UNDERSTANDING KIDS SURF CAMP CURRICULUM
Understanding Kids Surf Camp Curriculum
Since 2006, Summertime’s community-supported surf camps have earned the reputation as New Jersey’s #1 surf school. By combining positive role models, creative original programming, small student groups, and the ultimate classroom (our beach and ocean), our kids’ surf camps are the East Coast’s premier place to get started and stay involved with the surf lifestyle.
While we recognize (and embrace) the fact that campers are on summer vacation from school, we have found the most success when the campers and counselors are working together to achieve goals throughout the structure of the day. In short, these practices allow for more waves ridden, little distraction, and harmony among campers. Summertime Kid’s Camps achieve a balance where kids can learn through the freedom in their experience under our expert eye.
Summertime’s patented curriculum teaches surf skills, ocean skills, and life skills
in an organized and safe environment.
What is Surf Station?
The Surf Station focuses on developing surf-specific skills. Each child receives a board and starts on land, where we introduce the foundational concepts known as the 4 P’s. Alongside this, we discuss various parts of the surfboard and essential surf safety before outlining the session’s plan. Once this is complete, campers are ready to enjoy free surfing, with our instructors providing guidance throughout the experience.
After one week of Kids Surf Camp surfer will be able to demonstrate improvement in:
Surf Skills: 
- Surfboard control
- Proper paddle technique
- Surfboard positioning
- The 4 Ps of surfing
- Catching waves
- Making the drop
- Timing the sets
…and much more!
What is Ocean Skills?
The Ocean Skills station that all campers will rotate through each day. While our surf station focuses on surf-specific abilities, the Ocean Skills station concentrates on enhancing each camper’s strength, comfort, and confidence in the water. Throughout the week, we engage in a variety of activities.
- We typically kick off the week on Monday with swimming-based activities designed to boost confidence and help campers acclimate to our ocean environment.
- Next, we practice entering and exiting the water with surfboards, along with paddling and board control.
- As the week progresses, these activities become more advanced, culminating in an opportunity for each camper to surf more as we approach Friday.
After one week of Kids Surf Camp surfer will be able to demonstrate improvement in:
Ocean Skills:
- Lifeguard respect & the importance of expert supervision
- Entering & exiting the water safely
- Spinal cord injury risk awareness & mitigation skills
- Rip current recognition & response
- How to use the surfboard as a lifesaving aid
Summertime Surf Kids Surf Camp curriculum goes beyond learning to surf and gaining confidence in the ocean environment. Campers also learn important life skills that will stay with them forever. The premier program for kids to get started with the surf lifestyle. Summertime Surf camp’s proven curriculum teaches surf skills, ocean skills, and life skills in an organized and safe environment.
After one week of Kids Surf Camp surfer will be able to demonstrate improvement in:
Life Skills:
- Respect for others & the environment
- Physical awareness & control
- Calibrating confidence levels (both up and down)
- Basic yoga practice
- Friendship & sharing natural resources
Through the years, Summertime Surf Schools have strived to provide the best environment for teaching and learning, especially at our Kids’ Surf Camps. With experience and perspective on how kids learn best, our core surfers have created an original curriculum that keeps the surf camp experience positive and effective for campers of all ages and abilities.
Our dedication to the next generation of surfers can be seen in the way we have improved our curriculum every year. Summertime Surf Camp is designed to teach the fundamentals in one week. While one week might not be enough for every surf camper to surf completely on their own, it’s the best way to start. Highly focused students learn enough in one week to effectively and safely practice their new skills on their own for the rest of the season (with lifeguard supervision).
- Through the years, Summertime Surf Schools have strived to provide the best environment for teaching and learning, especially at our Kids’ Surf Camps. With experience and perspective on how kids learn best, our core surfers have created an original curriculum that keeps the surf camp experience positive and effective for campers of all ages and abilities.THE SUMMERTIME SURF CAMP WEEK-LONG CURRICULUM:
- Builds surfing and ocean safety skills purposefully and effectively
- Teaches a well-rounded understanding of surfing and ocean safety
- Uses cumulative skill-building – starting on Monday and concluding on Friday
- Each day of camp has a new surf theme and goals for campers to reach.
- The most important day is Monday – this is where surfing basics and important Safety Systems are explained at length.
- Fridays are a special day where we tie all the lessons together in review and show how the lessons all work together to make well-rounded, safe surfers.
- Also, the Friday award ceremony recognizes campers for individual achievements.
Our dedication to the next generation of surfers can be seen in the way we have improved our curriculum every year. Summertime Surf Camp is designed to teach the fundamentals in one week. While one week might not be enough for every surf camper to surf completely on their own, it’s the best way to start. Highly focused students learn enough in one week to effectively and safely practice their new skills on their own for the rest of the season (with lifeguard supervision).
- Through the years, Summertime Surf Schools have strived to provide the best environment for teaching and learning, especially at our Kids’ Surf Camps. With experience and perspective on how kids learn best, our core surfers have created an original curriculum that keeps the surf camp experience positive and effective for campers of all ages and abilities.THE SUMMERTIME SURF CAMP WEEK-LONG CURRICULUM:
- Builds surfing and ocean safety skills purposefully and effectively
- Teaches a well-rounded understanding of surfing and ocean safety
- Uses cumulative skill-building – starting on Monday and concluding on Friday
- Each day of camp has a new surf theme and goals for campers to reach.
- The most important day is Monday – this is where surfing basics and important Safety Systems are explained at length.
- Fridays are a special day where we tie all the lessons together in review and show how the lessons all work together to make well-rounded, safe surfers.
- Also, the Friday award ceremony recognizes campers for individual achievements.
Our dedication to the next generation of surfers can be seen in the way we have improved our curriculum every year. Summertime Surf Camp is designed to teach the fundamentals in one week. While one week might not be enough for every surf camper to surf completely on their own, it’s the best way to start. Highly focused students learn enough in one week to effectively and safely practice their new skills on their own for the rest of the season (with lifeguard supervision).