Masonboro Island

For many generations, Masonboro Island has been an undeveloped natural area that has served as a recreational retreat for those who regularly visit or live in the Wilmington area. This eight-mile long barrier island, with its sandy beach along the Atlantic Ocean side and expansive marsh system bordering the Intracoastal Waterway, is an attraction for boating, surfing, nature watching, sunbathing, camping, and fishing. Exact numbers are not kept on the total number of visitors to the island, but the numerous boats beached along the sandy shoreline at the north and south end on any given day are evidence of its popularity as a recreational destination.

Come join Surf Camp for a day of surfing and exploration on Masonboro Island. We visit this magical place in all of our camps. Our instructors have surfed and explored this island for years. You will gain an appreciation for this barrier island by learning what activities are allowable and how minimize your impacts. Probably the best strategy to adopt when visiting the island is to enjoy your visit without leaving reminders of your trip behind. Surf Camps motto, "The only thing we leave behind is our footprints".

Masonboro Island is part of the NC Estuarine Research Reserve, and encompasses approximately 5,046 acres, most of which (about 4300 acres) is comprised of the extensive tidal salt marshes and mud flats in Myrtle Grove and Masonboro Sounds on the waterway side of the island. About 620 acres are oceanfront beach, dunes, upland shrub thickets, patches of maritime forest, and dredge material islands.

Surf Camp's founder, Rick Civelli has been a member of the Society of Masonboro Island for the last 10 years, and sits on it's Board of Directors. Over the years the Society has acquired over 95 percent of the island and protected it from development for the enjoyment of future generations.