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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 – 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!

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.

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!

Michaela LeMay – Program Coordinator

Michaela was born and raised in Massachusetts and moved to South Carolina in 2014. She decided to trade in the cold, snowy winters for warmer weather and the coast and has since fallen for the beauty of the Carolinas. She completed her undergrad at Coastal Carolina University in Marine Science with a Biology minor.

After graduating, she started her career as a park ranger with SC State Parks. While working for the organization she was able to rediscover a passion of educating youth about the natural resources of the coast. Inspired by her work, Michaela decided to return to school and is almost finished with her master’s in Youth Development and Leadership at Clemson University.

While working for SC State Parks, she volunteered with SCDNR’s Sea Turtle stranding and nesting programs. She spent four summers responding to sea turtle strands, working on sea turtle nests, and educating the public in Myrtle Beach, SC. Due to her work with sea turtles, Michaela is a very early riser and with her free time can be found reading, somewhere outside, or searching for something new to learn.

Raymond Alexander - Carolina Ocean Odyssey Unit Leader

Raymond Alexander is a Florida native with a passion for water. He is a substitute teacher, commercial fisherman, boat captain, writer, and a marine educator. In his free time, his hobbies are scuba diving, fishing, surfing, playing disc golf, and beach volleyball. He has a Bachelors degree from Saint Petersburg College and a Florida Substitute teaching certification! He is a volunteer for various marine organizations including tagging fish, collecting marine trash, and tagging freshwater turtles. Nothing drives him more in life than marine education as it is his absolute passion. Every day he wakes up eager to teach people about what he loves. He is looking forward to showing campers an awesome summer!

Aine Jones- Carolina Ocean Odyssey Marine Educator

Aine is a nursing student at Samford University! She grew up in Marietta, Georgia but always would spend my summers on a barrier island off the coast of Florida where she was a paddle board instructor and tour guide. Aine started paddle surfing at 15 and this is how she found a love for all things related to the ocean. Her favorite time to paddle board or surf is early in the morning when the wind is low and dolphins are out. Aine’s favorite ocean animals are sharks, specifically bullsharks! She has a strong desire to educate the young about worldly conservation and how to take care of our ocean and all things that live in it. Aine wants to spark a light in them for the beauty that is before them! She is honored to be a part of this team and cannot wait to meet you all this summer!

Dom Cuadras - WB Teen Overnight Surf Instructor/Counselor

Born and raised on the brown rivers and beaches of North Florida, Dom is considered a water rat by most. He started off wakeboarding down the Suwannee River and later discovered the saltier water sports at the age of 15 and began surfing at 16. Dom was a lifeguard at his town’s pool and worked there for 2 years, where he was a certified swim instructor and taught levels 1 through 6. Dom has several interests outside the water as well. He likes to go camping, play guitar, work on his truck, cook, go to the gym, and skate. 

Dom truly enjoys working with the youth and believes the art of surfing should be shared with anyone who has the notion to try it. Though he was not born in the prime areas for surf, he made it work. From skimboarding across any lot of water accessible, to wakeboarding behind his truck through ditches after a storm, or just making the drive to the beach to chase the real thing. Dom will do whatever it takes for the surfers rush, and he is super stoked to share the Florida lifestyle with the camp this summer.
Emma Workman- WB Teen Overnight Surf Instructor/Counselor

A Northern California native, Emma grew up in water; she learned to surf when she was just six years old and has loved the ocean ever since. Though she took a pitstop in the Midwest for college, it brought Emma to the Great Lakes and freshwater surfing. This past December, Emma graduated from the University of Michigan with a Bachelor of Science in environmental science and a specialty in missing the ocean a whole lot. When on turf, Emma enjoys reading, playing instruments, running, spending time with friends, skateboarding, and doing yoga. Surfing has brought Emma to her favorite parts of her life, and she is amped to spread the stoke of the ocean at camp.

Icah Wilmot – Ambassador – WB Teen Overnight and Adult Surf 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!

Jordan Ziegler - Residential Photographer

Jordan grew up right in the center of Florida in the city of Winter Haven. Growing up she loved the beach and the culture, making it a goal to move closer to the coast. After getting into photography in middle school and sticking with it through high school, she developed a passion for it and decided to pursue that as a career. She moved to Daytona Beach in 2020 to earn a Bachelor’s of Science in Photography from the University of Central Florida. It was a wonderful opportunity to be able to live closer to the coast and get an education in what she loves to do. Here she started to get involved with surf photography, scoring a job with a local surf school, photographed for the Marine Science Center in Ponce Inlet, FL, and made some lifelong friends. She hopes to be able to travel all over the world and photograph the people and places she comes across.

Michael Miceli - NC Residential Food Service Manager

Michael was born on the Island of Staten…New York City. His greatest love of mankind is the ocean and its awesome mysteries, sounds, ebbs, flows, and colors. The Atlantic Ocean is one of his favorite bodies of water. He has lived beside some of the world’s most beautiful oceans, including the Caribbean staying on The Virgin Islands and most of the Caribbean Atolls, islands and Isla Margarita in Venezuela, the Mediterranean while in Mallorca, Spain, the Pacific while enjoying the coast of California, and Montauk, NY, which offers great swells and surf. Michael has been working in the hospitality industry since he was thirteen and has been able to experience the vastness of both the Atlantic and Pacific in his travels.

His Italian heritage has influenced his cooking along with Asian and American flare and styles. He creates his cuisine from what’s available and uses his great taste buds to ensure excellent meals.

Michael’s real passions besides cooking are writing, hiking, exploring, snorkeling, being a great friend, and a voracious reader. Too competitive in board games, he usually opts for being the judge.
The environment that WB Surf Camp offers gives him extreme pleasure and he is excited to provide many awesome meals this summer while meeting any dietary restrictions that may be presented to him!

 

Kaiya Steele - NC Residential Kitchen Staff

Kaiya grew up in Montana is is currently in her second year of culinary school.  She will be graduating in May, just before she comes to camp!  She loves skiing, going for long walks while listening to music, running, knitting, and journaling.  She will be coming back for her second year at camp!

 

 

Steve Carlo - Travel Coach (Teen Costa Rica & Adult BVI)

Steve grew up in  Mount Laurel, NJ, and spent every summer growing up in Ocean City, New Jersey. Spending his summers there really shaped his love for the water and everything in it. During his time in Ocean City, Steve was an OCBP lifeguard for three years up until he transferred schools to the University of North Carolina – Wilmington to pursue his degree. He graduated with a BS in Physical Oceanography in December of 2021. He’s been in Wilmington ever since.

After school, Steve worked a few different jobs like teaching surf lessons on Bald Head Island, NC, seafood catering, and even working on an oyster farm. He enjoys anything and everything having to do with the outdoors and nature. Also an accomplished photographer, you can find Steve taking pictures all the time. He surfs year round whether it’s during winter back home in New Jersey or Hurricane Season in North Carolina. When he is not surfing he’s on the boat fishing or hunting for shark teeth along the shoreline.

Steve joined the WB Surf Camp crew in the summer of 2023 as the Unit Leader of the Teen Overnight Costa Rica Surf Camp, and during his first season with the company he spent seven weeks living and working in Playa Grande, Costa Rica, sharing his passion for surfing and positive energy with groups of teens and his team of coaches alike. He loves meeting new people and forming connections everywhere he goes and cannot wait to meet everyone!

Ivy Pratola - Travel Coach (Teen Costa Rica)

Ivy grew up in Kennett Square Pennsylvania, a small town about an hour outside of Philadelphia. During her childhood, she spent her summers surfing on the Jersey Shore and in the Outer Banks. Ivy moved to New Hampshire and attended Plymouth State University. Throughout college, she spent lots of time skiing and hiking in the White Mountains and took trips to the New Hampshire and Maine coastline to surf. During her sophomore year of college, she studied abroad in Costa Rica, studying conservation marine biology. She graduated from Plymouth State in 2022 with a degree in Environmental Science and Policy.

Ivy has always had a passion for working with children. During the winter, she works in community ski and ride programs at her local mountain and spends her summers working in the water with WB Surf Camp. Currently, Ivy works in special education at an elementary school in the Seacoast region of New Hampshire. She is currently working towards a masters degree in Developmental Psychology through Southern New Hampshire University. In her free time, she is out surfing, biking, running, or skating.

This is Ivy’s third summer as part of the WB Surf Camp team. She spent her first summer at Topsail Beach working as the Carolina Ocean Odyssey Unit leader. Last summer she worked on our travel team in Playa Grande, Costa Rica and is stoked to be heading back this summer. Ivy’s favorite part of working for WB is getting to know new campers each summer and reuniting with returners.

 

Sinead Eksteen - Travel Coach (Teen Costa Rica)

 

Sinead was born in Pretoria, South Africa but grew up right outside Washington DC. Her childhood was spent swimming competitively, exploring the outdoors, and trying to be in the water as much as possible. She learned how to surf at the age of 10 on a trip to California and has loved it since. This passion for surfing has led her to traveling the world to surf at famous breaks, her favorite being back home in South Africa at Jeffrey’s Bay.

Sinead graduated from Rhodes College in 2022 with a degree in Biology and Environmental Science. She has a deep love for the ocean and the environment, and hopes to eventually pursue a career in conservation. In her free time, she loves surfing, hiking, painting, and sailing.

This will be Sinead’s 2nd summer with WB Surf Camp. Last summer she was a part of the Teen Overnight Costa Rica Surf Camp team, in Playa Grande, Costa Rica. She is so excited to be heading back this summer and can’t wait to share her love of surfing, the ocean, and Costa Rica with the campers.

Adam Woeste - Travel Coach / Private Surf Instructor

Adam was born in Cincinnati, Ohio were he quickly learned he was born in the wrong state. He consistently sought out the community and culture that surrounds the beach and found himself running off to the waves every chance he got. Adam began surfing at the age of 15 and was immediately hooked, so much so, that 5 years ago he became a local. Adam lives in Wilmington, NC with his wife and their 1.5 year old son. Adam has been teaching surf lessons for 4 summers now and couldn’t think of a more perfect way to spend his days. Adam describes surfing as being the perfect combination of all aspects in life. He says, “surfing is physically challenging, emotionally uplifting, and spiritually connected.” In the offseason Adam is a 9th grade English teacher at Cape Fear Academy. He has always been drawn to instructing, mentoring, and teaching those with a desire to learn. When he is not teaching or instructing, you can find him playing beach volleyball with his wife, running off to rock climb in the mountains, or taking life slow with his beautiful baby boy. 

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