Overnight California Teen Surf Camp
2024 Schedule Coming Soon!
Overview
Experience the iconic surf culture of the West Coast as part of our Teen California Surf and Adventure Camp. Travel to the state that helped revolutionize the sport. Our unique adventure will take you away from the crowds of southern California to the famous Central Coast, the land of point-breaks. We will travel the coastline from the Monterey Bay Aquarium down to the Santa Barbara Channel, staying in cabins situated on the sides of mountains to experience all the beauty California has to offer.
During this 14-day adventure, you will receive coaching from our amazing instructors using our proven teaching methodology to develop a strong base of surfing fundamentals. This summer camp is designed for all ability levels, from beginners with no prior surfing experience, while intermediate surfers will be able to further hone their skills. California’s central cost holds several world class breaks in addition to plenty of sand bottom beaches that cater to newer surfers.
Highlights include:
- Over 30 hours of surf time along Califronia’s Central Coast
- Visit the Monterey Bay Aquarium
- Kayak the Morro Bay Estuary
- Explore the world famous Redwood forests
- Explore world famous Redwood forests
- Soak in the hot springs after a morning in the surf
- Tour the famous Channel Islands Surf Shop
- Visit the Santa Barbara Surf Museum
Tuition includes lodging, meals, 24-hour adult supervision, shuttle to and from the San Luis Obispo Airport (SBP), a rental surfboard, professional outdoor leaders, 10 hours of community service credit, daily transportation, WB Surf Camp t-shirt, activity fees, and memorable group photo. Enrollment is limited to 15 students per session.
2023 Dates
Accommodations
What sets this incredible camp apart is the sense of adventure it offers by spending two weeks in log cabins with an awesome view. S’mores and a campfire each night will be enhanced by stargazing into an illuminated crisp clear night sky with very little light pollution.
Our lodging at the Santa Margarita KOA is a seventy-acre campground carved into the side of a hill covered in oaks and pines. Designed with sustainability in mind, their passive solar cabins sleep 10 people and include indoor restrooms.
The Salinas/ Monterey KOA have the comforts of a small beach side town and the quiet of a beautiful canyon. These grounds are in the heart of central California only minutes from Monterey and Santa Cruz. Here you will get to check out the Santa Cruz Board Walk, the Monterey Aquarium, and different surf breaks including Moss Landing.
ITINERARY
DAYs 1-2: CAMP KICK OFF, INTRO TO CALIFORNIA
Your trip leaders will be waiting for you at the San Luis Obispo Regional Airport and then we’re off to our cozy cabins to unpack, after which we’ll have an old-fashioned summer cookout as we catch the first of many west coast sunsets, capped off with a campfire then it’s off to bed. We’ll want to get a good night’s rest in for all the different adventures to come – starting with our first surf session! After sliding into our wetsuits, campers who are beginning their surfing journey will go through Ground School, where our staff will talk about ocean safety and basic techniques before we ride our first waves.
DAYS 3-4: SURF SESSIONS, HIKING AND COASTAL EXPLORATION
Today, we’ll be charging again with a full morning of surfing on tap, hitting Pismo Beach Pier after a solid breakfast. Once everyone has surfed their fill, we will have lunch on the beach before heading to Montona de Oro for a short hike and tidepool exploration. The following day we’ll switch it up and head south to Santa Barbara, checking the world-class point-breaks the county has to offer. After a morning of surf we will stop in the Channel Islands Surf Shop, visit the popular Stearns Warf, and have dinner at one of our favorite oceanfront restaurants.
DAYS 5-7: SURF SESSIONS, SEMINARS, AND KAYAKING
In this camp you will log over thirty hours in the water! Our main break will be Pismo Beach, but if the conditions call for it, we may also check Shell Beach, Avila Beach, or Oceano. We will also get a few surf sessions in at Morro Rock, and iconic Central California Landmark as well as excellent surf spot. After our first session here, we will take a break from the waves and hop over to the Morro Bay Estuary for a kayak exploration, keeping our eyes peeled for sea otters napping in the kelp.
DAYS 8-11: MONTEREY BAY AQUARIUM, SANTA CRUZ, AND BEYOND
Now it’s time to take our adventure on the road, as we head to the Monterey area. Once we arrive, we’ll settle into our cabins and then begin exploring local breaks like Moss Landing and La Selva Beach. We’ll visit the famous Monterey Bay Aquarium where we’ll come face-to-face with sharks, seals, otters, sea lions, sea stars, and penguins. While in this area we will also head north to Santa Cruz to visit the Santa Cruz Surf Museum, explore the boardwalk, and take in the views this famous surf town has to offer.
DAYS 12-14: BIKES, ROAD TRIPS, AND SURF SESSIONS
During our final days of this amazing trip, we return to our cabins at Santa Margarita, and to some of our favorite surf breaks around Morro Bay. We’ll spend the last few days soaking up the surf, roasting s’mores, and beautiful sunsets. To recover from this action-packed two weeks, we’ll give our paddling muscles a nice relaxing soak at Avila Hot Springs, and take a scenic bike ride down Avila Beach. On the last full day of camp we surf all day, until sunset, to make the most of our time in this magical part California.
Throughout the two weeks our campers get to truly experience the California lifestyle. Paddling into waves, hiking through the forests, learning about local customs and people are all part of this unique experience that’s hard to match. As our last day of camp arrives, we say goodbye to the Californian way of life, but know that the memories we have made and the bonds we have formed will be with us forever.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you provide equipment or should I bring my own?
We provide a variety of longboards to use. Intermediate to advanced surfers are encouraged to bring up to two of their favorite boards.
Where will I be surfing?
While the beaches around Morro Bay will be some of our primary surfing breaks during our California Surf Camp, we’ll also travel the coast from Monterey to Santa Barbara exploring the culture and the different breaks. This allows us to get a really rich surf experience, in addition to seeing some of the most beautiful coastlines in California.
Will there be pictures of me surfing?
We will be taking taking high quality, high resolution photos throughout the week. We will be posting pics to Instagram and FaceBook as well as viewing them at camp.
Can I call home during camp?
We have all campers check in with their parents upon arrival, but we have limited parental contact for the duration of the camp. WB Surf Camp is a growing experience, and we find that young people do best and gain confidence through independence. Campers are NOT allowed to carry cell phones at any time during camp. Any cell phones brought to camp will be collected upon arrival and returned upon departure. Parents will be updated through emails and the many pictures we’ll be posting on Facebook throughout the trip! We will provide an after-hours number to reach the office in the event of an emergency.
Will I need a wetsuit to surf in California?
Most of the California coast experiences ocean temperatures that rarely go higher than 70 degrees Fahrenheit, making wetsuits necessary year-round for surfers. We recommend buying a 4/3 wetsuit online prior to coming to camp, as rental wetsuits can leak or fit poorly.
What/where will we be eating?
Your counselors will take you out to some of the best local restaurants in Central California, and our favorite meals are the Family Cookouts, where we will eat family style meals together on the patios of our cabins while taking in an awesome view. All restaurants and prepared meals can adhere to any diet restrictions, just let us know!
Who will my coaches be?
We pride ourselves in finding talented, experienced surf instructors for our camps, who all come from unique surfing backgrounds. After running camps in this part of California for several years, and love bringing new surfers to this uncrowded and beautiful part of the California coast.
What are the waves like in California?
California benefits from constant swell activity coming from the deep Pacific Ocean. Long period swells continuously pulse from the Gulf of Alaska, as well as the tropics, creating fun-sized surf all year. We will surf a few different beach breaks with the occasional sand-bottomed point break, all of which hold waves for all ability levels.
Will I see any wildlife during camp?
Several of our activities take place in nature reserves, state parks, and national parks. During this camp we are highly likely to see marine mammals such as wild sea otters, harbor seals, sea lions, and dolphins. During hikes we may see foxes, coyotes, deer, rabbits, and various birds of prey. While we love encountering and observing these animals, we always keep an appropriate distance to minimize the impact our presence has on them and their habitat.