Overnight Surf Camps - Teen Wrightsville Beach, NC
This seven day overnight surf camp
at Wrightsville Beach takes place on the pristine beaches of southeastern North Carolina. Money magazine has named the southern end of the North Carolina Coast one of the top 12 vacation spots in North America. This area, known as the "Cape Fear Coast" is considered the Hollywood of the East Coast and home to the hit WB shows One Tree Hill and Dawson's Creek. For you wahines, we were rated by SG Girl magazine as one of the top ten places in the world to travel alone for an unforgettable overnight surf camp adventure. With average summertime water temps in the low 80s, wetsuits are not needed and our calm, summertime waves are perfect for beginner surfers.
Our overnight teen summer camps are exciting, fun filled weeks of surfing, improving your skills, and exploring different coastal ecosystems on the East Coast. Come surf several different islands while having the time of your life! Stay in air-conditioned cabins at Wilmington’s premier KOA Campground, conveniently located between both of our main surfing breaks and less than one mile from our headquarters. While we cater to the absolute beginner, intermediates receive advanced coaching by our staff of professional instructors who will take you to the next level. You can search high and low, but you will find that we run the highest quality, most professional teen surf camp on the planet! Bring your friends, or come by yourself and see why Surfer Magazine rated Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina one of America's top 10 surfing towns.
Activities include:
Extensive daily surfing instruction at perfect warm water east coast beginner beach breaks
Salt Marsh exploration: fishing, seine netting, crabbing, clamming, and species ID
Surfboard Factory and Shop Tour
Interactive daily seminars topics such as wave dynamics, swell prediction, board design
Earn community service hours
Surf movies, foosball, volleyball, beach bocci ball, frisbee, and other fun beach games
5 hours of community service
Below tuition includes lodging in air-conditioned cabins, all meals, 24-hour same gender adult supervision, shuttle to and from the Wilmington International Airport (ILM), equipment, professional surfing instruction (3:1 student to instructor ratio), 5 hours of community service credit, daily transportation, Surf Camp t-shirt, activity fees, Sea Turtle Hospital donation, Surf Camp’s Pre-Surf Stretching Guide, Surfing Etiquette Guide, Sea Turtle/Coastal Conservation Guide, surftificate of achievement, and 8" x 12" group photo. For more specific information about our teen overnight surf camps or to secure your spot now, please call toll free 1.866.844.7873. Enrollment limited to 18 students per session.
DAY 1-2: CAMP KICK OFF AND INTRO TO SURFING
Camp starts off with orientation, team-building games, and visiting the main breaks we’ll be surfing during camp. After covering all the important aspects of ocean safety, it’s on to catching our first waves!
DAY 3-4: SURF INSTRUCTION, NC AQUARIUM, SURFBOARD FACTORY
Surfing is the leading activity every day, and now we’ll start earning community service hours through beach cleanups. We’ll tour the North Carolina Aquarium with its 200,000 gallon open ocean tank and watch how surfboards are designed and built at the SOD Surfboard Factory.
DAY 5-6: TOUR SEA TURTLE HOSPITAL, SURF SESSIONS, LUAU
Our surf sessions will be followed with a special tour of the Karen Beasley Sea Turtle Hospital and exploration of the salt marsh where we’ll go clamming and crabbing. Topsail is the perfect place to surf because there are fewer crowds and consistently clean wave conditions. You will catch wave after wave, only taking a break to reapply the sunscreen and refuel with some tasty chow! The grand finale to the week is an awesome luau with food, games, limbo & hula contests, prize giveaways, and more!
DAY 7: SURFING CONTEST - EVERYONE'S A WINNER! Another day of catching long rides while newfound friends cheer you on - it doesn’t get any better than this! Your instructors will conduct a mock surf contest giving everyone the opportunity to showcase their new skills. You'll try to talk your parents into letting you stay another week as you have officially caught the surfing bug! Today marks the end of our one-week campers’ stay and the beginning of week two for many campers. Time to prepare for another seven days of pure ocean fun!
DAY 8-9: WELCOME NEW CAMPERS AND SURF COACHING
Enjoy sleeping in today! More campers arrive to join our group, so we’ll get to know this new set of friends and surf a long session on Topsail Island. The feel of the wave beneath your feet is becoming very familiar, and many campers have progressed to riding down the line. You are beyond stoked!
DAY 10-11: SURF COACHING: ADVANCED MANUEVERS, TIMING, WAVE SELECTION
The personalized coaching you’re getting is really paying off as your skills are becoming more refined and your confidence is soaring to an all-time high. Your instructors may work with you on turning and other advanced maneuvers. Today may be the day you get your first barrel!
DAY 12-13: STAND UP PADDLE LESSON, SURF SESSIONS, AND LUAU
You’ll start the day off with a different kind of paddling…from atop your SUP board as you explore Wrightsville Sound. More epic surf sessions follow as you continue shredding and honing your skills. Your second week is drawing to a close, and you really can’t imagine leaving behind all the special people and fun you’ve had over the past two weeks. You’ll be hooting and hollering for all your fellow campers as they catch their final waves.
DAY 14: CLOSING CEREMONY AND GOODBYES…UNTIL NEXT SUMMER!
During your last morning surf session of camp, all the amazing experiences you’ve had over the past two weeks flood your memory. You’ll be thinking about where your next WB Surf Camp adventure will be. Whatever destination you choose, you know it will be magical!
Pictures
Accommodations
During camp, your home away from home will be Wilmington’s premier KOA Campground. Located just minutes from several of our favorite surf breaks and less than a mile from our WB Surf Camp Headquarters, the KOA is nestled in the woods among the longleaf pines, providing the perfect retreat for our campers after a fun day of surfing and ocean exploration. The KOA offers us many terrific amenities, including an outdoor pavillion, swimming pool, and our own bonfire pit - perfect for cooking up tasty s'mores.
We'll be staying in cozy, air-conditioned cabins, each with their own relaxing porch. Each camper has their own bed, and cabins are gender-specific with counselors rooming in adjacent cabins. Linens are not provided; each camper will need to bring a pillow, set of twin sheets, and either a sleeping bag or blanket.
The KOA is the perfect location as it is centrally located in Wilmington. It sits right at the heart of all of our activities and is an incredible launching pad for everything we do during Teen Overnight Camp from surfing and exploring to hitting our favorite restaurants each night.
Reviews
Kathy, Charlotte, NC – “It was the first overnight camp for my 11 year old son. The staff with WB Surf Camp answered all of my questions and made me very comfortable. They even called two days before camp started! Their friendliness at check-in exceeded my expectations. I was really happy to have an insider view into camp with posts on Facebook. The counselors were equally kind and friendly on pick up day. Totally a fantastic experience, from initial contact to picking my son up. See you next summer!”
Sawyer, Raleigh, NC - “Attending WB Surf Camp was an amazing experience for me. I was very glad I chose WB Surf Camp to be my first overnight camp without anyone I knew. And the level of comfort was great; the instructors were so nice and tried super hard to keep everyone happy and comfortable. Honestly, there is not much more to say than THE CAMP WAS AWESOME! Thank you so much for the wonderful experience.”
Audra, Covington, LA – “WB Surf Camp is honestly the best camp ever. I loved meeting new friends and improving my surfing abilities! Everyone was like a big family. We all got so close. All of the instructors were super helpful and friendly! They made me feel right at home the day that I walked in. They make learning about coastal protection fun! I can't wait to go to WB Surf Camp again next year!”
Rob, Franklin, MA – “WB Surf Camp was the best experience of my life! I feel like I really improved my surfing ability and I met awesome people! The counselors Steve, Hunter, Marissa, Colby, and Sarah were all really cool and knew a ton about surfing. The eco activities were fun and I really learned a lot! We even went bowling on the last night of camp. It was a great feeling being away from home and just going to the beach to surf every day, and I'd do it again. By the end of the week, everyone was really close, and nobody wanted to leave!”
Lianne, Woodbury, NY - “After having a bad experience my first time trying to surf in New York, I decided I'd give the sport a second try. Going to a WB Surf Camp was something completely different from my normal summers and it was truly an incredible experience. Learning to surf was not the only memorable thing but I also made so many friends within such a short amount of time that I will keep forever, and had awesome counselors who truly enjoyed being with us! I will always remember and cherish Surf Camp and I will definitely continue surfing and loving all that the ocean has to offer.”
Eleanor, Chapel Hill, NC – “WB Surf Camp was awesome, I've surfed before but at Surf Camp you get really good practice and become more capable of standing up, being comfortable with the ocean, paddling out easily, and catching waves by yourself. I had tons of fun and would definitely love to come back next year.”
Alyssa, Fredericksburg, VA - “Wow, your camp is amazing, one of the best weeks of my life! You have really put together a masterpiece. Your camp contains every element of summer, flexibility, sun, surf, great friends, relaxed atmosphere, and exciting activities all rolled into one great week.”
Grace, Arlington, VA - “WB Surf Camp was an amazing experience. Every day from eating at wag to surfing to cleaning the beach to playing “nuke-‘em” before bed it was all fun!”
Patrick, Schenactady, NY – “This camp is amazing. The instructors are all amazing and they make you feel comfortable. You make new friends and surfing with them is a lot of fun. This is an experience that I will remember for the rest of my life.”
Celeste Reeves, Charlotte, NC – “Surf Camp was an amazing experience and like none other. I had such a fun time there that when I got back home, I was sad that I wasn’t surfing. I will definitely be doing another surf camp next year and can’t wait for the new adventures that await me.”
Simon, Denmark - “In the summers before WB Surf Camp I went to language schools in England, to improve my English. This year I wanted to try something different and I had always wanted to learn to surf. Not only did I have an amazing time with great instructors, meeting a lot of new friends, and being introduced to surfing but I actually learned much more English in Surf Camp than in the language schools I’ve been to previously.”
FAQ
If I have never surfed before, is this camp for me? About 90% of our students have never surfed before, let alone held a surfboard. Our program’s dynamic curriculum is tailored for beginners. The only prerequisites are that you’re ready to have the time of your life and are able to swim.
Where will I be surfing? We have a choice of three barrier islands 30 minutes or less from the KOA Campground. We surf a wide variety of locations, and we choose the beach with the best conditions for all of our participants.
Will there be pictures of me surfing that I can purchase? We will have a photographer taking high quality, high resolution photos throughout the week. You have the option of purchasing a photo DVD with all photos from your week. Please refer to your registration materials for details about this option.
What are the ages of your overnight campers?
Ages range from 11 to 16 and vary by session. Please check the online schedule for which weeks are dedicated to which ages.
What kind of non-surfing activities will we be participating in?
Guided interactive tour of the North Carolina Aquarium
Tour of the brand new 10,000 square foot Karen Beasley Sea Turtle Hospital
Salt Marsh exploration: fishing, seine netting, crabbing, clamming and species ID
Interactive, daily seminars about topics such as wave dynamics, swell prediction, and environmental awareness
Community service
Volleyball and other beach games
Luau on the finale night of camp with food, hula & limbo contests, prizes, music, and lots more!
How old are the campers I will be rooming with? Roommates are grouped together by age in order to enhance the overall level of comfort.
What are the cabins like at the KOA?
We'll be staying in cozy, air-conditioned cabins, each with their own relaxing porch. Each camper has their own bed, and cabins are gender-specific with counselors rooming in adjacent cabins. Linens are not provided; each camper will need to bring a pillow, set of twin sheets, and either a sleeping bag or blanket.
Where is the KOA Campground?
The campground is conveniently located less than 1 mile from WB Surf Camp Headquarters and just minutes from our favorite surf breaks. It is also centrally located to all of the restaurants we’ll be dining at for evening meals.
What is the nearest airport and do you have a shuttle service? The Wilmington International Airport (ILM) is only 15 minutes away. Our counselors meet inbound campers at baggage claim, then shuttle them back to the KOA to get settled in. For departing flights, counselors stay at the airport until each camper’s flight has taken off. Our office stays attuned to any delays or cancellations to make sure everything runs as smoothly as possible.
What if I can’t get in by the set check in time? In order to avoid missing any planned activities, campers should schedule their arrival in Wilmington between 1:00 - 2:00 pm on the first day of camp, and should arrange to depart between 3:00 - 4:00 pm on the last day of camp. Please contact our Program Coordinator to discuss arrivals and departures outside of our preferred times.
How much spending money should I bring? We recommend campers bring $50 to $75 per week of camp. This is for souvenirs or gifts you wish to purchase while at camp.
Do you have insurance? We carry a comprehensive insurance package, including general liability.
How much spending money should I bring? We recommend campers bring $50 to $75 per week of camp. This is for souvenirs or gifts you wish to purchase while at camp.
