Youth Surfing Programs

City Surf Project’s Youth Surfing Programs consist of two separate program models, Intro to Surfing and Surfing 101. Youth Surfing serves middle and high school students, primarily through partnerships with San Francisco Unified School District and community-based organizations. Surfing allows students to accomplish something new and challenging, and see themselves and their peers from a different perspective. While not every student becomes a lifelong surfer, every student benefits from the sense of belonging and accomplishment that CSP offers.

Summer Camps

Every summer, City Surf Project works to provide access to the ocean and surfing through week-long surf camps. During the summer we focus on working with youth through our Bay Area community-based partner organizations. 

Check back in Spring 2025 for information on our Summer Camps!

Intro to Surfing

Intro to Surfing is a 1 to 4 day surf clinic for students (and often teachers, too) that offers ocean exploration, community building, and self-discovery. Intro to Surfing provides basic instruction in water skills, water safety, paddling, standing up on a board, and hopefully catching a wave. Intro to Surfing is an excellent way for students, teachers, and partner organizations to learn more about surfing and CSP.

Surfing 101 

Students in CSP’s semester-long Surfing 101 participate in regular surf instruction at the beach as well as swim instruction in local pools. This program offers high school PE credit or after-school programming for participants. In Surfing 101, students learn to surf while building strong connections with peers and mentors. Students also receive environmental education at the beach by learning how to identify rip tides, tide cycles, and marine life. 

Partner Organizations

  • Aptos Middle School

  • Balboa High School

  • Burton High School

  • Ida B Wells High School

  • Independence High School

  • James Lick Middle School

  • June Jordan High School

  • Leadership High School