July 21, 2007
Our first official Project Surf Camp day camp was a complete success thanks to the support of Morro Bay Surf Company and Cal Poly.  We had six campers whose ages ranged from three and a half to twenty years old helped by eleven volunteers.  Campers’ disabilities varied but that didn’t stop us from having a great time.  One mother was particularly surprised at the acceptance her child gave as an instructor put sunscreen on her child’s face.  She stated, “I’ve been trying to do that for years.”
The “stoke” for surfing has begun.
Funding and volunteer staff were sponsored by collaboration with California Polytechnic Recreation Administration students who adopted the camp as their class project.  The class raised funds, provided goodies for the goody bag, and designed a flyer, brochure, and blog.  Thanks, Cal Poly, you helped change lives!

 

July 28, 2007
Our second camp was again sponsored by Morro Bay Surf Company and Cal Poly.  As before, it was a smashing success.  We had eleven campers with ages ranging from three and a half to nineteen helped by fourteen volunteers.  The campers and volunteers’ seem to enjoy the camp as much as the participants did. They hung out on the beach and played in the water, offering support to all participants. The atmosphere was fantastic.  It was hard to tell who was having the most fun, the participants or the campers.  The day was filled with nothing but positive and encouraging statements by campers, volunteers, and families alike.  One mother stated, “This is the first time in a long time that I feel like a normal family.”  She also went on to say about the staff who had shirts on that said Volunteer, “Your staff shouldn’t have Volunteer on the back of their shirts, they should have Angels on Feet.”

August 25, 2007
Our next camp occurred on August 25th, and again we had a fantastic time.  This time we had eight campers of varying disabilities ranging in age from four to twenty-five years old.  Again, we had eleven volunteers of whom many were returning volunteers.  Having returning volunteers demonstrates how people beyond the campers are benefiting. 
We met at Morro Bay Surf Company at 9:00 am and got ready to have a great day at the beach.  As with the volunteers, we had returning campers.  Again, the stoke was fantastic. 

 

August 20th – August 25

Project Surf Camp held a five-day, four-night overnight camp for five adults with disabilities from Memphis, TN.  Thanks to Morro Bay Surf Company, Rock Kayak, Hearst Castle, and Camp Ocean Pines we were able to facilitate our first overnight camp.  This action packed time was filled with surfing, kayaking, hiking, tide pooling, campfires, tour of Hearst Castle, Farmers’ Market in San Luis Obispo, and visits to the local commerce.  Out of all the activities the campers participated in, however, most said that the surfing was their favorite