Wave runners: Odyssey Adventure Club marks seventeen years of summer camp adventures

Odyssey Adventure Club founder Steve Waterman is in his seventeenth year hosting kids camps.

  • By Michele Meyers
  • | 2:00 p.m. July 17, 2024
  • Ormond Beach Observer
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Odyssey Adventure Club owner Steve Waterman founded his kids’ camps with the ideology of them being based on conservation and STEM. It is his 17th year in operation, with surf camps being held the past three years.

Surf camp is four straight days of surfing. He said what makes the camp unique is that they change locations every day, which adds to the excitement. Camp counselor Scott Crooke checks the weather, tides and swells on a daily basis, all of which dictates where the campers end up surfing.

“Last year we did surf and springs camp,” Waterman said. “We did a spring day on Wednesday and on Friday to give them a break from the sun, but the kids that come here really live, breath and eat surfing. They want to surf.”

Crooke said there has been a noticeable difference surfing in the areas of Wilbur-by-the-Sea and south to the Ponce Inle. Surfing used to be good in this area when the tide was high, he said, but due to the beach erosion caused by last year’s hurricanes, he has had to adjust where the campers surf. In Ormond Beach, the campers caught some good waves during incoming tide which, for Crooke, has historically been better during low tide.

“I feel like that is just the cycle of nature,” he said. “In a few more years, it will be different. The ocean temperature is cooler right now because of the upwelling from (hurricane) Beryl. The upwelling has been refreshing.”

As a dean at Indian Trails Middle School in Palm Coast, it was necessary for Crooke to leave OAC early this year to prepare for the upcoming school year. The first day of school for Flagler Schools is Aug. 12.

When I look at summer, this is what I think of—this camp. This week is one of the best weeks of summer. You can’t really top it off. You get to surf. You get to be at the beach. You get to get tan. You get ice cream every day and you get to meet a lot of new people." — GRACE GILDON, Odyssey Adventure Club camper

“I want the kids to get how much fun it is to just be out here with their friends,” he said. “Whether there are bigger waves or smaller waves, they’ve learned a little bit about the ocean and the fun involved in being a surfer. Luckily, our camp day is long so we get to see the changes from the tide shifts. They get to learn to love this stuff as kids so they do it when they’re old.”

Adventure camp is Waterman’s flagship. Campers begin the week at Sanchez Park, which is situated on the Tomoka River in Ormond Beach. They spend the week paddle boarding, kayaking, rock climbing, disc golfing and ice skating. Camp counselor Jan-Michael Scott brings out the challenge games on Tuesday mornings.

Scott is in his eighth year as an OAC counselor. He is going into his fourth year as a physical education teacher at Old Kings Elementary School in Palm Coast. He said it is paramount for kids to understand the safety aspects of paddle boarding and kayaking.

“I want them to enjoy the outdoors and understand the safety things that come along with paddling — understand how to paddle and understand it is a lifelong activity,” he said. “It really is something you can do until you can’t do it anymore.”

Waterman said he and his staff stress water safety and open up each camp activity with specific instructions.

“It doesn’t matter how long you’ve been here, we do instruction before anyone gets in the water,” he said. “No matter where you are, you should always know your location. We emphasize safety and we emphasize actual skills. We don’t just throw them in there on a kayak or paddle board and let them take off. We want them to understand the nuances of paddling.” 

Waterman said campers can count on eating watermelon every day including an iconic rind-throwing competition and a cookout at Alexander Springs on Fridays for some team building activities and some camaraderie.

Grace Gildon has been attending the surf camp for the past few years.

“When I look at summer, this is what I think of — this camp,” she said. “This week is one of the best weeks of summer. You can’t really top it off. You get to surf. You get to be at the beach. You get to get tan. You get ice cream every day and you get to meet a lot of new people.” 

 

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