Girl in the Curl Surf Camp

Girl in the Curl Surf Camp offers youth classes, clinics, private lessons, and special occasions such as birthday parties. The program also runs spring and summer surf camp sessions, including a Teen Surf Camp, and includes trash pickups as part of its activities. Participants use equipment provided by the program.

• Ages: 7–18 years old
• Schedule: Fall hours Monday–Saturday starting at 8:00 AM (end time varies; closed Sundays)

Girl in the Curl Surf Camp was founded by Mary Hartmann, who caught her first wave at Doheny State Beach in 1970, started “Swell Time Surf School” in 1987, and opened Girl in the Curl in 1997 as the first surf shop and surf school in Orange County designed for girls. The surf camp is described as perfect for all levels aged 7 and up and teaches participants about surf etiquette, the history of surfing, tides, and general ocean safety. The program states that it provides a high-quality surfing experience for all regardless of age, ability, and surf level, with patient, professional instruction, excellent equipment, and the best waves possible, and that it wants every customer to walk out feeling like they caught the best wave of the day. Girl in the Curl also provides education on sea life, hosts trash pickups, strongly promotes reduce, reuse, and recycle, and makes it a priority to protect the fragile ocean and the animals that call it home.

Last updated March 24, 2026.