WRIGHTSVILLE BEACH — Each summer for the past 20 years, the non-profit organization Surfers Healing has been running surf camps across the country for children with autism.
The camp returned to Wrightsville Beach this week in its 12th consecutive year for a two-day event, with approximately 300 children on the autism spectrum coming out to enjoy some sun, sand and surf.
Surfers Healing pairs children with instructors, who paddle them out, and help these kids learn to ride the waves. The California-based group believes that the ocean, and benefits of surfing, can have a calming, therapeutic effect for children with autism.
The organization is the brainchild of Israel and Danielle Paskowitz, who founded Surfers Healing because of their son, Isaiah, who suffered from meltdowns and sensory overload.
According to the group, riding the waves with his father “calmed him like nothing else,” leading the couple to mobilize their efforts across the country.
John Pike, director for the North Carolina chapter of Surfers Healing, said he originally got into the organization as a fan of Paskowitz back in his competitive surfing days. But, the organization carries a deeper meaning for him.
“My own son was diagnosed with autism at the age of two, and I knew I had to get involved,” Pike said. “Surfing was an incredible outlet for him. He’s now a sponsored surfer, as well as a certified instructor for Surfers Healing.”
Military appreciation
For the past several years, GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy, has been the primary sponsor for the Wrightsville Beach camp, keeping the program free of charge for participating families. This year saw the introduction of the organizations first military appreciation day, which saw families from across the state, and country, turn out for the event.
“We wanted to be able to help our heroes, and with the amount of veterans we have around here, it just made sense,” Pike said. “These are neighbors and family, and with 1 in 68 children diagnosed with autism, it’s not hard to find families who wanted to participate.”
Pike said that this day was dedicated to the veterans, and hopes to make this a continued tradition going forward.
Issac Garza, a recently retired Marine, came down with his family from Camp Lejune for the third year in a row, giving his young son Tate the opportunity to surf again.
“He loves it, he get’s really excited before, and then really nervous just before its his turn,” Garza said. “But, as soon as he gets in the water he’ll settle down. Then the rest of the year when we go to the beach, he’ll mimic the surfers.”
According to Pike, that’s the beauty of the program.
“You hear a lot of talk about inclusion in the community, but how many people are actually being truly inclusive?” he said. “It’s really neat to be able to take out the kids, their siblings, there parents, and have this be a real family event.”
For more information on Surfers Healing, visit surfershealing.org.
Get in touch with Reporter Cory Mannion: follow him on Facebook, Twitter, or send an email at cory@localvoicemedia.com.
