Guppy Ocean Adventure Camp
2025 Registration starting soon!
Overview
Our Guppy Ocean Adventure Camp takes place on Wrightsville, Kure, and Topsail beaches and is designed for children ages 6 to 10. During this week-long Wilmington summer camp, kids learn about ocean safety and multiple components of our amazing coastal environment.
We know that a child’s first experiences with the ocean will shape their attitude towards it for the rest of their lives. In our “learn-by-doing” Guppy Camps, kids will learn how waves are formed, when and where it is safest to enter the ocean, warning signs of ocean/weather dangers, how to stay safe while at the beach, and many other facets of cool marine life education.
Participants will also learn about ocean safety, which raises young beach goers’ levels of awareness and instills ocean safety practices that can be applied to every beach in the world, such as rip current identification and awareness, marine life education, surf advisories, and more. Your child will leave our Guppy Summer Camp with a basic understanding of ocean dynamics, water safety, sun protection, and basic first aid skills. The only requirement is that campers are able to swim, and ready to have lots of fun!
Download our Kids Summer Camp catalog HERE
Highlights include:
- Extensive daily boogie board and water sport instruction
- Guided interactive tour of the North Carolina Aquarium
- Observing turtle rehabilitation at the Karen Beasley Sea Turtle Hospital
- Learn from a park ranger at Carolina Beach State Park
- Salt marsh exploration: fishing, seining, crabbing, and clamming
- Unlimited photos taken by our staff photographer available.
- 4:1 camper-to-counselor ratio
- Learning about ocean hazards and ocean safety
- Enrollment limited to 16 students per session
Guppy Camp is Monday through Friday, from 8:30AM – 4:00PM. Campers can be dropped off and picked up at our Wrightsville Beach office location. To accommodate busy parents, late pickup is available until 5:00pm for an additional charge of $50 for the entire week. These 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 tour of NC Aquarium, rash guard, all equipment, certificate of achievement, and memorable group photo. NOTE: This is not a surfing program and surfing will not be an activity in these camps.
2025 Dates
GUPPY CAMP ITINERARY
Monday
It’s 8:30 am and today begins your child’s week-long adventure exploring the Wilmington coast and its different habitats. The Guppies start the day in true summer fashion – heading to Wrightsville Beach for boogie board and ocean safety instruction. As they cross the dunes amid swaying grasses, they get their first glimpse of the waiting ocean. Under the shade of our tent we get to know each other and go over beach and ocean safety before beginning supervised time in the water either boogie boarding, swimming, or body surfing. We will never exceed a 4:1 camper to instructor ratio while in the ocean.
After a picnic on the beach, we visit Airlie Gardens to eat lunch and take part in an environmental activity with the county’s water quality department. Afterwards we head back to where it all started – the beach. After one last boogie boarding session, we will return your Guppy to you.
Tuesday
Today your child will travel a short distance from Wilmington up to Topsail Beach and will come face-to-face with real-life superheroes. We will tour the Karen Beasley Sea Turtle Hospital in its brand new facility. Here your child will see various species of sea turtles that have been rescued by Animal Planet’s Hero of the Year, Jean Beasley, for rehabilitation. After an incredible afternoon with some amazing creatures, we drive back to Wrightsville Beach thinking about the ways that we can help the sea turtles.
Following a beach picnic, Guppies will take water to get some more time riding waves on their boogie boards.
Wednesday
We’re half-way through our week of adventure. Today your child will students will learn about animals that live in the intertidal zone. We will also talk about something that seems impossible – the movement of an island. Barrier islands move and change shape throughout the years and your child will learn how that is possible. They will also learn about marine debris, its effects on the environment, and conduct a beach sweep for debris!
After lunch, the Guppies will traverse a barrier island, from the ocean to the marsh. Having previously learned about animals that live on the beaches, we will now see where some start out life – in the estuary. Using seine and cast nets, your junior marine biologist will learn about different organisms and the adaptations that allow them to thrive in that environment. We will also try and uncover some of the critters buried in the sediment as we go crabbing and clamming.
Thursday
We start off by road-tripping to 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 at the Recreation Area, we’re off to the Fort Fisher Aquarium. Here, Guppies interact with horseshoe crabs and sea stars as they learn about the life of the spineless (invertebrates, in science-speak). By day’s end, your child will be reciting all the animals they saw, especially Luna, the Aquarium’s albino alligator. We finish the day at the beach for a final ocean session playing in the waves with our new appreciation for marine life.
Friday
We’ll start off the day with our final ocean session, catching our last few ways, and enjoying our final wipe-outs for this week of camp!
After lunch, Guppies trade playing in the water for playing in a band as they head to the North Carolina Ukulele Academy. Together your keiki (child) and his or her new friends are taught how to strum the ukulele, while also learning about Hawaiian culture and the traditional songs from the islands. But we may see them again very soon – many Guppies finish their adventure by asking their parents if they can return to camp the next week, so be prepared!
Frequently Asked Questions
Are there any requirements to attend Guppy Camp?
The only requirement is that your camper is able to swim. Our instructors will work with them to further develop their comfort in the water over the course of the week.
Where does the camp take place?
Guppy Camp drop off takes place at our beach office at SurfBerry on Harbor Island at Wrightsville Beach. While at camp our campers are constantly on the move. From Access #4 on Wrightsville Beach for boogie boarding down to the aquarium at Ft Fisher and up to the Sea Turtle Hospital on Topsail Island. Each day is different, with planned marine education activities around the Wilmington area. If bad weather ensues they may even take refuge at the WB Surf Camp Office and watch Finding Nemo on the big screen.
Do you provide equipment?
All our Guppies are provided with long sleeve rash guards 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?
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 Guppy counselors will incorporate fun-filled activities to educate the kids on staying safe and having fun in our ever-changing ocean. If we have to leave the beach due to lightning, we will head back to our Ogden WB Surf Camp office classroom for educational slideshows, activities, and movies. We average a 97% surfability factor during our summer season, so days are rarely missed.