Summer 2026

Registrations for Surf Camp and Volunteers will be available on Saturday May 2 2026 at 9AM

Every summer, Surfing Madonna Oceans Project hosts incredible surf sessions for kids with special needs. This year we will be at Oceanside - at Harbor Beach for the first session and in Encinitas for five of the sessions. This program 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 sessions 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.

Volunteer for Surf Camp Sign Up

2026 ad for Surf Camp volunteer registration-2.png

Surf Sessions for Special Needs Kids
Sign Ups start
May 2, 2026 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.

2026 Dates available starting Saturday May 2, 2026 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 20 - at Oceanside Harbor Beach

1380 North Pacific Street

2. July 11 - at Moonlight Beach in Encinitas

3. July 25 - at Moonlight Beach in Encinitas

4. August 1 - at Moonlight Beach in Encinitas

5. August 15 - at Moonlight Beach in Encinitas

6. August 29 - at Moonlight Beach in Encinitas

Volunteer for Surf Camp Sign Up

Myla Christenson is stepping into the role of Surf Camp Coordinator with five years of volunteer experience and a whole lot of heart. A student at La Costa Canyon High School, she leads her campus club in making bracelets for the surfers and organizing beach clean-ups. She is dedicated to ensuring that every surfer leaves with a smile and a chance to experience the magic of the ocean.

Thank you to
Board & Brew
for your many years of donations!

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.

Contact the California Coastal Conservancy

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2026 Surfing Madonna Surf Sessions for Kids with Special Needs

We're excited to be entering into our 13th year of this SUPER FUN surf experience!

Due to the high demand, each child can enroll in 1 surf session per year.

No surfing or swimming experience required

LOCATION: Oceanside Harbor Beach or Encinitas. You will be notified of the exact location at registration.
PARKING - Paid Parking close by beach and limited on street parking
TIMES: Session 1: 9-10:20am or Session 2: 10:35-12:00pm or Session 3: 12:20-1:40pm
WHAT'S INCLUDED? 1 hr 20 min of private surf lessons, wetsuit, and take home souvenirs!
COST: $45 refundable deposit (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.

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. 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.

For questions, please email mike@surfingmadonna.org

See you Soon in the Surf!

Special Needs Surf Sessions -

Photos by Stephen Simpson

To date, we have surfed
with over 2,500 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.

Surfin Fire School

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.