This program is designed to give the disabled veteran and non-veteran disabled community in the northeast the opportunity to take part in AmpSurf’s rehabilitative learn to surf program at some of the best beaches in the northeast. AmpSurf will be bringing 10 certified adaptive surf instructors along with all the surfboards, wetsuits and other adaptive equipment needed for the week.
– Long Sands in York Beach, Maine AmpSurf will head north for our last two days long sands break in York Beach Maine. these two days will be open to all members of the disabled community.
AmpSurf™ started it’s learn to surf program 10 years ago in Pismo Beach, California as a way to rehabilitate and heal disabled veterans and other adults and children through the power of adaptive surfing and the ocean. Starting with only a handful of participants back in 2003 the program has grown to serve several hundred a year and involves hundreds of volunteers as well. By expanding to include clinics on the east coast AmpSurf will be able reach more people than ever before.
” This is an exciting time for AmpSurf as we continue to grow and fulfill our mission of reaching out to help our fellow veterans and disabled feel the healing power of the ocean and other outdoor activities. Bringing our program back east to where I grew up has been a dream of mine for several years” said Dana Cummings. Dana is the Executive Director and founder of AmpSurf™ Learn to Surf program. Dana grew up on a farm in Maine and was recently named Veteran of the year by California State Senator Sam Blakeslee.
Goal:One in five Americans struggle with a lifelong disability and nearly two million men and women have served our country in Iraq and Afghanistan, and are coming home looking for ways to feel whole again and to fit back in to normal life. Whether they are an amputee, hearing or visually impaired, suffer from PTSD, or have quadriplegia. Whether they served in WWII, Korea, Vietnam, the Gulf war, Iraq or Afghanistan. Whether they are a child with autism, or a young woman who has lost a limb to cancer, AmpSurf™ offers a unique program to bring the healing power of the ocean and adaptive surfing together for an experience that is both mentally and physically one of the best forms of rehabilitation on the planet. Our goal is simple, we want to help our disabled veterans, adults & children focus on their abilities not their disabilities. To do this we strive to Promote, Inspire, Educate and Rehabilitate (PIER™) these great Americans and the public by providing a quality program and the opportunity for the participants and volunteers to come together and feel the joy & healing of the ocean and surfing.
Daily Clinic schedule:
7:00am – Setup crew arrives*
7:30am – All other volunteers arrive*
7:45am – Volunteers Briefing (all water staff must be present)
8:00-9:00am – Participants Arrive* – Meet, Greet and Suit up
9:00-9:30am – Dry land Instruction
9:30-11:30am – In water surf instruction
11:30-12:00pm – Free Surf 12:00-1:00pm -Lunch and Teardown
*Please sign in as you arrive!
Participants are encouraged to contact AmpSurf in advance to make sure all efforts can be made to accommodate your disability. Please email us at participate@ampsurf.org
Please bring with you the following items:
Swim suit
Towel
Sun Screen
Picture ID
What you will get at each clinic:
Breakfast
Outstanding instruction by certified adaptive surf instructors.
Lunch
Clinic Reservation: All of our events are free to participants, but a reservation deposit is required at least 2 weeks in advance of the event you wish to attend. Reserve your spot with a refundable deposit of $50 Reservations need to be made at least 2 weeks prior of the clinic to receive a refund, after the 2 week deadline there is no refund. Day of event beach sign ups will have an additional $25 fee for each day. There is a link on the participant sign up page to complete your registration.
Once again, thank you and we look forward to seeing you at the beach!!!
Funds are still needed to make this event happen, so please help us if you can. Your donations will be used to support these brave men and this event and others like it. To donate please click on the support link below or at the top of this page.