perspective about what else they can do to improve our world instilling the importance of giving back. We joined forces with the Environmental Resources Agent at the New Hanover County Extension Service, to help us create a teen community service program that will not only bring positive change to our local environment, but show teens how fun and fulfilling it can be to have a direct impact on our coastal ecosystems while learning how to surf!!!

We decided on two projects that campers will focus on to earn their 25 community service hours. We will work with the NC Coastal Federation on an oyster bed renourishment project where we will fill bags with oyster shells and place them in strategic areas, encouraging the reproduction of oysters. Oysters play various roles in maintaining our ecosystems. Not only do they filter our water (large oysters can filter up to two gallons of water an hour), but they provide a habitat for other marine life, prevent erosion, and aid in the re-growth of underwater vegetation. If you are a fan of eating oysters, please make sure that after your oyster roast, you are taking those oyster shells to a recycling location where the shells will be used for bed renourishment.

The second project we’ll be doing is helping in the construction of a rain garden. I have been an avid gardener for a long time, so anything having to do with plants is right up my alley! Rain gardens are planted in low-lying area, or a depression is created and then planted. These gardens can actually cut down on pollution by a whopping30%! Rain gardens allow rainwater runoff to be absorbed back into the ground instead of into stormwater drainage systems, where pollutants end up right back in our local waters.

The feeling I get from doing any type of service is unmatched, and I believe that everyone can feel this way, too. I encourage you to get out there in your community and lend a hand….whether it be picking up trash on the roadside in your neighborhood or incorporating a rain garden in your landscape, you can make a difference by giving back!

-Chelsea

How many surfers have ever even stepped foot in a surfboard factory?  Not Many! Now, how many surfers can honestly say they have shaped their own surfboards?  Even fewer!  Well, five teen campers got to spend a week in a surfboard factory, shaping their own personal dream board and I was fortunate enough to be their counselor.  I don’t know who was more excited, myself or the campers.

Just as if on cue, a fresh, chest high groundswell showed up Thursday morning just hours before I got to meet the campers. I began to realize that this was going to be an unbelievable week of surf and fun.  Since four of the five campers were staying from the previous week of Surf Camp, and the fifth had been to several of our camps before, this swell was just what we were all hoping for.  After a quick orientation we all hopped in the van for an evening surf session down at Crystal Pier.  Just two hours into the camp and we were trading off chest high glassy waves on the north side of the pier.  I had to literally drag the campers out of the water, promising them that tomorrow morning’s conditions were going to be even better. 

After rinsing off, we cruised up to Buffalo Wild Wings, where against my warnings, Carson thought he could handle their spicy wings.  We spent the rest of dinner laughing at him as he tried to sooth his lips with ice cubes and napkins.  In between laughing fits I explained to the campers that we would have to dawn patrol bright and early to get in the water before the wind picked up.  They all looked at Jarrett, the Junior Instructor working the camp with me, and I as if we were crazy when we suggested breakfast at 6am and in the water by 6:30.  So you want to be a surfer? I reminded them. 

With the forecast holding true, we spent the first 4 hours of our day splitting super fun A-frames at the north end of Wrightsville Beach with no one around.  When we could no longer move our arms it was time to ride up to the SOD surfboard factory and meet the guys that were going to make the campers dream boards come to life.  After Sean (founder/shaper of SOD surfboards) gave the campers a tour of the factory, he used his state of the art computer program to design a board that was specific to each camper’s height, weight and surfing ability.  I watched in amazement as each camper got his turn at the computer, then watched as his blank came out of the machine 80 percent complete.  After all five boards were entered into the computer, it was time to head up to my all time favorite restaurant, Flaming Amy’s. 

After getting up at 6am to score epic surf, everyone hit the sack early, amped to do it all over again the next day.  Saturday, Sunday, Monday and Tuesday seemed like a dream.  We would wake up early, surf all morning, shape all afternoon and wind down over delicious dinners.  Not once did the surf drop under stomach high, or the wind come up harder than five knots. 

Wednesday morning, Jarrett and I woke the campers up even earlier than usual to charge up to Topsail where the light north wind would be offshore.  With the campers still zonked out in the back, Jarrett and I hopped out of the van just south of the pier to check the surf.  Who else had the same idea to surf Topsail that particular morning?  Rick Civelli, founder of Surf Camp.  I guess great minds think alike….or let me rephrase that, great surf forecasters think alike.  After scoring reeling lefts under a beautiful sunrise, it was time to put the final touches on the campers boards up at the SOD Factory.  I watched in jealousy as Alex, John, Ryan, Carson and Zach got to paint their very own designs on their brand new boards.  

Thursday, the campers sprung out of bed as if it was Christmas morning.  As promised, Sean put in some late hours at the factory putting in fins and leash plugs so that the campers could take their boards for a test spin before heading home Thursday.  One of the most rewarding moments of the entire week, for me at least, was seeing the campers eyes light up as they saw their finished boards hanging on the racks along with all of the other finished boards.  Under strict supervision from the campers, I loaded their precious cargo into the van, and we went down to Wrightsville Beach for a final surf session together.  As we paddled out for the last time, I joked with the campers that I am the only one not riding a shiny, brand new custom board.  After a million “just one more wave,” please from the campers, we headed back to the dorms where I watched as each camper proudly showed off his new board to their parents.  “Wow, what a week” is all Jarrett and I kept saying to each other.  Tons of waves, laughs and a once a lifetime experience that I, nor any of the campers will ever forget.

-Doug

I’m so excited about Surf Camps new Surf and SCUBA specialty camp.  I got my dive certification back when I was 18 and it’s one the best decisions I’ve ever made.  Since then I’ve had the option to dive while on vacation.  In the past 8 years I’ve dove in Santa Catalina Island, California; the Bahamas; West Palm Beach, Florida; the dry Tortugas; Hawaii; Wrightsville Beach, NC; the Outer Banks, NC; in the dolphin pools at my previous job; Byron Bay, Australia; and the Great Barrier Reef, Australia!!!  In fact, North Carolina was rated one of the #1 diving destination in the United States by Scuba Diving Magazine!  Through diving, I’ve been able to get up-close and personal with marine life that most people never get to see except on the Discovery Chanel.  Being able to breathe underwater and stay down for an hour makes you feel like you are just one of the fishes!!! 

If you’re thinking about coming to Surf Camp this summer and you have interest in marine life and learning how to surf then Surf and SCUBA Camp is most definitely for you!  

- Jenn R