WB Surf Camp Team

Rick Civelli – Founder/President

As a kid, Rick Civelli spent his summers clamming, fishing, and of course surfing. Without realizing it, his appreciation for environmental conservation was ingrained before his teens. He graduated from UNC-Wilmington with his Bachelors in Environmental Studies. During college and after graduation he worked as a marine science educator at the North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher. For three years he developed and facilitated programs while teaching thousands of adults and children about the wonders of our coastal ecosystems. During both his undergraduate and graduate studies, he was an assistant director for UNCW’s Marine Science Summer Camp Program.

To broaden his professional development he later worked as a permit and enforcement officer for the North Carolina Division of Coastal Management. Taking a different approach to environmental conservation, he reviewed and permitted coastal development projects, and issued fines for remediation of impacted coastal resources. Rick sat on the Board of Directors for the Society of Masonboro Island and is a member the Surfrider Foundation, and the NC Aquarium Society. He also spent 3 years pursuing a Masters Degree in Coastal Geology from UNC-Wilmington’s Center for Marine Science where he studied coastal processes.

In the winter of 1995, Rick developed a marine science educational learn to surf program for our local aquarium which he called “Surf’s Up”. Since then he has taught thousands of students of all ages the sport of surfing while enlightening them of the wonders of our coastal environment.

His travels have brought him to surf and study coastal processes and habitats all over the world. He has explored coral reefs in Hawaii, Puerto Rico, Anegada, Antigua, Bermuda, Jost Van Dyke, St Lucia, St Thomas, St John, and St Martin. He has swam with sea turtles in, Tortola, Baja Mexico, Barbados, and Costa Rica, sharks in Looe Key national marine sanctuary, sting rays in the Bahamas, sea lions in Peru, and dolphins off Key West Florida.

He has surfed up and down the east coast from Nantucket to Block Island to Cape Hatteras to Sebastian inlet. He has also caught many epic swells on the West coast from Morro Bay to Tourmaline San Diego. On several occasions Rick has also ventured to the North Shore of Oahu, where he visited famous surf breaks including Waimea Bay, Pipeline, Sunset and Sandy Beach.

With his love for surfing and utmost respect for the ocean and it’s resources, Rick has developed this unparalleled fun experience known as “WB Surf Camp.”

Jen Civelli – Co-Founder

Jen’s first experience with sea turtles was the beginning of a lifelong commitment to sea turtle conservation and taking care of our oceanic resources.  She started volunteering at the Karen Beasley Sea Turtle Hospital & Rehabilitation Center in 2001.

Jen has fifteen years of experience in higher education as an instructor of Chemistry at both Cape Fear Community College and the University of North Carolina at Wilmington.  Jen loves to teach and educate today’s youth and young adult population, especially in the field of sea turtles and coastal conservation.

Jen’s passion for the marine environment started living along the California coast while in college.  Jen received her Bachelors’ degree in Biochemistry from California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo.  Her passion followed her to San Diego State University where she earned her Master’s Degree in Chemistry.

Jen loves to travel and experience new environments and cultures.  She especially loves warm-water surf destinations where she can spend time in the water with her husband, two sons, and two dogs.  Jen can often be found on a sporting field cheering on her boys’ games!

Deaton Wright – Operations Director

Born and raised in North Carolina, Deaton spent most of his childhood on the beach or in the mountains. He attended his freshman year of college at Lenoir-Rhyne University where he was an NCAA Academic and Athletic All-American swimmer. He then transferred to UNCW in 2012 where he began his career with WB Surf Camp. While attending college he worked in many different roles within the company to include teen overnight camps, day camps and international surf coaching. He has a passion to teach, travel and positively influence the lives of others.

Upon graduating from college, Deaton found himself fully immersed in a winter wonderland while working on the mountain in Breckenridge, Colorado. He was thankful for the experience but his love for the ocean led him back to the east coast where he moved to the Outer Banks (OBX) of North Carolina. It is here that he honed in on his skills in staff management, operations, international travel programming and of course the heavy barreling surf that the area has to offer. While living in the OBX he maintained his relationship with Surf Camp and spent time coaching in Tortola and Costa Rica.

After years of experience in the water-sports industry, Deaton’s aptitude for logistics, operations, concern for conservation and search for more meaning in his career led him back to Surf Camp, where he is the Operations Director. In his free time, you can find him fishing the inland waters of NC, hiking in the Blue Ridge Mountains, searching for barrels and researching his next surf trip.

Kasey Schollenberger – Program Director

Kasey was born and raised in Toms River, New Jersey. Growing up on the Jersey Shore, she was able to visit the beach year round and develop a true connection to the ocean and all of the related wildlife and ecosystems. At a very young age, she knew that she wanted to spend her life developing her passion for the ocean and marine life.

In 2008, Kasey moved to North Carolina to pursue a Bachelor’s degree in Marine Biology from the University of North Carolina Wilmington (UNCW). While completing her degree, she volunteered and interned at the NC Aquarium at Fort Fisher. Soon after graduating, Kasey interned at the University of Georgia’s Marine Extension Service and Aquarium as an environmental educator. This is where her passion for environmental education flourished. Following that internship, Kasey decided to further her education and returned to UNCW to pursue a Master’s of Science degree in Environmental Science and Coastal Management. Kasey has a wide variety of education experience in the fields of marine and environmental science, which have all deepened her love for public outreach and all things related to the marine environment.

When Kasey isn’t teaching about the ocean, she can be found at the beach reading a book, hiking, kayaking, or doing just about anything outdoors! She is very excited to have found her way back to Wilmington and loves that she gets to spend winters in North Carolina instead of freezing in New Jersey!

Chase O’Briant – Program Coordinator

Chase was born and raised in Wilmington, North Carolina.  He taught himself how to surf at the age of eight, and grew up surfing the north side of Crystal Pier in Wrightsville Beach.   When he isn’t surfing, Chase spends most of his time fishing, tending his garden, or writing music.  In high school, Chase was the founder and president of his school’s Surf Club, he played varsity soccer, was deeply involved in the local music community, and earned the Eagle Scout Award.

Chase graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 2018 with a degree in English and Political Science.  One of the highlights from his years in school was being a student when the Tar Heels won the 2017 NCAA Basketball Championship.   As a student, Chase worked as a lifeguard at the campus pool, and coached campus-league soccer teams in both the men’s and co-ed divisions, winning one title in the co-ed division.  It was during this time that Chase became a surf instructor with WB Surf Camp.

Chase started as a Surf Lesson Instructor in 2016, he then moved into the role of Day Surf Camp Unit Leader, spent time in Costa Rica guiding our travel programs, and later joined our administration team as a Program Coordinator. As a Wilmington local, Chase has extensive knowledge of the beaches in the area, has proven his ability as an excellent surf coach, and is passionate about spreading his love for coastal culture.

Mead Krówka – Program Coordinator

Born outside Chicago, Illinois, Mead has always been drawn to the water. In 2008, Mead moved with his family to Asheville, NC, where he volunteered at the Pisgah Center for Wildlife Education, sparking his interest in the natural world. This led to Mead becoming PADI Open Water Dive certified in 2014, PADI Rescue Diver certified in 2017, and maintaining continuous American Red Cross Lifeguard certification since 2015.

In 2017, Mead moved to Wilmington to begin his career at UNCW. It was at this time he learned to surf and has been in the water with every given opportunity since. Since then, he has been experimenting with different board shapes and styles, his favorite board being a 6’1 Single Fin Bonzer. During his time at UNCW, Mead was a member of the UNCW SCUBA Club and an intern for the Alliance for Cape Fear Trees. He also completed a directive individual study in 2020, studying the diet of the Greater Northern Galago primates, publishing his research in the American Journal of Biological Anthropology.

Mead graduated magna cum laude in 2021 with a B.S. in Environmental Science, a B.A. in Anthropology, and a Chemistry minor. Immediately following, he became the Sea Turtle Camp SCUBA Marine Educator, before transitioning to his current position as the WB Surf Camp Program Coordinator. In his free time, Mead is most likely surfing on Wrightsville Beach. He also enjoys shaping surfboard fins, exploring shipwrecks, and enjoying all the natural beauty coastal NC has to offer!

Bailey Kaufman – Program Coordinator

Bailey grew up year-round on Fire Island, New York. She spent her entire childhood on the sands of the tiny barrier island, always doing her part educating visitors, local communities, and other parties about her hometowns’ wildlife, history, and environmental issues. She has deep love and respect for the ocean and all it offers. Her goal is to help others feel the same by educating them about the importance of marine and coastal ecosystems.

In 2016, Bailey ventured to St. Augustine, Florida, to receive her bachelor’s degree in Hospitality and Tourism Management and a minor in Spanish at Flagler College. She was an active member of the college’s sustainability club and always volunteered within the community. During her final semester, Bailey interned at Anastasia State Park and gained abundant experience working with Florida’s wildlife, especially with sea turtles! After graduating in 2020, she completed a 50-week AmeriCorps service term through Conservation Legacy, serving as the Community Volunteer Ambassador for Fire Island National Seashore. During this time, her interest in conservation, community outreach, and environmental education grew stronger. She is currently enhancing her outdoor teaching skills and science/nature content knowledge through the North Carolina Environmental Education Certificate program.

Bailey spends her free time surfing, painting, hiking, cooking, practicing yoga, and exploring nature. She loves to travel and encourages individuals to travel sustainably and support local communities!

Liz Smith – On-Site Camp Director

Liz grew up going to summer camp and enjoyed it so much she decided to make a career of it! Combining her love of camp with a passion for coastal science led her to get a master’s degree in Environmental Education from UNCW. Liz has also worked at the NC Aquarium on Roanoke Island as an educator, UNCW as an adjunct professor, and many, many camps as a naturalist. This is her second year with Surf Camp, but her 28th year at a summer camp. From CIT, to counselor, all the way to director, Liz has worked nearly every position at camp but most enjoys now being able to teach young adults about working with kids, teaching about the environment, and becoming professionals themselves.

Liz originally hails from Illinois and first fell in love with the ocean at the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago. Moving to the ocean was her first priority after high school, and she’s lived within 10 miles of the beach ever since. Her favorite coastal activity is kayaking in the Intracoastal Waterway and marshes. When not at camp, Liz spends time fostering retired racing greyhounds, making crafts and sewing, and reading science fiction.

Elena Grace – Social Director

Elena Grace is the Social Director at WB Surf Camp. Having grown up on the coast her whole life, her love and appreciation for the ocean have only increased with time. Elena Grace was brought to Wilmington for school where she attended UNCW for a degree in English Professional Writing. Passionate about creating, and a huge fan of the Surf Camp and sister brands, Elena Grace could not be happier to be a part of the WB team. On a normal day, you will likely find Elena Grace with a coffee or camera, planning the next content shoot! 

Icah Wilmot – Ambassador – Adult Travel Coach

As Jamaica’s first pro-surfer, ISA level 2 surf coach, and the holder of countless championship titles, Icah is deeply invested in the surfing community. In addition to teaching surf lessons in Jamaica, Icah also coaches Jamaica’s Paralympic team of surfers.

His father founded the Jamaica Surf Association, as well as owns and operates Jamaica’s longest running surf school, Jamnesia.  In fact, Icah still makes time between work and competitions to surf, teach, and jam around the campfire with his family.  Today, Icah Wilmot is a household name in Jamaica and in the world of surfing.

Despite a long list of surfing accomplishments, Icah is best known for his warm and friendly personality, along with his humble and sociable attitude towards all his fellow ocean lovers.  Whether you are a new surfing grom or seasoned shredder, Icah welcomes you to the water with encouragement and positivity that will truly make you feel like a surfer.

Flash Miranda – Costa Rica/Peru Surf Coach

Flash is a Costa Rican native who spent more time in the water than out of it growing up.  At age 15, Flash moved from the city of Liberia to the coastal region of Playa Marbella to pursue surfing full time.  He later became a full-time surf instructor in Tamarindo and it was there where Flash developed new techniques to teach people how to surf, including video analysis and surf seminars.

In May 2016, Flash opened his own surf school and retreat company. We have worked with Flash since 2005 and consider him a part of our family! He joins our team to provide our clients with professional instruction and a true locals’ experience.  He is a bi-lingual instructor for Adult and Teen Costa Rica camps as well as our adult surf trips to Peru.

Rob Manion – NC Teen Overnight Counselor/Surf Instructor

Rob is from Benson, NC and started his surfing journey when he came to Wilmington for college in 2015. His life changed in 2016 when he studied in Spain and surfed in the northern coastal regions of Santander and the Basque Country. Rob graduated from UNC Wilmington in 2020 with a Master’s in Spanish, and since then has been living in California and most recently Mexico, surfing and adventuring whenever possible. He is a big fan of burritos and Haruki Murakami novels.

This will be Rob’s fourth year in the water with Surf Camp. He considers it an honor and a privilege to be able to work another year in the ocean and share the joy and healing that surfing brings.

Lily Crawford – NC Teen Overnight Counselor/Surf Instructor

Lily grew up in Virginia Beach where she spent every second she could get at the beach. Lily learned how to surf from a family friend when she was six years old, and immediately fell in love with the sport. In middle school, she and some friends decided to start surfing competitively. Doing competitions with her friends made competitive surfing fun, but also added another element to surfing by allowing her to challenge herself and improve her skills. Lily is currently a sophomore at Clemson University studying graphic communications and absolutely loving it! Her family moved to Richmond, VA a few years ago, so she is not able to be around the ocean as much as she used to be, but that means she has learned to cherish every minute she gets in the water so much more. Some of the coolest places Lily has surfed are Costa Rica, Hawaii, and Hatteras Island, NC. She has spent almost every summer since she was eight going to summer camps where she has made some of her best memories and friends as a camper, junior counselor, and counselor. This will be Lily’s second year at Surf Camp and she is thrilled to be able to come back to continue to share her love for the ocean and surfing!

Kylie Swanick – NC Teen Overnight Counselor/Surf Instructor

Kylie lives in the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania area and practically grew up in the pool. As a kid, she’d stay in the water all day until her lips were blue and fingers winkled, and she would still be ecstatic to compete in swim meets at night. Kylie has spent vacations at the Jersey Shore, where her affinity for the ocean and nature began. She always knew she wanted to be by the water forever. Kylie believes the ocean positively impacts everyone; it creates a sense of community. She loves being out in the ocean, with friends, and away from technology. Last summer Kylie was a beach patrol lifeguard for Sea Isle City and the summer before that she worked as an EMT. Kylie is a nursing student at West Chester University and is very involved in the sustainability and yoga club and working special Olympics events. Her favorite things are swimming, surfing, snowboarding, art, music, cliff jumping, pickles, road trips, and animals. Kylie would be described as having a fun and adventurous spirit, which perfectly captures her style. She thinks surfing is simply about the joy of riding the waves.

Ivy Pratola – Carolina Ocean Odyssey Marine Educator

Ivy is originally from Kennett Square, Pennsylvania. She has spent the last four years skiing, surfing and hiking throughout New England while attending Plymouth State University in Plymouth, New Hampshire. She majored in Environmental Science and Policy and plans on continuing her education in a Master of Teaching program next spring. Ivy’s been surfing since she was about 7, and grew up surfing on the Jersey Shore and in the Outer Banks. This is Ivy’s second summer working in summer camps and she is so excited to spend it at WB Surf Camp.

Nicole Kirsten – Carolina Ocean Odyssey Counselor

Meet Nicole, often known as Nicki or Nics. She is 24 years old, born and raised in Johannesburg, South Africa. She studied Sport Science and Biokinetics at the University of Pretoria and graduated in 2020. After college, she then returned to Johannesburg to do an internship in 2021. After studying and completing the internship, she became fully qualified for work, but first wanted to take the time to travel, adventure and see a bit of the world this year.

Growing up Nicki’s favorite holiday trips were always (and still are) at the beach or at a local reservoir. She adores the beach, being outdoors and in the sunshine; she is happiest on a boat or swimming in the sea. She is always keen to try new things and see new places, no matter how extravagant or simple, just as long as you refer to it as being an “adventure”. Nicki loves music and dancing and more often than not is the first on and last one off the dance floor.

Some fun facts about Nicki: she can play the drums, has her skippers license, considers “Footloose” to be the best movie ever made, and her three favorite things are strawberry ice cream, classic VW beetles and country music.

Griffin Hulkower – Teen Costa Rica Travel Camp Surf Instructor

Born and Raised in Virginia, Griffin had his first experience surfing when he was 12 years old. Describing the first time he stood up on a wave “I knew I wanted to do this for the rest of my life.” Griffin spent the last two years of high school studying in Costa Rica, where he frequently surfed breaks along the central Pacific region of the country. Following his graduation, he deferred his enrollment and spent 3 months in Morocco, where he completed his ISA level 1 surf instructor certification. His next stop was Panama, where he volunteered with an NGO working to educate and empower the indigenous communities of Panama. He was also responsible for their surf outreach program-taking local youth into the lineup and teaching them to surf.

Griffin attended UNCW and joined the Surf Camp team in the Summer of 2015. He spent his summers as an Instructor, and the rest of his year studying Psychology. He graduated in the spring of 2019 and moved to Asheville, North Carolina to pursue his career in Wilderness Therapy. Although he does not surf as much as he would like to, he spends his free time backpacking and hiking throughout the Blue Ridge Mountains, as well as sneaking off to El Salvador for a week of surfing where he can.

He is a firm believer in the necessity of outdoor experience as a facilitator of personal growth and deepening of experience in our lives, and the importance of experiencing other cultures. He has found much meaning through his own experiences, and feels grateful to help provide others with a similar opportunity.

Lauren Emmer – Surf Instructor

Lauren grew up an Army “brat” living in California, Texas, Kansas, Hawaii, and Colorado, all before the age of 8. However, she lived in CO for 10 years, and considers the Rocky Mountains her home. While in CO, Lauren enjoyed exploring the outdoors through horseback barrel racing, hiking, white water rafting, and snowboarding, but always maintained a love for the water. Lauren served as a Red Cross certified lifeguard here for 4 years.

In 2017, Lauren moved to NC from CO to attend UNCW. While at UNCW, Lauren learned how to surf, and she apologizes to her mom since for her absurd devotion to chasing waves. Lauren’s passion for surfing has taken her on surf trips along the east coast and Outer Banks of NC, and she is currently planning a trip to Costa Rica in April. ¡Pura Vida! While at UNCW, Lauren was also a member of the UNCW Scuba club, volunteer diver at the NC Aquarium at Fort Fisher, and Head Lifeguard for 2 years. Lauren graduated in 2021 with a BA in Psychology and minor in Spanish.

Lauren joined the WB Surf Camp team in 2020 as an Activities Coordinator and SUP Instructor: 2022 will be Lauren’s third year working for WB Surf Camp, and second year as a surf instructor. Lauren is currently pursuing her ISA Level 1 Surf Instructor Certification in March to gain accreditation to teach surf lessons all over the world! Her favorite part of teaching surf lessons is being able to share the joy and purpose surfing has given her, with others. With her background in psychology, Lauren encourages her students to enjoy all the fullness that surfing has to offer by reflecting on their inner experience in the water.

Karin Plank– COO Marine Educator

Courtney Normand- Surf School Coordinator

Aaron Tarpley- Kitchen Manager

Chris Harris- WB Day Surf Camp Unit Leader

Laura Sheppard- Surf Instructor

Colby Blackwell- Surf Instructor

James Nagaoka- Carolina Ocean Odyssey Unit Leader

Anna Raines- Private Surf Instructor