Ocean Explorers Humpback Summer Camp

Santa Barbara’s favorite camp for over 10 years. A Save the Mermaids collaboration.

Join us for a five day ocean camp packed full of ocean sports and fun. Build confidence, learn new skills, and develop a lifelong appreciation for the ocean. Our mornings are designed to be explorative and instructional; taking campers on journeys that will teach them important ocean skills that will challenge and excite them within their skill level.

Our afternoons are party waves at Sandspit with all of the camp toys at their disposal to learn with the guidance of the counselors but the freedom to learn at his or her own pace.

The magic of Ocean Explorers Camp is that throughout all of the activities and fun, we blend conservation and ocean education into the theme of the day’s activities. Daily activities include kayaking, stand- up paddle boarding, boogie-boarding, surfing, body surfing, snorkeling, beach play, beach cleanups, art, and ocean education through the Santa Barbara Harbor from Sandspit to Leadbetter. We also will be able to connect with marine life above and below the water, fish, echinoderms, seals and sealions and even dolphins some mornings will join us in our play!

Activities Include:

• Kayaking
• Stand-up paddling
• Surfing/boogie boarding
• Snorkeling
• Beach play
• Ocean education learning projects
• Sea Center Aquarium

We provide wetsuits and lifejackets.

Our Water Safety Policy – Humpback Age Group

We don’t expect kids to come to camp as excellent swimmers, this camp was designed to help kids improve on already existing swimming skills and help them build confidence in the water.

• Campers will all be asked to do a swim test on day 1 so we can get an idea of where each kids is at with their swimming ability. They can do this with our without a PFD on.
• We ask that campers have had previous swimming lessons and are at least comfortable floating in their life jacket.
• Campers are only required to wear PFDs when on kayaks and paddleboards. Campers that struggle during the swim test will be asked to wear a PFD at all times. 

Campers will learn skills on kayaks, paddleboards, and in the surf zone. While PFDs are required to be worn by paddlers under 16 by USCG when on personal watercraft it is also good practice for young paddlers to become comfortable paddling with a PFD for future ocean paddling experiences when they are older.

*Wetsuits are provided