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Carolina Ocean Odyssey Overnight Camp

Overview

Carolina Ocean Odyssey is a co-ed residential summer camp for kids in 5th to 8th grade. The primary focus of this high quality low enrollment program is to introduce campers to a variety of ocean activities while gaining independence and an appreciation for protecting and enjoying our earth’s oceans.

Coastal North Carolina offers a unique setting for a hands-on, aquatic adventure program. With water temps averaging in the low 80’s, campers will jump right into adventure. Each day we’ll log time in the water learning a variety of water sports including boogie boarding, surfing, kayaking, and more!  In addition to water instruction, our marine educators lead the exploration of local habitats including dunes, salt marshes and tidal pools.

Campers receive expert instruction and care from our highly trained team. Prior to camp, our staff participate in a week of training, which includes life-guarding, marine science, surf coaching, ocean ecology, childhood development and behavior management. We are dedicated to being partners in parenting with all of our families.

Download our Kids Summer Camp catalog HERE

Highlights include:

  • Extensive daily boogie board and water sport instruction
  • Stay at our ocean view facility in air conditioned rooms
  • Enrollment limited to 24 campers
  • Two Surf Sessions with a 2:1 student to instructor ratio
  • Visit the Karen Beasley Sea Turtle Hospital
  • Salt marsh exploration including seining, crabbing, clamming
  • Learn ocean safety practices and the importance of conservation
  • Surf movies, ping pong, foosball, volleyball, smash ball, beach bocce ball
  • Enjoy a Hawaiian Luau and traditional camp activities

Includes: lodging on Topsail Island (in air-conditioned, ocean view rooms), all meals, 24-hour same gender adult supervision, equipment and professional instruction for all activities. Also included: transportation (including pick-up and drop-off from Wilmington International Airport-ILM), Sea Turtle Hospital donation, camp t-shirt and group photo. Families are responsible for round trip airfare to ILM or transportation to Topsail Island.

 

 

2023 Dates

limited availability
06/04 - 06/09
Ages 10-13
$2,480
limited availability
06/11 - 06/16
Ages 10-13
$2,480
limited availability
06/18 - 06/23
Ages 10-13
$2,480
limited availability
06/25 - 06/30
Ages 10-13
$2,480
limited availability
07/02 - 07/07
Ages 10-13
$2,480
limited availability
07/09 - 07/14
Ages 10-13
$2,480
limited availability
07/16 - 07/21
Ages 10-13
$2,480
limited availability
07/23 - 07/28
Ages 10-13
$2,480
limited availability
07/30 - 08/04
Ages 10-13
$2,480

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Accommodations

Participants stay in the heart of Topsail Island. This 26-mile long barrier island has a rich history filled with pirates, fishermen, and surfers.

Campers are housed in our air conditioned, ocean view “Surf Shack.” This epic location, is only steps from where we surf. Campers will see the sun rise over the ocean while checking conditions from their balconies.

The rooms are gender-specific comfortable common areas. Each participant will have his or her own bed. WB Surf Camp staff members are housed on-site and will provide 24-hour, same-gender adult supervision. Campers will enjoy dining together in our very own dining hall.

Itinerary

Sunday

Upon arrival to the beautiful North Carolina coast you are met with the anticipation and excitement of fellow participants, parents, and counselors. It’s time for your camper to begin their journey as an ocean explorer! At orientation, the camp schedule and rules for the week will be explained by the Carolina Ocean Odyssey team. After orientation, your camper will take a walk across our private beach access and take their first swim in the ocean. Then it’s off to the dining hall for dinner, followed by evening beach activities where we’ll spend time playing games and getting to know each other. We will close out the day with opening campfire then head back to the bunks. The morning waves call early and we have to make sure we’re there on time and prepared!

Monday

This morning marks the start of a new odyssey! Your child will spend the week learning the fundamentals for becoming a true ocean adventurer. From the crest of a wave to the muddy depths of the salt marsh, we’ll explore them all, learning many valuable lessons along the way. After breakfast, your camper will head straight to the beach for a lesson on reading ocean conditions and boogie boarding basics. Then, it’s nothing but catching waves in our first boogie boarding session. After lunch and a short re-charge time, we will head to the sound side of North Topsail Beach for a kayak lesson and eco-tour.

To keep the stoke flowing, we’ll head back to the Shack to finish out the afternoon with another boogie boarding session. Following dinner, we will dig into some marine science with a game about sea turtles.

Tuesday

Your camper will begin the morning with breakfast, followed by some advanced boogie boarding techniques in the waves in front of our beach access. Then a quick rinse and it is time to head to the Karen Beasley Sea Turtle Hospital. Your camper will get to see real live sea turtles! From egg to hatchling to adult, turtles face many threats both on land and in the ocean. Your camper will become familiar with some of the obstacles they face while also seeing the positive impact humans can have, through the tireless work that the dedicated volunteers do at the hospital.

Tuesday afternoon it’s back to the beach for advanced boogie boarding practice. Building on the skills from previous sessions, campers will learn the concepts of wave dynamics, how to catch waves without assistance, riding the line, and even tricks! Taking a break from the sun we will head back to our ocean view campus for a snack and camp activities. The day will be closed out with a camp-wide evening program.

Wednesday

We’re half-way through our week of adventure. Today is our chance to apply all of the ocean skills we have learned. It is our first day of surfing! We will spend the morning with the professional instructors of WB Surf Camp learning to ride the best waves we can find. Having explored different beaches at different times, campers will understand how both the tide and the position of the beach can change the formation of the waves. In addition to working on surfing and water skills, we’ll continue to develop our ocean knowledge with an interactive lesson on barrier islands.

After lunch on the beach, we’ll head to the North Carolina Aquarium. Many campers have visited North Carolina Aquariums, but we get to see one from a completely different perspective. We’ll be guided through a behind-the-scenes tour to see all the marine animals that are kept on display, as well as some areas that you don’t see on a typical aquarium visit. Campers even get to feed the fish! It may even inspire your camper to become an aquarist. We will round out this day back on campus with a camp-wide dance party event.

Thursday

Surf day round two! Today, your camper builds on the skills learned Wednesday with a second day of surfing. We believe in a step-by-step teaching process that gradually builds confidence and understanding one day, and one wave, at a time. By having a second day of surfing, campers have another opportunity to hone their surfing skills, build ocean confidence, and practice. Surfing is a multi-faceted, learned skill. It is the culmination of every skill we have worked on throughout the week.

Barrier islands are long, skinny strips of land that are vital to protecting our coast from storm surges and hurricanes. We will be traveling to the backside of Topsail Island where you can find one of the most productive habitats in the world, the salt marsh. Campers will use dip nets, seine nets, and cast nets to catch and release some of the inhabitants of this ecosystem.

This beach day will be filled with surfing, riding waves, exploring the salt marsh, and beach games. After dinner we will head for the camp-wide closing campfire.

Friday

It is the final day of camp so we will start it off with a wave riding ocean session. Now that we’ve got a week of water activity under our belts, you’re bound to see an improvement in your camper’s ability. Campers will be paddling out and catching waves like pros.

After this session, we will head back to the rooms to pack and clean up before check out. It will be tough to say goodbye at the end of the week, but we know your camper will leave with new friends, new skills, and incredible memories!

*This is a sample itinerary. Activities can change due to conditions.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does my camper need to bring?

A complete packing list will be included with your camp forms once you’ve completed the enrollment process.

How old are the campers my child will be rooming with?

Roommates are grouped together by gender and age in order to enhance the overall level of comfort.

Can you cater to special diets?

Yes, we can accommodate many dietary restrictions and preferences. If your camper requires a special diet, we are happy to ensure your camper’s dietary needs are met. You will be asked about food allergies and special diets in your camper forms.

Should my camper bring a friend?

While most participants come alone, you are welcome to come with a friend.

Are the kids going to get to surf during Camp?

Yes, campers will participate in one surf session during the week. When not surfing, we will spend the rest of the week participating in other water activities such as boogie boarding, kayaking, stand up paddleboarding, canoeing, or sailing. If your child wants a program that is primarily surfing please check out our Kids Surf Camp or WB Teen Overnight Surf Camp programs.

My child isn’t the strongest swimmer, is Carolina Ocean Odyssey for them?

Since water activities are physically demanding, we do require that campers be able to swim 25 meters unassisted and be comfortable in water where they can’t touch the ground. Campers that are looking to build their water stamina in the ocean should consider our Kids Camps. These programs are specifically designed to improve kids’ comfort level in and around the ocean.

Kathy, Charlotte, NC

“It was the first overnight camp for my 11 year old son. The staff with WB Surf Camp answered all of my questions and made me very comfortable. They even called two days before camp started! Their friendliness at check-in exceeded my expectations. I was really happy to have an insider view into camp with posts on Facebook. The counselors were equally kind and friendly on pick up day. Totally a fantastic experience, from initial contact to picking my son up. See you next summer!”

Sawyer, Raleigh, NC

“Attending WB Surf Camp was an amazing experience for me. I was very glad I chose WB Surf Camp to be my first overnight camp without anyone I knew. And the level of comfort was great; the instructors were so nice and tried super hard to keep everyone happy and comfortable. Honestly, there is not much more to say than THE CAMP WAS AWESOME! Thank you so much for the wonderful experience.”

Audra, Covington, LA

“WB Surf Camp is honestly the best camp ever. I loved meeting new friends and improving my surfing abilities! Everyone was like a big family. We all got so close. All of the instructors were super helpful and friendly! They made me feel right at home the day that I walked in. They make learning about coastal protection fun! I can’t wait to go to WB Surf Camp again next year!”

Rob, Franklin, MA

“WB Surf Camp was the best experience of my life! I feel like I really improved my surfing ability and I met awesome people! The counselors Steve, Hunter, Marissa, Colby, and Sarah were all really cool and knew a ton about surfing. The eco activities were fun and I really learned a lot! We even went bowling on the last night of camp. It was a great feeling being away from home and just going to the beach to surf every day, and I’d do it again. By the end of the week, everyone was really close, and nobody wanted to leave!”

Lianne, Woodbury, NY

“After having a bad experience my first time trying to surf in New York, I decided I’d give the sport a second try. Going to a WB Surf Camp was something completely different from my normal summers and it was truly an incredible experience. Learning to surf was not the only memorable thing but I also made so many friends within such a short amount of time that I will keep forever, and had awesome counselors who truly enjoyed being with us! I will always remember and cherish Surf Camp and I will definitely continue surfing and loving all that the ocean has to offer.”

 

Eleanor, Chapel Hill, NC

“WB Surf Camp was awesome, I’ve surfed before but at Surf Camp you get really good practice and become more capable of standing up, being comfortable with the ocean, paddling out easily, and catching waves by yourself. I had tons of fun and would definitely love to come back next year.”

Alyssa, Fredericksburg, VA

“Wow, your camp is amazing, one of the best weeks of my life! You have really put together a masterpiece. Your camp contains every element of summer, flexibility, sun, surf, great friends, relaxed atmosphere, and exciting activities all rolled into one great week.”

Grace, Arlington, VA

“WB Surf Camp was an amazing experience. Every day from eating at wag to surfing to cleaning the beach to playing “nuke-‘em” before bed it was all fun!”

Patrick, Schenectady, NY

“This camp is amazing. The instructors are all amazing and they make you feel comfortable. You make new friends and surfing with them is a lot of fun. This is an experience that I will remember for the rest of my life.”

Celeste Reeves, Charlotte, NC

“Surf Camp was an amazing experience and like none other. I had such a fun time there that when I got back home, I was sad that I wasn’t surfing. I will definitely be doing another surf camp next year and can’t wait for the new adventures that await me.”

Simon, Denmark

“In the summers before WB Surf Camp I went to language schools in England, to improve my English. This year I wanted to try something different and I had always wanted to learn to surf. Not only did I have an amazing time with great instructors, meeting a lot of new friends, and being introduced to surfing but I actually learned much more English in Surf Camp than in the language schools I’ve been to previously.”

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