We LOVE Eli Howard! Our most favorite camp that we truly count down the days for. Emily is amazing and so are all of the instructors.

Great in-water instruction for beginners. Lots of reps on the inside reform for those who need to find their feel for the waves, then help with learning to catch and drop in on waves with a face read more

AMAZING!!! First they welcomed parents/guardians to stay and watch. I was able to and did. I saw a very thoughtful process, I saw very experienced instructors, I saw a very safe environment as the instructor to camper ratio was 1:3. It was a smaller group than most of the surf camps that I saw at the same beach. This made me feel extremely grateful that Eli Howard placed our kids safety as their priority. Day one was an assessment as as the week went on the kids one by one were killing it. Thank you to the coordinators and instructors, I witness you encourage and inspire every child. The smiles, laughter, and high fives were priceless. read more

I highly recommend. My daughter is 10 years old took 2 private lessons while we were visiting. She had two different instructors. Both were really good. She enjoyed both sessions and is loving surfing. They provide wetsuits and board. So glad we choose them. We would recommend to our family and friends. read more

My 9 year old son took a 3-day surfing camp over Spring Break. He absolutely loved it. Why I am giving a 5 star review: (1) My kid came home with a big smile every single day, (2) My kid actually got up on the board countless times, (3) My kid learned how to respect the ocean in terms of safety, and (4) the staff was friendly, respectful, and very responsive. All around a very positive vibe. We will be coming back for more camps. read more

Amazing camp. Emily and her team of instructors are real pro. Great atmosphere, loads of fun.

Fantastic surf school with highly skilled and personable instructors. We fly 1/2 way across the country to be a part of it and look forward to it every year. read more

Eli Howard Surf School - Surf Schools Near Me - Encinitas, California

What a fantastic operation. We had 6 Kids.from 9 to 13. All did great and really took to surfing. They have a great way of getting kids a lot of surf time by getting them back out quickly. read more

My son Ryan (age 9) has had two days of lessons with Sam and has been loving every minute. He was able to stand up on his second wave even though he had no experience surfing. They have super high-quality wetsuits and surfboards and amazingly patient instructors. read more

I haven't gone surfing in 10 years, so I'm really glad I chose this camp as my route back to riding waves. The weekend escape that the school offers is probably one of the most affordable things I've encountered in my search for surf lessons, as it includes lessons, equipment and meals (my group brought a giant cooler full of snacks that we didn't really need), plus an amazingly chill camp site to hang out in. Emily was informative and friendly from the moment we arrived. The instructors were great, making us all feel welcome in the water despite the fact that we all clearly sucked at surfing. The food was amazing, including some of the best brownies I've ever had. I'll be back next year with my friends, and I really cannot wait. Also, book super mega early! I was told that girl scout troops snatch up all the good weekends by early January. read more

My friend found this deal online and we registered and went with a group of four for one of their first "Weekend Escapes" of the year. Wetsuits, boards and lessons, three delicious meals, and an amazing camp setting make me wish I never left. This is truly one of the best experiences of my life. I had a smile plastered on my face even when the waves were kicking my ass. The instructors were supportive, knowledgeable and friendly, and the price was so affordable. Can't wait to go back! read more

San Elijo Beach is an excellent place to learn to surf, since the waves tend to be gentler than elsewhere. Eli Howard Surf School is a great school, especially if you're camping at San Elijo. The instructors were super supportive and helpful, and 2 hours was enough to tell me I want more surfing! read more

This is a great school that will teach you how to surf. Great ratio of 5 students to one instructor and lots of water time to learn to surf. For beginners I highly recommend it. read more

As far as surf schools go in san diego county this one is the best. Professional Surfing instruction. Period. None better.. Recommend highly read more

Love this surf camp! My daughter has been coming back again and again! They definitely train you up in surfing, and are very patient and make sure each girl feels comfortable and gets a ride. But beyond that, they cater to the kids, making it a fun experience. From surfing to playing in the campsite, to the wonderful meals they prepare for the kids, it's top notch, hands down! read more

Absolutely my son's favorite surf camp, and he has tried several. I love it too and Emily is awesome. Highly recommend!

The Best Surfing Camp Ever !!! I have taken my Girl Scout troop 3 times over the last few years and Emily and her husband and staff are so great with the girls. Definately planning another weekend. Thanks Eli Howard Surf,, I'd give them 10 stars if I could. read more

This camp is very clean, cozy and organized. They have almost everything you need for the group to enjoy. The girls did the 2-hr lesson. The team was very friendly and professional. The head instructor explained in detail very patiently. The kids could almost stand on the board on their first try. When they were actually surfing, the instructors were very aware of them, their feeling, and movements. The food they provided is delicious and well balanced. The host, Emily, always made sure everyone was taken care of. She played games, told stories, and made all the kids laugh! They had lots of fun! We will definitely go back again. read more

My son did a week of camp this summer, and he had a fantastic time. He is 8 and had never surfed before, and they helped him catch dozens of waves each day. They were really great with the kids, had an amazing student/teacher ratio (1 instructor to 2-3 kids), and made it so much fun while still wearing them out completely. Thanks for the super fun week! read more

We love Eli Howard Surf School so much! My son started their camps when he was about 7 and we've always had a positive experience. He has learned so much and the instructors are great with the kids. There's a good, safe ratio of student to instructor and I've always felt my son was in extremely capable hands out in the water. They keep it fun and positive and safe! Highly recommend! read more

Best camp and staff they bring a love to surfing and the ocean. Emily is a great leader we return year after year!

I called, Emily called me back, was informative. My husband and my 4.5 year old daughter took 2 hour group lessons. Totally worth it. They provided the wet suits, the boards and an awesome location. The parking was fine. They are a well-run business, with a welcoming and positive attitude. My daughter loved it and my husband said it was completely worth it and he enjoyed himself. Great place, great people, great instructors. read more

Thanks to my instructor's patience, clear communication, and professionalism, my first surf lesson at Eli Surf School went incredibly well. My instructor, Hugh, identified exactly what I needed to do to stand up and ride a wave (mainly relax, be confident, and keep my eye on the nose of the board). By the end of the lesson, I was standing up, a huge smile on my face, and hooked on this incredible sport. I would recommend Eli Howard Surf School to anyone looking to learn how to surf. read more

This staff is amazing. Very personable, attentive, and saftey orriented. Enjoyed two private lessons with darryl. My son had never been on any kind of a board , yet he was standing in white water with darryls help in the first lesson. Darryl had us both on face wave taking two threr foot drops on the second day. Note. Be sure to rest before the second lesson to get the most out of it. My son and I were both spent and called it a lil early. Great spot to learn, because the white water is strong for standing up for the first time. The amount of water drives you for a while, so you get alot of time on the board. For face time this spot was ruff for me because i was setting up late and washed out several times...fun. Fun, is what my son and i experienced. Memmory forrever. Thx. read more

The price is very fair. The kids who run the caps are so sweet. My daughter loved it and we will do it again next year. They serve snacks & water and have extra sunscreen if needed, makes packing for camp VERY easy! Not to mention my daughter (8) can catch waves after one week!!!! read more

My 9 y.o. son had a blast! This is a kid that never likes camps and we have never had a successful camp week ever. Not only did he have a blast but he became so much more confident on the surfboard. Love the fresh cut up fruit snack every day!! read more

This is probably the best Surf camp I've been to. It has the nicest instructors, no matter how great you are, there is always a place for you. Same goes for private lessons. read more

My kids loved it so much they are on the waiting list for more! Super fun, hip but responsible crew and counselors with great oversight of who is where read more

We took one overnight camping + a single day surf school in Eli howard school. Fantastic weekend. The team is great and they are making everything they can to make things fun. The prepare food, have drinks, explains everything etc... Very friendly team. Setup was easy, tents are already ready for you. Showers and restrooms are in the park. The surf school is 2 hours with instructors. Wearing wet suits and having fun in the ocean. We all had a blast. At night, there is dinner, desert and a bone-fire. Highly recommended if you'd like to try out surfing (most likely you are going to love it) or just bring your own board and hangout in their campsite. There are also bikes there but we did not have the time to use any. read more

Another great experience for my son at the Eli Howard Surf School. I think this was his 6th time taking a week long day camp in the past three years...they never disappoint!! He continues to learn new skills and gain confidence in the ocean. I definitely recommend Eli Howard Surf School! read more

Quintessential surf camp! My kids (8 &13) were in great hands with all the coaches and they loved the camp! Very supportive, easy going, kind, helpful, fun, encouraging and chill! Love the vibe and the snacks rounded out for a great experience and fun memories! Thanks, Eli Howard! read more

Eli Howard is a great surf school. Emily was very accommodating to get 3 more surfers into class last minute. There were some tough wave conditions during the 3 days, but the staff made it very fun and I felt the kids were very safe. I would definitely recommend this camp to others. read more

Instructors are very friendly a knowledgeable. The beach they're at is easy to access and waves the three times I've had lessons were great.

Great camp with great instructors!! This is our 3rd time for our son and first time for our daughter. They both loved it! Fantastic!!

It's been close to 20 years since I last attempted to surf. My company decided it would be fun to get everyone together after work and do something together. We decided to go with taking surf lessons at Eli Howard Surf School. Once we arrived, we were greeted by a very enthusiastic Emily, who told us how the next two hours was going to work out. They helped us pick out wetsuits and we were on our way. We had 5 instructors out in the water showing us methods of standing on the board and helping us catch waves. These instructors were really encouraging and would get excited if we caught a wave and rode it in to shore. If it weren't for the encouragement, I would have given up and took a rest at shore. After we were done, I found my foot to be cut and bleeding, but they had all the necessary first aid and bandage kit to make sure I was alright. They're very hospitable people. Overall, it's a great surf school with a lot of friendly people employed there. Once my nieces and nephews get a little older, I'm sending them here to take some lessons. read more

Both of my kids loved the morning half day surf camp at Moonlight Beach. My son is planning on doing the week long teen only sleep over camp next year. He's really excited. I would highly recommend this business. read more

We stayed overnight with my son's community service group, and the experience was absolutely incredible. The surf instructors were friendly, knowledgable and patient. They had many of the kids surfing in an hour! The couple that runs the program are nothing short of amazing. The food they prepared was delicious, they taught the kids a ton about the ocean and the environment. I would HIGHLY recommend this to anyone. My only complaint (and it's not anything that they can do a lot about) is sleeping in a tent. It was hard for us adults to sleep in sleeping bags and it was noisy (there's a train that runs nearby and some people at the nearby campsites talked until the wee hours). But, again, an awesome experience! read more

I recently took a lesson with Hugh, an instructor with Eli Howard Surf School. I have taken surf lessons before, both in Huntingdon Beach, CA and in Bali, Indonesia. The lesson I had with Hugh stands out for its personal, humorous approach and Hugh's outstanding professionalism. Hugh is simply the best surf instructor I have ever come across. Hugh's instructions were straightforward and simple, which meant I got on the board and learned to "pop" fast. The lesson was some of the best two hours I have ever spend - loads of fun. Thank you Hugh! read more

All three of our kids love it every year and say its their "Favorite Summer Camp!". Thanks Eli Howard for doing such a great job with your personable staff and for keeping it real! Looking forward to next Summer! read more

This is the 5th year my daughters and their friends have attended camp at Eli Howard. It's the only camp they would be devastated about not missing. They feel like they get better at surfing every year and LOVE LOVE LOVE the staff. We recruit new friends every year to the camp and they also continue to come back because it's such a positive experience. Even the kids who are a little nervous/scared the first day become quick fans as the staff does a great job of understanding and adapting to each camper's skill level. These kids all feel successful and more confident from Day 1 of the camp and are all bummed it's over at the end of the week. One consideration for a parent is also safety given that the kids are in the ocean for a considerable amount of time in varying conditions. This is another area where Eli Howard excels. My kids learned more about water safety and understanding the currents at this camp in their first week than they did with 3 years of Junior Guards - and the instructors really have a good handle on the each camper's relative capabilities and where they might need some help. We've tried a number of surfing camps in the area and this is the best by far. read more