Benefits of Summer Camp for Kids

"The building blocks of self-esteem are belonging, learning, and contributing. Camps offer unique opportunities for children to succeed in these three vital areas and even beyond home and school."
Michael Popkin, Ph.D., family therapist and founder of Active Parenting

Summer camps are more than an activity for kids to do while their parents are at work. Camps are a great way for kids to learn and develop skills, which help them become more resilient, confident and independent. A couple of great articles by Psychology Today and the American Camp Association mention the many benefits that student gain from attending camps.

“Parents want the best opportunities for their children. They want them to have whatever it takes to be happy and successful - good health, ability to get along with others, thinking and problem solving skills, a good self-concept. Children need resiliency skills: self-esteem, life skills, self-reliance, and pro-social behaviors. The camp experience offers a nurturing environment away from the distractions and, in some cases, the hostile environment of the city. (Benefits of Camp: Psychological Aspects, American Camp Association, https://www.acacamps.org/press-room/benefits-of-camp/psychological-aspects ).

It is easy to see that summer camp, no matter what the activity is a great choice.

Get Back to Your Senses in Baja

Traveling in Baja brings you back to your senses. The first and most obvious change is in what you see. Unfamiliar landscapes, different colors, cities and villages soon give way to rolling hills and empty beaches.  The sky dominates, rarely do you see a sky with no man made obstacle on the horizon. Sitting on a surfboard in the water, your eyes adjust to the ever changing and diverse shades of the land as the sun tracks slowly overhead. The brilliant blue above and the deeper blue of the ocean below are profound. Blues and browns and the beauty of nothing. No stoplights, high rise buildings, traffic or billboards. Just the sun the sea and the earth.

Brightly colored houses next to deep green fields of cabbage or tomatoes. Bright red geraniums in front of a whitewashed church. In the spring, miles of countryside bloom in gold and purple in an unreal painting of endless color. By summer that same landscape becomes multiple shades of brown beneath the brilliant blue of the sky.

In Baja you will see color contrasts that you will see nowhere else. Truly a feast for the eyes where around every corner could be some new sight or shade of color you have never seen before, and that’s just in the first few miles. 

Throughout the year Ocean Experience offers eco adventure tours to several locations in Northern Baja. Read more on our baja adventure tour page and call us to reserve dates for your group.
 

Things to do in San Diego in September

Summer may be winding down, but here in San Diego we still have plenty of events lined up to enjoy all through the month of September. Whether you’re looking for an adrenaline rush or a relaxing way to spend the day, there’s something for all of us.

Surf and Beach Fun

If you ask any of us what the best things to do in San Diego are, we’ll gladly tip you off on a hundred different awesome ways to spend your time, with surfing always being near or at the top of the list. Surfing is something anyone can take up at just about any age. From six to sixty, we’ve got wave riders out every day enjoying the summer sun and rolling Pacific Ocean waters. It’s something quite addicting and we find that once you start, you won’t ever want to stop.

If you’re a novice to surfing, no worries, our surf instructors at Ocean Experience Surf School are required to be ocean safety certified and can give you the knowledge you need to enjoy the surf lesson. Hooking up with an instructor is as easy as calling us or requesting a lesson online. Before you know it, you’ll be cruising waves and speaking the local surf lingo like you’ve been doing it for years.

Biking

In California, we’re known for our beautiful weather and San Diego is no exception. In America’s most bike friendly city, you can find bikers leisurely moving along the boardwalk taking in the sights and sounds of the milling crowds. It’s a perfect way to get your exercise, while maintaining the ability to stop at any point on your ride to enjoy the many things that might catch your eye.

Mission Bay is the perfect spot if you’re looking for more of a laid-back ride with scenic enjoyment, offering 12 miles of virtually car-free bike paths. And, if you don’t own a bike, no worries, you can always rent one for the day. Up for more of a workout, try Point Loma peninsula and face the challenge of its uphill climb. Make it to the top and we promise you’re going to love the rewards, unbelievable ocean views with San Diego Bay to your west and downtown to your east. 

Hiking

Just like biking in San Diego, we can assure you the hiking is just as fantastic with thousands of miles of trails just waiting to be explored. Mission Gorge, Torrey Pines State Park, Los Penasquitos Canyon Trail, Cowles Mountain, Iron Mountain Trail, Cuyamaca Peak Loop Trail, are just a fraction of the amazing hikes you can look forward to with each offering a different degree of difficulty.

Concerts, Events, and More in September

If you’re visiting in September, or you’re a local looking for something to do, the city is buzzing with events this month. Don't forget the OB Farmers Market, Fashion Week, Festival of Sail, Julian Grape Stop Festival, Coronado Art Walk, the 3rd Annual Carlsbad Brewfest, Santee Bluegrass Festival, Taste of Downtown, San Diego Bayfair – Thunderboat Races, and the Art & Craft Show Old Town San Diego are all taking place in September. 

Don’t forget, we’ve got San Diego Sea World, LEGOLAND California Resort, the world-famous San Diego Zoo, San Diego Safari Park, the Old Town Trolley Hop-On-Hop-Off Tour, drink and dining cruises, hot air balloon rides, sailing tours, and so much more. 

If you’re looking for non-stop adventure, San Diego is the place to be. We’re here and happy to help you fill your calendar with nothing but good times and great memories.

Baja Surf and Yoga Retreat

Baja Surf and Yoga Retreat is located at Baja Surf Adventures, a privately owned resort located at Punta San Jacinto, Baja Mexico. Our retreat provides extensive yoga, surf and ocean water training for all ages and abilities. All yoga classes are taught by certified professional yoga teachers.

Adventure Gear Included:

· Surfboards

· Stand Up Paddle Boards

· Kayaks

· Mountain bikes

· Wetsuits

· Comfortable Rustic Rooms

· Hot showers and clean bathrooms

· Instruction

Trip Cost

$695

All prices include round trip transportation from San Diego, equipment, lodging and healthy, nutritious meals.

For more information please contact us at obsurfshop@yahoo.com or call us at 619-225-0674.

Is Baja Safe? 2014 Update

Nobody questions the appeal to travel Baja, Mexico, with its rugged, natural landscape and warm, welcoming culture. Travelers dream to surf Baja's Pacific Coast, offering some of the world's best surf breaks. Dive the Sea of Cortez to experience a magnificent display of marine life. Swim with whale sharks and sea turtles.Kayak Mexico's coastline featuring ancient caves and cliffs.

Baja's beauty is never the question, but the safety of Mexico is. The media had its heyday telling the world how scary Mexico is. True, there was a time not long ago when Mexico's safety was not so certain. Still, corruption continues, but what country is immune? Perhaps Mexico's reality is not exactly as the media portrays. Beyond bad press, Mexico is a country of unique culture, rich values, and loving families. Magnificent terrain of rugged deserts connects tropical coastlines.

The rule of thumb when traveling a foreign country is to be smart. Travel during daylight hours. Blend in, and appreciate local culture. Loud, disrespectful people draw unwanted attention, and that increases your likelihood to encounter unfavorable situations. Obey international laws. Don't drink & drive, and follow speed limits. Come to a complete Alto. Carry zero drugs. Travel in groups to increase safety, as well - at least one person is sure to speak a little Spanish. Mexicans appreciate travelers who appreciate them.

Ocean Experience Baja Adventure Tours have been traveling to Mexico for decades, offering safe transportation to safe, secure locations throughout Baja. Our adventure guides are skilled at cross border navigation, and our water sport professionals are lifeguard certified. We know the best spots for Baja surf adventures, where the breaks just keep on breaking. We bring adventure gear for all kinds of water excursions. We provide rustic, comfortable accommodations with healthy meals, hot showers, and comfortable beds in private or shared rooms. Our complete Baja Adventure Tour offers travelers the bliss of Baja with the ease of all-inclusive. Join a regularly scheduled tour, or create a custom package for your private party.

There are many ways to enjoy Mexico's culture. Whether traveling on your own or touring with an experienced adventure crew, follow the laws of the land, be respectful of local culture, and your trip will be a positive experience.

Ocean Experience SUP Class discount at Liberty Station

Ocean Experience Surf School is offering a Labor Day Weekend Special for SUP classes at Liberty Station. On Saturday and Sunday at 10:00am, get a 2-hour SUP lesson for 2 people for just $105.00 ($70.00 each regular price). 

On Saturday and Sunday at 1:00pm, buy one 90-minute SUP Yoga class for $50.00 and get the second one half off. Join us this weekend in front of the Courtyard Marriott Liberty Station for your Labor Day SUP adventure!

Call 619-225-0674 to reserve your spot today. Please mention the special Facebook promotion.

Adventure Beyond Borders - Experience Natural Wonders

Ocean Experience is one of San Diego's oldest travel adventure companies, offering all-inclusive, eco-cultural adventure tours and guide service to secure locations throughout Baja, Mexico. Travelers enjoy adventures in surf, stand up paddleboard (SUP), kayak, and more.  Clean, comfortable lodging and healthy, delicious meals welcome worldly travelers who come to experience Mexico's warm culture and natural landscape.  Book a private party, or join a tour to breaks along the Pacific Coast.  SUP/kayak/snorkel the Sea of Cortez, or enjoy mountain vineyards and desert hot springs.  Great rates on all-inclusive adventures; group discounts.  

Now is the Perfect Season for a Surf Trip to Baja

Baja California's Pacific Coast hosts some of the world's best surf breaks, and Ocean Experience knows right where they're at. The conditions are just right, which means we're packing our adventure gear and heading south of the border. Grab your surf crew and join the adventure! 

Our next trip is August 23-26, offering an all-inclusive, eco-cultural adventure. Ocean Experience Baja Adventure Tours have been traveling to Mexico for decades, offering safe transportation to secure locations throughout Baja. Enjoy rustic, comfortable accommodations, healthy, delicious meals, hot showers, & comfortable beds in private or shared rooms. Lodging facilities are located just outside a small town, where coastline meets ridgeline at the base of a rugged desert.  Call Ocean Experience to learn more.

Ocean Experience Surf School on TV

Channel 4 News came out and did a segment on our surf camp. Check it out! We hope to see your kids at camp next summer!

The sport of surfing can benefit your body and mind... plus it's lots of fun. Some lucky San Diego students got to experience summer surf camp - learning about the ocean and how to hang ten.www.4sd.com and www.cox.com.