Summer 2025
Registrations for Surf Camp and Volunteers will be available on Saturday May 10 2025 at 9AM
Every summer, Surfing Madonna Oceans Project hosts an incredible surf camp for kids with special needs. This year we will be at Oceanside - south of the pier for three of the camps and in Encinitas for three of the camps. This program, which is completely free to all participants, is an opportunity for these youths to build their self-confidence as they learn a new skill and have fun! Participants receive one-on-one surf instruction at these camps which take place June through August. For many of the children, surfing is a dream they never thought possible for them. Realizing this dream can be life changing.
Surf Camp for Special Needs Kids
Sign Ups start
May 10, 2025 at 9AM
Cost: A $45 refundable deposit holds your spot for your child’s surf session. Surfing Madonna Oceans Project has been proud to offer a free surfing experience for many years, however with our previous funding sources going away, we now need to bill for the true cost of these amazing surf experiences. $200 includes your instructor, use of the surf board and wetsuit, followed by a recognition ceremony with a medal, certificate, and gift bag! Payment to be arranged following your surf session.
Scholarships are available for those in need, and will be considered on a case by case basis. Please reach out to Mike Redman at Surfing Madonna for assistance. Email: mike@surfingmadonna.org or text/phone: 760 917-5291
(please read cancellation policy below)
AGE REQUIREMENT:
4 to 17 years old - Siblings of the surfers are encouraged to cheer and be supportive, but may not register for the surf camp unless they, too, have special needs. We ask that parents be respectful of this policy as this camp is exclusively for kiddos with special needs.
2025 Dates available starting Saturday May 10, 2025 at 9AM
Space Limited to 10 Students Per Session
Session One Times: 9:00 - 10:20 AM
Session Two Times: 10:30 - 12:00 PM
Session Three Times: 12:20 - 1:40 PM
1. June 14 - at Oceanside beach just south of the pier
Contact Surfin Fire Oceanside:
2. June 21 - at Oceanside beach just south of the pier
Contact Surfin Fire Oceanside:
3. July 19 - at Oceanside beach just south of the pier
Contact Surfin Fire Oceanside:
4. August 2 - at Encinitas, Moonlight Beach
Contact Surfing Madonna:
5. August 16 - at Encinitas, Moonlight Beach
Contact Surfing Madonna:
6. August 23 - at Encinitas, Moonlight Beach
Contact Surfing Madonna:
Thank you
California Coastal Conservancy
Our 2023/2025 Special Needs Surf Camp Sponsor!
About the Conservancy
Our Mission
Our vision is of a beautiful, restored, and accessible coast for current and future Californians. We act with others to protect and restore, and increase public access to, California’s coast, ocean, coastal watersheds and the San Francisco Bay Area.
Click here for information in languages other than English.
The Coastal Conservancy is a state agency, established in 1976, to protect and improve natural lands and waterways, to help people get to and enjoy the outdoors, and to sustain local economies along California’s coast. The Conservancy is a non-regulatory agency that supports projects to protect coastal resources and increase opportunities for the public to enjoy the coast. The Conservancy implements statewide resource plans through its projects, including the California Water Action Plan, the Wildlife Action Plan, and many others. The Conservancy works along the entire length of California’s coast and within the watersheds of rivers and streams that extend inland from the coast. The Coastal Conservancy also works throughout the nine-county San Francisco Bay Area and the entire Santa Ana River watershed. A map of the Conservancy’s jurisdiction is posted here.
The Conservancy provides technical assistance and grant funding to local communities, nonprofit organizations, other government agencies, businesses, and private landowners to implement multi-benefit projects that:
protect the natural and scenic beauty of the coast
enhance wildlife habitat
help the public to get to and enjoy beaches and parklands
keep farmland and timberlands in production
improve water quality
revitalize working waterfronts
prepare communities for the impacts of climate change
The Conservancy has played a critical role in shaping California’s coastal landscape as we know it today. Since its creation, the Conservancy has built hundreds of miles of trails and preserved hundreds of thousands of acres of wildlife habitat, coastal farmland, and scenic open space. Many of the most-loved scenic, natural, and recreational resources of the California coast and the San Francisco Bay Area have been protected by the work of the Conservancy and its many partners.
2025 Surfing Madonna Surf Camp for Kids with Special Needs
We're excited to be entering into our 12th year of this SUPER FUN surf camp!
Due to the high demand, each child can enroll in 1 surf session per year.
No surfing or swimming experience required
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LOCATION: South of Oceanside pier or Encinitas. You will be notified of the exact location at registration.
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PARKING - Paid Parking close by beach and limited on street parking
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TIMES: Session One 9-10:20am or Session 2 10:35-12:00pm or Session 3: 12:20-1:40pm
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WHAT'S INCLUDED? 1 hr 20 min of private surf lessons, wetsuit, snacks, drinks, and take home souvenirs!
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COST: Complimentary, but we do require a $45 refundable deposit (please read cancellation policy below)
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AGE REQUIREMENT: 4 to 17 years old - Siblings of the surfers are encouraged to cheer and be supportive, but may not register for the surf camp unless they, too, have special needs. We ask that parents be respectful of this policy as this camp is exclusively for kiddos with special needs.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION AND REMINDERS:
1. There is a $45 refundable deposit for each child. The deposit will be returned the week following the completion of the surf lesson, upon response to the post-surf camp email!
No shows or cancellations within 4 days of the surf camp will forfeit their deposit.
2. NEW FOR 2025! Sign Ups for Oceanside location will be directly through our partnering Surfin Fire Surf School.
3. Collaborative event with Sandy Feet Initiative will provide activities on the beach and in the water for Siblings of the Special Needs Kids on as many of the dates as possible!
On dates Sandy Feet Initiative is not available SIBLINGS of the surfers are encouraged to cheer and be supportive from the shoreline, but may not register for the surf camp unless they, too, have special needs. We ask that parents be respectful of this policy. If you would like your other children to have surf lessons on the same day as the Surf Camp, you may contact Surfin Fire Surf School for an additional instructor. Discounts apply.
3. COVID-19 Disclaimer information - Please read carefully
County health code restrictions will be observed, however as the tier of restrictions are possibly changing over time we want to make sure your child is safe to participate in the event. Instructors and students will not be wearing masks due to nature of the activity. If your child is too vulnerable to participate now, please come back at another time.
For questions, please email mike@surfingmadonna.org
See you Soon in the Surf!
Special Needs Surf Camp -
Photos by Stephen Simpson
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To date, we have surfed
with over 2,300 kids with special needs
One of our recent participants commented, “Catching the waves makes me feel happy and accomplished because I’m able to do something that is difficult for people to do.” He went on to say that he used to “hate the ocean, and now I LOVE it!”
Participants receive up to 2 hours of a one-on-one surf lessons from a professional surf instructor from Surfin’ Fire Surf School. Water, snacks and wetsuits are provided, and each child takes home an medal and certificate! This is a one-day camp that happens twice every month from May through September.
To date, we have surfed with over 1,600 kids with special needs from San Diego County. With your help, we will be able to create this incredible opportunity for many more.
Our Surf School Partners
Surf Instructors, surfboards and wetsuits provided by Surfin Fire Surf School!
Description: Open to any child with special needs aged 4-17. No surfing or swimming skills required. Each child will receive 2 hours of free surf lessons, goodies, snacks, a medal, and a take home Surfing Diploma.
SURF CAMP FOR KIDS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS
Contact
Surfing Madonna
Get in touch with Surfing Madonna Oceans Project to learn more about our Arts Programming, Surf Camps, Ocean Preservation, and Challenge Events.
1106 2nd Street,
Suite 301
Encinitas, CA 92024
(760) 917-5291