Grom Ocean Academy Camp
Overview
Grom Ocean Academy is a full day, week long summer camp experience intended to build on the lessons covered in Guppy Camp. This ocean adventure is designed for kids ages 8 – 11 who are interested in the ocean and all its inhabitants. Together we’ll travel around Wilmington following the coast from Fort Fisher to Surf City, soaking up the waves and habitats along the way.
This program is ideal for the budding surfer or marine biologist. Each day we’ll log time in the water either surfing or working on advanced boogie boarding skills. In addition to water instruction, we’ll also transition to other local habitats near the dunes, along the marsh, and in the tide pools for an in-depth study of the animals that reside there.
Participants will learn all about ocean safety and will become familiar with rip current awareness, the anatomy of a wave, surf advisories, safe fishing practices, hurricane preparedness, and basic emergency procedures. By week’s end, your camper will be teaching you how to stay safe at the beach!
Since water activities are physically taxing, we require that campers be able to swim 25 meters unassisted and be comfortable
in water where they can’t touch the ground. Completion of Guppy Camp is beneficial and recommended.
Download our Kids Summer Camp catalog HERE
Highlights include:
- Extensive advanced boogie board instruction
- Two surf sessions with a 2:1 student to instructor ratio
- Behind the scenes tour of the North Carolina Aquarium
- Observing turtle rehabilitation at the Karen Beasley Sea Turtle Hospital
- Salt marsh exploration: seining, crabbing, and clamming
- Learn from a park ranger at Carolina Beach State Park
- Learning about ocean hazards and safety
- Unlimited photos taken by our staff photographer
- Enrollment limited to 16 students per session
Grom Ocean Academy is Monday through Friday, from 8:30 am – 4:00 pm. Campers are dropped off and picked up at our Wrightsville Beach office location. Late pick-up options until 5:00 pm are available to accommodate working parents. NC Camps are filled on a first come/first serve basis.
Tuition includes American Red Cross Lifeguard/CPR/First Aid certified counselor instruction, daily transportation to all activities, activity fees, Sea Turtle Hospital tour and donation, admission and behind the scenes tour of NC Aquarium, rash guard, all equipment, certificate of achievement, and memorable group photo.
2025 Dates
GROM ITINERARY
Monday
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. We’ll kick of the summer in style by heading down to Wrightsville Beach! After a brief orientation and swimming assessment, campers will learn about ocean hazards and beach safety then hit the waves!
After lunch, it’s a short trip to the other side of the island – just a three minute walk. Barrier islands are long, skinny strips of land that are vital to protecting our coast from storm surges and hurricanes. The backside of the island is also where you 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 habitat. They’ll also learn a lot about commercial seafood, since most species served in restaurants get their start right in the salt marsh.
Tuesday
Our summer odyssey continues with a road trip to Surf City. This morning we’ll dive into the world of sea turtles with a visit to the Karen Beasley Sea Turtle Hospital. From egg to hatching to adult, turtles face many threats both on land and in the ocean. We’ll become familiar with some of the obstacles they face, while also seeing the positive impact humans can have due to the tireless work that the super human volunteers do at the hospital. Make sure that you say a special hello to Lenny, a Kemps Ridley who serves as one of the hospital’s spokes-turtles.
During the afternoon, we’ll begin by working on some advanced boogie board maneuvers. Developing proficiency on boogie boards will help us during our next surf session, since our water stamina will continue to grow throughout the course of the week. We’ll finish up the afternoon learning about and dissecting a real squid and then head back Wrightsville Beach after a long day in the summer sun.
Wednesday
Today we head to Wrightsville Beach for our first surf lesson! We will be guided through the WB Surf Camp ground school, where campers will learn the art of popping up properly on their surfboard. We’ll then transition from the sand to the surf for some wave riding fun. We’re half-way through our week of adventure and we’ll spend the morning riding the best waves at Wrightsville Beach.
After an action packed morning, we visit Airlie Gardens to eat lunch and take part in an environmental activity with the county’s water quality department.
Thursday
We’ll start off with our second and final surf session. Now that we’ve got almost a week of water activity under our belts, you’re bound to see an improvement in your camper’s surfing ability. Campers will be paddling out and popping up on the waves like experienced surfers.
This afternoon we will get a lesson about wave dynamics and learn about how and why we are able to surf! Campers will see how the addition of fins will increase their propulsion in catching waves. Having boogie boarded along different beaches at different times, they will see how both the tide and the position of the beach can change the formation of the waves. Then we will take to the water for some boogie boarding and playing in the surf zone!
Friday
It’s the final day of camp, and we’re going to squeeze a lot of activity into it. We start off by road-tripping to the Carolina Beach State Park where your child will learn about the animals and plants in the park. They will even get to see a few carnivorous plants that are only found in this area! These plants “bite-back,” but don’t worry, they aren’t interested in humans! After a morning in the sun, we will head to the water to cool off and get a final ocean session to work on advanced boogie boarding skills.
After lunch, we’ll have one final adventure together at the Fort Fisher Aquarium. Many campers have been to this aquarium, but we’ll see it from a completely different perspective. We’ll be guided through a behind-the-scenes tour to see all the animals that are kept on display, as well as some areas that you don’t see on a typical aquarium visit. It may inspire your camper to want to be an aquarist. It will be tough to say goodbye at the end of the week, but we know that many of you will see each other soon, hopefully in our kids surf camp!
GROM FAQ
Are the kids going to get to surf during Grom Camp?
- Yes, campers will participate in two surf sessions during the week. When not surfing, we will spend the rest of the week working on advanced boogie boarding skills. If your child wants to log more time on the surfboard, then maybe our Kids Surf Camp would be best suited for them.
My child isn’t the strongest swimmer, is Grom Camp for them?
- Campers that are looking to build their water stamina in the ocean should consider our Guppy Camp. This program is specifically designed to improve kids’ comfort level in and around the ocean.
Are there any requirement to attend Grom Camp?
- Since surfing can be a physically demanding sport, we do require that campers have strong water skills. They need to be able to swim 25 meters unassisted and be comfortable in water where they can’t touch the ground. Completion of Guppy Camp typically gives campers this level of competence.
What time does the camp run?
- Drop off is at 8:30 am and pick up is at 4:00 pm. To accommodate busy parents, late pickup is available until 5:00pm for an additional charge of $50 for the entire week.
Do you provide equipment?
- All our Groms are provided with long sleeve rash guard rental with SPF 50 as well as boogie boards and all the gear they’ll need for pier fishing and salt marsh crabbing and clamming.
Is there a lifeguard at the beach you use? I ‘m worried about some of the safety aspects of a surf camp.
- All of our camp instructors hold current American Red Cross Lifeguard Certifications including CPR for the Professional Rescuer and First Aid. One might even say that we over-qualify our team with this many lifeguards. We have an impeccable safety record and are very proud of it!
What happens if conditions are unfavorable for boogie boarding on a particular day?
- To accommodate larger surf or stronger wind conditions, the Grom counselors will incorporate fun-filled activities to educate the kids on staying safe and having fun in our ever-changing ocean. Safety is our primary concern, so in the rare event lightning or other storm system keeps us from completing our typical schedule, we have a variety of activities that our instructors will lead the campers through. There are always activities to be done in our Grom Camp Logbook and we also have available fish prints, ocean-themed games, and seashell crafts.
We are traveling to North Carolina from out of town. Are there hotels, rental properties, or campsites nearby that you can recommend?
- We maintain a list of recommended campsites, hotels, and real estate companies in the area. Please e-mail us at [email protected] and we’ll be happy to send it!
Frequently Asked Questions
My child isn’t the strongest swimmer, is Grom Camp for them?
Campers that are looking to build their water stamina in the ocean should consider our Guppy Camp. This program is specifically designed to improve kids’ comfort level in and around the ocean.
Are there any requirements to attend Grom Camp?
Since surfing can be a physically demanding sport, we do require that campers have strong water skills. They need to be able to swim 25 meters unassisted and be comfortable in water where they can’t touch the ground. Completion of Guppy Camp typically gives campers this level of competence.
What time does the camp run?
Drop off is at 8:30 am and pick up is at 4:00 pm. To accommodate busy parents, late pickup is available until 5:00pm for an additional charge of $50 for the entire week.
Do you provide equipment?
All our Groms are provided with long sleeve rash guard rental with SPF 50 as well as boogie boards and all the gear they’ll need for pier fishing and salt marsh crabbing and clamming.
Is there a lifeguard at the beach you use? I‘m worried about some of the safety aspects of a surf camp.
All of our camp instructors hold current American Red Cross Lifeguard Certifications including CPR for the Professional Rescuer and First Aid. One might even say that we over-qualify our team with this many lifeguards. We have an impeccable safety record and are very proud of it!
What happens if conditions are unfavorable for boogie boarding on a particular day?
To accommodate larger surf or stronger wind conditions, the Grom counselors will incorporate fun-filled activities to educate the kids on staying safe and having fun in our ever-changing ocean. Safety is our primary concern, so in the rare event lightning or other storm system keeps us from completing our typical schedule, we have a variety of activities that our instructors will lead the campers through. There are always activities to be done in our Grom Camp Logbook and we also have available fish prints, ocean-themed games, and seashell crafts.
We are traveling to North Carolina from out of town. Are there hotels, rental properties, or campsites nearby that you can recommend?
- We maintain a list of recommended campsites, hotels, and real estate companies in the area. Please e-mail us at [email protected] and we’ll be happy to send it!
Zach, Wilmington, NC
“Beck came home and gave us presentations based on the stuff he had learned each day, sometimes even making his own pollution models. He loved pulling the seine nets in the Intracoastal. We had to go to the store and buy our own! Out of four camps this summer, this was Beck’s favorite. He’s still wearing his rash guard! Awesome!”
Erin, Wilmington, NC
“So glad we did this camp towards the end of the summer! My son would have been highly disappointed with his camps the rest of the summer if we did this one first! He had an absolute blast and wants to do it for 2 weeks next summer. I am quite the nervous mother and felt 100% confident leaving him every day. Your staff is absolutely amazing and so positive and upbeat! This exceeded all expectations!”
Anne, Apex, NC
“This was without a doubt, the best summer camp experience my 7 and 9 year-old boys had this year. Not only did they get to have fun boogie boarding and enjoying NC’s beautiful beaches, but they also equally enjoyed all of the educational opportunities they were exposed to. I was impressed with the organization, maturity and positive attitudes of the counselors as well. Just re-enforces that you get what you pay for. An overall awesome experience.”
Margaret, Wilmington, NC
“When the week of Surf Camp was coming to an end my daughter expressed concern that she only had one day of camp left and was sad stating it had gone by too fast. I explained to her that time flies when you’re having fun and tends to go by more slowly when you are not. She questioned, “So what if I say I am not having fun at Surf Camp then it will go by more slowly?” Wrightsville Beach Surf Camp speaks for itself. It has energetic, knowledgeable kid friendly instructors, well organized environmental activities throughout the coastal community, and most importantly a founder who has changed the lives of many…one Guppy at a time.”
Anne, Raleigh, NC
“We come to Wrightsville every summer for 2 weeks from Raleigh. We do Guppy Camp the first week, and the second week they are so comfortable in the water, it makes it so much more enjoyable the rest of our time.”
Heather, Wilmington, NC
“My son was nervous about starting camp but Julie and all of the counselors were great. They found ways to get him involved. Everyday after camp we listened to all the exciting things the campers did. It was great to hear how much fun the kids had. As a mom, I appreciated that the counselors were about safety and fun. My son also loved to see the counselors on the beach this summer and was thrilled that they remembered him! Thanks Surf Camp! Looking forward to next year!”
Caroline, Charlotte, NC
“WB Surf Camp is by far the FAVORITE camp of our family (and we’ve done a few!) Everything is handled so professionally on the registration end, and the kids absolutely love it. The counselors are amazing each summer and I cannot say enough kind things about them!! The activities are varied and hold their interest. Their love of the beach and the ocean is magnified each time they finish a week. They leave teaching us about all they have learned.”
Dawn, Wilmington, NC
“WB Surf Camp was worth every penny. As locals, we want our child to understand and appreciate every aspect of marine life. You guys delivered! Julie, Rob, Sean, and Maggie made camp fun and assured our parental qualms. Thanks for a great week! See you next summer!”
Kimberly, Hampstead, NC
“I was really nervous to leave the children in someone else’s care while they were in the ocean waves. However, after the first drop off, my nervousness subsided. Rusty was very personable and confident and it was clear that he enjoyed the job. The children learned so much and even taught me some things throughout the week! Thanks so much to Rusty and the team! See you next year!”
Cristin, Raleigh, NC
“My son came home so excited every day to tell us about the great things he did at camp. They do such a variety of activities and teach the kids so much that you really get your money’s worth.”
Ellen, Columbia, SC
“This experience was an awesome way for Danielle to end the summer. She was very excited about the relationships that she built with the counselors. They were very supportive of her which makes a difference in a child’s life who has been through some very difficult times over the past 2 years. THANKS!”
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