Surf Camps At Southern California Beaches by Laura Eggers

What could be more fun for a kid who loves the beach than surf camp? Besides learning surf techniques, your child will learn safety skills, how to respect the ocean's power while having fun, play beach games, build strength and confidence, and meet like minded beach lovers.

Most of the Southern California beach camps listed below are day camps. They typically go all day (around 6 hours) in 5 day weekly sessions. Some are overnight camps and are indicated as such.

Most include the equipment, which can be wetsuits and surfboards, but others recommend you bring your own. Some include lunch, while others allow you to buy it there or bring one from home.

When considering a surf camp, ask about the child to instructor ratio, how your child will be grouped (by age? by skill level?). While prices are listed below, all are subject to change. Inquire about the instructor's experience, insurance and safety precautions.

This list is by no means comprehensive, and these surf camps are not necessarily endorsed by this writer, but it does give you a place to start your search.

In the San Diego area, there's Walking On Water Dream Surf Camp

(858-509-7977), Gnarly Neal's Island Surf Camp (858-344-5336), the Pacific Surf School (858-488-2685), La Jolla Surf Camp (858-454-8273), the Australian Surf Academy (858-454-8273), SDSA Surf Camp (800-447-7873) and Camp Pacific's Surf and Bodyboard Camp (760-434-7564).

In the San Clemente area, there's the Summer Soul Surf Camp (800-522-1352), Endless Summer Surf Camp (949-498-7862) and Groundswell Surf Camps (949-361-1740).

In Newport Beach in Orange County, there's Endless Summer Surf Camp (949-498-7862), while Huntington Beach boasts Corky Carroll's Surf School (888-454-7873).

In Los Angeles County, Seal Beach has a camp called M&M Surfing School (714-846-7873). Manhattan Beach has the Kanoa Aquatics Manhattan Beach Surf Camp (310-374-1994).

In Santa Monica, there's the Aqua Surf School Surf Camp (310-902-7737) and Santa Monica Surf Camp (310-467-6898). Kanoa Aquatics has another surf camp in nearby Venice (310-374-1994).

Further up the coast in Malibu, there's a third Kanoa Aquatics Venice Surf Camp (310-374-1994), while Malibu Makos Kids' Surf/Ocean Safety Day Camp is held at Zuma Beach. (310-317-1229)

In the Santa Barbara area, there's Ocean Adventures Beach Day Camps (805-455-6459), Santa Barbara Surf School (805-745-8877) and the UC Santa Barbara Surf & Kayak Camp (805-893-3913).

To find out more about these Southern California surf camps, you can go to www.southern-california-beaches-vacation-guide.com/surf-camps.html.

About The Author

Laura Eggers operates the website http://www.socalbeachvacation.com, a travel guide to Southern California Beaches from Santa Barbara to San Diego. You may reprint this article if you include this resource box.