How to Choose a Surf Camp for Teenagers

What to Look for Before Booking

Choosing a surf camp for a teenager is not the same as booking an adult holiday. The questions a parent asks before confirming are different: Who will be with them? How do they handle different skill levels? What happens if there’s an allergy? What’s their policy on phones?

This article answers those questions with the criteria that actually matter, so you can compare options with confidence and choose the one that best fits your son or daughter.

Already know about the Nexo Junior Surfcamp? A surf camp for teenagers aged 12 to 16 in El Palmar, Cádiz. See the programme and dates →

Safety and Supervision First

This is the most important criteria and the one least explained on surf camp websites.

Before looking at the programme or the price, ask about the monitors’ qualifications. Surf instructors working with minors must have specific training in lifesaving and first aid, in addition to their surf qualification. This is not optional.

The monitor-to-student ratio also matters. In the water, a group that is too large makes individual attention impossible and compromises safety. A maximum of 6 students per monitor is the standard that allows both technical progression and real oversight of what happens in the water.

At Nexo, instructors are fully qualified and trained in lifesaving and first aid. Classes are organised in groups of a maximum of 6 students per monitor, both in surf and surfskate, always split by level.

The Programme: What They Actually Do All Day

A well-designed camp doesn’t fill the hours with random activities. It has a logic: mornings with higher physical demand, quieter afternoons, and moments of socialising that feel natural rather than forced.

For surf, what matters is that the classes are daily and progressive — not the same thing repeated every day, but a clear learning arc from Monday to Sunday.

Surfskate as a complement is a genuine addition, not a decorative one. Working on balance, stance and manoeuvres on land helps reinforce what happens in the water. Not all camps offer it or integrate it well.

At Nexo, the programme includes 2-hour daily surf classes, surfskate sessions at the Wavepark — a skatepark designed specifically for that practice — afternoon activities, and outings to explore the surroundings. Groups are organised by age and level, with all equipment included from day one.

The Phone Policy

This is one of the topics that most divides parents and that has the biggest impact on how teenagers experience the camp.

Some camps let phones be used freely. Others collect them on arrival. Others set specific time slots. There’s no single right answer, but there is a clear difference in the type of experience each model creates.

When teenagers don’t have their phone on them all day, the group dynamic changes. They talk more to each other, they’re more present in activities, and the social experience feels more real. It’s one of the things parents who come back year after year value most.

At Nexo, phones are handed in on arrival and returned once a week so the kids can speak with their families. It’s a clear policy, communicated upfront, and part of the camp’s philosophy.

Want to know more about how the day-to-day works? Full programme details on the Junior Surfcamp page. See the full programme →

The Accommodation: What They’ll Find When They Arrive

Accommodation at a surf camp for teenagers doesn’t need to be hotel standard, but it does need to be decent, tidy and safe.

Check whether rooms are mixed or separated by gender, how many people share a room, and whether the bathroom is private or shared across the floor.

At Nexo, rooms are in the main building, shared between two, three or four people, with a private bathroom, and separated by gender. The garden spans 5,000 m² with distinct areas: the chozo and wooden platform for activities, the dining area with garden views, and quieter spaces for rest. There’s also ping-pong, slackline and volleyball for free time.

Food: More Important Than It Seems

A teenager doing intensive physical activity for several days in a row needs to eat well and in adequate quantities. A standard canteen menu won’t cut it.

Check whether the camp adapts menus to the physical activity and the age group, and whether they accommodate allergies and intolerances. Ask directly before booking.

At Nexo, menus are prepared daily taking into account the activity performed, the age group, and any allergies or intolerances. Everyone eats together at large tables with garden views.

Age and Level: When Does It Make Sense to Go

The Nexo Junior Surfcamp is designed for teenagers aged 12 to 16. No previous surf experience is required — the only requirement is knowing how to swim. Groups are organised by age and level, so a kid who has never surfed won’t be in the same group as someone who has spent two summers in the water.

From age 12, there is also the option of joining adult groups if the level justifies it.

What Sets One Surf Camp Apart from Another

Beyond the technical criteria, there’s something you notice in camps that have been doing this well for years: the team is stable, they know each other, and they know the kids by name from day one.

That doesn’t appear in the programme description, but it shows up in the reviews from parents who come back. In the case of Nexo, there are families who have chosen the same camp for several consecutive years — which says a lot about what they find when they arrive.

Before You Book: Questions Worth Asking

Regardless of which camp you choose, these are the questions worth asking before confirming:

• What are the monitors’ qualifications, and do they have first aid and lifesaving training?
• What is the maximum student-to-monitor ratio in the water?
• How do they handle phones?
• How are groups organised by level?
• Do they have a protocol for food allergies and intolerances?
• What happens if the child isn’t feeling well or wants to call home?

A camp that answers these questions clearly and without hesitation is usually one that has thought things through properly.

If you’d like to see how Nexo answers these questions, you can check the full Junior Surfcamp programme or get in touch directly. We’ll guide you with no obligation.