I still am wearing the hemp ankle bracelet that one of my pods made for me last summer! A small hemp piece of jewelry that floods me with memories every time I look down or tie my shoe. “What is a pod?” you may ask. Well, a pod is the 3:1 ratio that Surf Camp has for all of its camps! On the first day of camp, the campers are broken down into groups of three, and one instructor works with each pod for the week. This ensures that each camper gets personalized surfing instruction. Also, the instructor gets the incredible job of coaching and watching each camper’s ability transform throughout the week!

One of my absolute favorite parts of my job at Surf Camp is meeting my pods! Each week in the summer, I get to meet a different group of three surfers who are stoked to learn my favorite sport in the whole world! I get incredibly close with each of my pods, and we spend a week getting to know each other. What’s better than learning about someone while catching wave after wave and being in the ocean? Your pod-members become a small family, and cheer each other on no matter what! I also like to have my pods name themselves. This promotes teambuilding, and also helps me remember who was in my pods months later. The Hammerheads were my first pod, and I’ve coached The Sharks, Charlie’s Angels, Kelly Slaters, etc. You can get really creative with your pod name, as you can see! Although, I must say, yelling “Go Sharks!” one morning on the beach had a lot of bystanders looking curiously at me and my pod! Of course, all of our Surf Campers know that sharks are nothing to be afraid of at our camps!

Watching my pods transform into talented surfers throughout the week is an indescribable experience. I am with them when they catch their first wave, and the feeling is electrifying for all of us. The smile on someone’s face and excitement they feel after they catch their first wave is amazing. If you haven’t experienced this, you’re truly missing out and you should sign up for one of our camps and get in the water with us! J Our pods then continue to practice pop-ups and work on basic surfing skills together. As the week progresses, the campers learn even more advanced techniques. I have seen people who were afraid of the ocean on the first day of camp turn into fearless and talented surfers by the last day. I have also had the joy of seeing shy and unmotivated individuals embrace this “sport of kings” and come completely out of their shell. Surfing is truly a magical experience!

Lastly, if you are wondering which of my pods made me my ankle bracelet, it was my Charlie’s Angels pod. A talented group of teenage girls who had a blast at one of our Wrightsville Beach Teen Overnight Camps, and shared with all of Surf Camp the art of hemp jewelry making! Each pod is special at Surf Camp, and all of the instructors love getting to know their campers. So, sign up for one of our camps and come be part of a pod, and experience the greatest sport in the entire world! J

-Julie

A Teen’s Perspective

10. You know that you have arrived at Surf Camp when you see junk food being rolled into cabins on a skateboard.

9. Soon you get to meet people from all over the country who you will be your main competition for showers, the front seat on the bus, and of course, those who you will bond with and chat with while waiting for the waves…or missing them all together.

8. Everyone gets rash… everyone walks funny, and everyone gets to go home with their very own war wounds and smelling like baby- butt cream. It’s all part of the experience.

7. Trading in your make up for Zinc. It is a great way to pick up hotties on the beach.

6. When you go out for your first couple sessions, you get pushed into waves…. You can’t get better service than that.

5. Food. After a long day of surfing everyone is ready to eat. Whether your instructor is attempting to cook over a grill in Hatteras, or you go to Mellow Mushroom in Wilmington, you are sure to have a great meal made with love. You’ll even start to meet more of your instructors; it’s pretty funny to see how many magically appear at your dinner table.

4. Typically buses aren’t my thing. That was until I went to Surf Camp. The bus rides are full of sandy kids, great music, and prayers that your bus gets back first for the showers.

3. The instructors at Surf Camp are down to earth people that are great at what they do because they love their job. It also doesn’t hurt that they are slightly good looking

2. When you finally catch your own wave

1. When you finally catch your own wave, and they got it on camera.

A week of Wrightsville Beach Teen Overnight Camp is a combination of all of my favorite things to do in Wilmington and the surrounding beaches.  We surf and spend tons of time at the beach, we visit the Sea Turtle Hospital, the NC Aquarium at Fort Fisher, we cookout, go to a movie, bowl, play volleyball and soccer, eat at great restaurants…we have an absolute blast!

Our visit to the Karen Beasley Sea Turtle Rescue and Rehabilitation Center is one of my most absolute favorite activities.  The Turtle Hospital has always been close to my heart and I actually volunteered there during my freshman year at UNCW.  The center was opened in 1997 by Jean Beasley in memory of her daughter Karen’s efforts to assure the survival of sea turtles.  Jean and the staff of volunteers work countless hours to rescue and care for injured sea turtles.  Animal Planet awarded Jean the 2007 “Hero of the Year” award for her dedication to saving the sea turtles. 

Each turtle is visiting for a different reason.  Many are there because they have been struck by a boat or entangled in fishing gear or litter…all problems caused by man that we can help prevent.  Others are there for more natural reasons such being cold stun (kind of like frost bite) or diseases.  All turtles are given their own pool upon arrival and the veterinarian checks them out and creates a rehabilitation plan.  After what is usually a long stay at the sea turtle hospital, they are released back into the ocean.  Twelve to twenty sea turtles are released each year. 

You may be wondering by now what you can do to help.  The hospital is a nonprofit organization and receives no state or federal funding.  Surf Camp donates a portion of each camper’s tuition to the hospital.  All donations go directly to food, medical supplies, and operating costs of the hospital.  To make a donation, simply visit the website.  If you live in NC, you can get a sea turtle license plate for your car.  Or if you shop at Food Lion grocery stores, you can ask them to link your “MVP card” to the Turtle Hospital and donations will be made that way.  Remember, every little bit helps and there is no better cause than helping to preserve this amazing marine creature! I am counting down the days (56 to be exact) until the first week of summer camp and our visit to the Turtle Hospital.  It will be great to hear the new turtles’ stories and hear which turtles have been released back into the ocean.

-Jenn R