Masonboro Island – an 8 mile long, 5,000 acre undeveloped preserve off the coast of Wilmington NC, Wrightsville Beach, and Pleasure Island – is a recreational retreat for residents and visitors as well as a habitat for coastal wildlife including black skimmers, least terns, Wilson’s plovers, brown pelicans, loggerhead turtles, green sea turtles, and sea beach amaranth.  The water around Masonboro Island sustains marine life including spot, mullet, flounder, pompano, bluefish, menhaden, and mackerel.  Boaters, kayakers, paddlers, and surfers love to escape to Masonboro Island to avoid crowded beaches on the mainland and explore, camp, hike, play, and just relax.

Surf Camp has brought camp participants to explore and clean up Masonboro Island for years and a tour here is part of some of our select local camp curriculums as well as our Sea Turtle Camp curriculum.  We spend time surfing, birding, searching for sea turtle nests, examining tidal pools, and learning about the different aspects of the island.  The island is made up of salt marshes, mud flats, oceanfront beach, dunes, upland shrub thickets, maritime forests, and dredge material islands.   It’s amazing to have such a rich natural preserve so close to home.

Because of the number of visitors to Masonboro Island each season and because there are no trash pickups or state services to the island, Surf Camp makes a point to educate our campers about what activities are allowed on the island and how to minimize our impact when we visit.  Surf Camp founder, Rick Civelli, sat on the board of directors for the Society of Masonboro Island until it was dissolved several years ago. This group raised money to purchase the private land on the island and ensure that it remain public property, accessible now and for future generations.  We truly value the all that the island has to offer.

Unfortunately, Masonboro Island has often been subject to abuse from summer holiday partiers who leave vast amounts of trash to be picked up later by volunteers and the N.C Coastal Reserve, a part of the state’s Division of Coastal Management.  The 4th of July weekend of 2010, however, saw an increase in police presence and volunteers during the partying to help make sure visitors left with their trash and remained safe during their visit.

We hope visitors to Masonboro Island will always remember to be respectful to the island, the wildlife, and the resources right here in our backyard.  As land continues to be developed all around us, Masonboro Island becomes a more and more important connection to our coastal environment and our natural world.

Summer Camp!

It’s almost July and the North Carolina coast is already seeing temps in the mid-90’s!  There’s no better time to hit the beach and spend time in the water.  Our summer camps are ideal when school’s out and the weather starts heating up.

Surf Camp hosts summer camps for kids ages 6 – 10 (Guppy Camp) and surf camps for ages 11 and up.  We have day camps and overnight camps, weekend clinics, adventure travel camps, and surfing vacations as well as private and group surf lessons.

All of our summer camp and surf camp instructors are certified and highly trained.  Each of our Surf Camp overnight camp instructors are also certified in CPR for the Professional Rescuer, Lifeguarding, and First Aid.  Collectively, we have tons of experience both in the water and as camp counselors for kids ages 6 and up.  Our Surf Camp Team is hand picked from hundreds of applicants and has a reputation and responsibility of providing a safe and highly trusted summer and surf camp program.

Marine Exploration

In addition to the focus on top-notch surf instruction with low student to instructor ratios (never more than 3:1), Surf Camp also has a mission of environmental conservation that is shared by every instructor and staff member.  Kids will not only learn respect and understanding of the ocean, wave dynamics, and surfing, they will also learn to appreciate the importance of protecting our environment and the impact our actions have on the world around us.

Surf Camp is the perfect summer camp for kids who love the outdoors, love the beach and the water.  Learning to surf is a skill and a passion that stays with you throughout a lifetime.  We LOVE our job of introducing the world of surfing to kids and adults alike.  Join us at Surf Camp this summer for an experience you’ll never forget!

To learn more about us, visit WBSurfCamp.com or call 866-844-7873.

Kids Surf Camp

We’ve still got a few spots available in some of our upcoming Surf Camps.  Check out our Surf Camp Schedule to see what might work for you and your family.  We’re having a great season so far and we’d love to have you join us.  Check out photos from the past couple weeks on our Facebook Page :

Overnight Teen Adventure Camps:
June 26 – July 7 – Bahamas Teen Adventure Camp, ages 14-17
July 7 – July 13 – Oahu, Hawaii Teen Adventure Camp, ages 14-17
July 8 – July 21 – Barbados Teen Adventure Camp, ages 14-17
July 14 – July 20 – Oahu, Hawaii Teen Adventure Camp, ages 14-17
July 31 – August 6 – Outer Banks Teen Adventure Camp, ages 13-16
August 7 – August 13 – Outer Banks Teen Adventure Camp, ages 13-16

Overnight Teen Surf Camp:
Wrightsville Beach Overnight Camp Schedule
June 26 – July 1 – Wrightsville Overnight Camp, ages 11-14
July 10 – July 15 – Wrightsville Beach Overnight Camp, ages 12-16
July 17 – July 22 – Wrightsville Beach Overnight Camp, ages 13-17
July 24 – July 29 – Wrightsville Beach Overnight Camp, ages 14-17

Overnight Teen Specialty Camps:
July 10 – July 22 – Surf & Lifeguarding Certification Overnight Camp, ages 15-17
July 17 – July 29 – Surf & Scuba Overnight Camp, ages 13-17

Day Camps:
Check availability for Day Surf Camps in Wrightsville Beach and Kure Beach for ages 6 – 10 and 11+: Day Camp Schedule

Adult Surf Vacations:
August 14 – August 19 – Women’s Surf & Yoga Retreat, ages 18+

WB Surf Camp offers world renowned surf schools, surf lessons, and summer camps for kids, teens, adults, and families.  We have something for everyone – whether you’re just learning to surf, looking to hone your skills, craving a surf vacation, interested in surf travel, or looking for a great summer camp for the kids. 

Contact Surf Camp today to learn more about our programs and see how surfing can transform your life! 866.844.7873