2026 Summer Camps Curriculum
Summer Camp Curriculum
From years of personal experience being campers and instructors, we know many life lessons can be taught at surf camp. Each week, we do various themed activities aimed at connecting the lessons learned from surfing to other aspects of life. These exercises have been carefully designed by experts in physical and outdoor education. We are hoping that campers of all ages will have important takeaways like "harder goals are more rewarding when accomplished," "everyone falls, it is necessary for learning," or "as my skills improve, I am able to surf with more creativity. I think this is true for other things like writing and drawing too."
Our Surf Camp Ratio
Summer camp always has a 1:3 instructor-to-student ratio plus a personal ocean lifeguard in addition to the LA county lifeguards on duty. We are able to keep the best ratio of any surf camp in LA while still having the highest quality instructors by setting a strict cap on the number of spots at camp. At our summer camps, you will never have to worry about your child being lost in a crowd. The high ratio of instructors and a small camp allows for personalized instruction and deeper connections with our counselors, the ocean and camp curriculum.
Camp Safety
At surf camp we are committed to creating and maintaining a safe environment in and out of the water. Safety is our number one priority. Sunrise has a 3:1 camper-to-instructor ratio along with our very own certified beach lifeguard. Our instructors are rigorously trained by L.A. County lifeguards and the Red Cross. For more information regarding summer camp safety please visit our safety page.
Our Surf Instructors
Hailing from all over the world, our surf coaches are the best at what they do. Our professionally trained team will ensure your surfer has a positive, safe learning experience regardless of age or ability. We hire instructors who have experience working with kids of all ages, surfing, and have deep knowledge in a relevant field. Our team is full of physical/outdoor education specialists, lifeguards, pro-surfers, and school teachers. Our instructors complete a rigorous internal water safety program, including training from top L.A. County lifeguards, in addition to being certified in CPR and First Aid from the Red Cross. To learn more about our instructors training program please visit our safety page.
Greater Significance Activities
Each week there is a week-long activity focused on helping campers take the lessons they learned in the water and apply them to their everyday life. These activities can take many forms. An example of a greater significance activity is our goal board activity:
On Monday, campers will break up into small groups and discuss what they want to achieve this week at camp. Our instructors will help them develop an achievable goal that pushes them out of their comfort zone. For example, making a new friend, riding a wave all the way to shore, or paddling into a wave without a push from an instructor. After this, everybody will write and draw what their goal is on a goal board and share it with the group. We will collect the goal boards and hand them back at the end of the week. On Friday, they will use the other side of the goal board to write and draw what they accomplished that week, and what their main takeaway is. Then, the campers will share with the group and get to take the goal boards home so they can show their parents what they achieved.
This activity helps campers push themselves alongside their peers to explore, being out of their comfort zone, working towards a goal, and verbalizing their learnings. Achieving personal goals helps campers of all ages build self-confidence and comradery. Writing down and talking about these goals makes sure that campers do not miss out on the importance of what they are learning, and bringing the goal board home with them fosters educated conversation with caregivers.
For a more detailed look at a day at surf camp, click on your desired experience:
For general summer camp questions please visit our camp FAQ page.
9:00 - 9:15 am Drop-off and Beach Games.
Games include tag variants, capture the flag, beach soccer, and many more... For location specific directions please visit our Palisades or Venice page.
9:15 - 9:30 am Team Building Exercises.
We play team building exercises to help us become more confident, independent, and appreciative surfers in a team environment. Exercises range from name games to team puzzles to scavenger hunts.
9:30 - 10:00 am Dynamic Land Lessons Aimed at Fostering Responsible, Safe Surfers.
Lessons are broken into small groups to ensure the topic is skill appropriate. Examples of possible topics:
1. Surfing technique and tricks
2. Ocean safety (More details about safety here!)
3. Surf etiquette
4. Environmental sustainability
5. Oceanography and weather
*Regardless of the day of the week, if you are new you will get an immersive personalized learn how to surf land lesson from our experienced instructors.
10:00 - 10:05 am Wetsuit and sunscreen time.
Sunrise loans out Rash Guards and wetsuits to all students. Before entering the water, instructors will help apply and check for sunscreen. We make sure campers apply sunscreen hourly.
10:05 - 11:00 am Let the Shredding Commence. Surf Time!
Surf sessions will vary depending on age, ocean conditions, and the experience level of the camper. Many students will have one-on-one instruction, while others will receive advanced coaching. There will always be an option to play beach games or swim with other campers and instructors.
11:00 - 11:15 am Sunscreen, Snack time, Surfing Debrief.
All campers will be guided to reapply sunscreen, hydrate, and, if they please, eat a snack. While campers relax, instructors will provide personalized instruction for kids who are interested in more coaching. Some lessons are best taught on land.
11:15 - 12:00 pm Let's go back for more Surfing!
Continue on where we left off… Shredding!
12:00 - 12:30 pm Lunch, Shade and Sunscreen.
Ordered meals are delivered to the beach by Children's Menu. Lunch is taken in our beach shade set-up. After lunch is finished we do a camp wide trash sweep to ensure we do our part to leave the beach cleaner than we found it.
12:30 - 12:50 pm Optional Games and Beach Chill Time.
Soak in the good vibes and chill in the shade! Time to digest that yummy food and relax those surf muscles before going back into the water. Campers also have the option to participate in numerous games such as volleyball, capture the flag, beach soccer and many more.
12:50 - 1:00 pm Sunscreen and Wetsuits.
1:00 - 2:30 pm Second Surf Session!
2:30 - 2:45 pm Pack up and More Sunscreen.
Let's leave the beach cleaner than we found it. Any personal items left behind will be placed into our lost and found.
2:45 - 3:00 pm Pick up.
For location specific directions please visit our Palisades or Venice page.
Extended hours of care are offered daily from 3:15 pm-6:30 pm. Extended care is $30 an hour if booked ahead of time. If you need extended care the day of, the hourly rate is $40 and is subject to our availability. To book in advance please contact us.
9:00 - 9:15 am Drop-off and Beach Games.
Games include tag variants, capture the flag, beach soccer, and many more... For location specific directions please visit our Palisades or Venice page.
For location specific directions please visit our Palisades or Venice page.
9:15 - 9:30 am Team Building Exercises.
We play team building exercises to help us become more confident, independent, and appreciative surfers in a team environment. Exercises range from name games to team puzzles to scavenger hunts.
9:30 - 10:00 am Dynamic Land Lessons Aimed at Fostering Responsible, Safe Surfers.
Lessons are broken into small groups to ensure the topic is skill appropriate. Examples of possible topics:
1. Surfing technique and tricks
2. Ocean safety (More details about safety here!)
3. Surf etiquette
4. Environmental sustainability
5. Oceanography and weather
*Regardless of the day of the week, if you are new you will get an immersive personalized learn how to surf land lesson from our experienced instructors.
10:00 - 10:05 am Wetsuit and sunscreen time. The hardest part of surfing!
Sunrise loans out Rash Guards and wetsuits to all students. Before entering the water, instructors will help apply and check for sunscreen. We make sure campers apply sunscreen hourly.
10:05 - 11:00 am Let the Shredding Commence. Surf Time!
Surf sessions will vary depending on age, ocean conditions, and the experience level of the camper. Many students will have one-on-one instruction, while others will receive advanced coaching. There will always be an option to play beach games or swim with other campers and instructors.
11:00 - 11:15 am Sunscreen, Snack time, Surfing Debrief.
All campers will be guided to reapply sunscreen, hydrate, and, if they please, eat a snack. While campers relax, instructors will provide personalized instruction for kids who are interested in more coaching. Some lessons are best taught on land.
11:15 - 12:00 pm Let's go back for more Surfing!
Continue on where we left off… Shredding!
12:00 - 12:30 pm Pick up.
Please note that Pick-up is at the beach for Half Day AM. Please come check your child out on the beach with the beach captain. If you are running late or would like your child escorted to the parking lot please call or text the office or beach captain.
Extended hours of care are offered with advance notice. Please contact us to learn more.
12:00 - 12:15 pm Drop-off and Beach Games.
Please note that Drop-off is at the beach for all Half Day PM bookings. Please come check your child in on the beach with the beach captain. Your location's beach captain will greet you and your child before confirming all camp information provided at the time of booking. If your child is going to be picked up by someone else, not indicated on the booking, please let your beach captain know.
For location specific directions please visit our Palisades or Venice page.
12:15 - 12:30 pm Team Building Exercises.
To help us become more confident, independent, and appreciative Surfers in a team environment. For those doing a week-long program, Mondays always start with a goal session on personal whiteboards. Participants are encouraged to draw or write their goal for the week. Each Friday we will revisit Monday's Board and share our progress to our peers.
12:30 - 12:45 pm Dynamic Land Lessons Aimed at Fostering Responsible, Safe Surfers.
Lessons are broken into small groups to ensure the topic is skill appropriate. Examples of possible topics:
1. Surfing techniques
2. Ocean safety (More details about safety here!)
3. Surf etiquette
4. Environmental sustainability
5. Oceanography and Weather
*Regardless of the day of the week, if you are new you will get an immersive personalized learn how to surf land lesson from our experienced instructors.
12:45 - 12:50 pm Wetsuit and sunscreen time.
Sunrise loans out Rash Guards and wetsuits to all students. Before entering the water, instructors will help apply and check for sunscreen. We make sure campers apply sunscreen hourly.
12:50 - 2:30 pm Let the Shredding Commence. Surf Time!
Surf sessions will vary depending on age, ocean conditions, and the experience level of the camper. Many students will have one-on-one instruction, while others will receive advanced coaching. There will always be an option to play beach games or swim with other campers and instructors.
2:30 - 2:45 pm Pack up and More Sunscreen.
Let's leave the beach cleaner than we found it. Any personal items left behind will be placed into our lost and found.
2:45 - 3:00 pm Pick up.
For location specific directions please visit our Palisades or Venice page.
Please come check-out your child with the beach captain. If you are running late please call or text the office or beach captain.
Extended hours of care are offered daily from 3:15 pm-6:30 pm. Extended care is $30 an hour if booked ahead of time. If you need extended care the day of, the hourly rate is $40 and is subject to our availability. To book in advance please contact us.
