Surfers Healing brings waves of joy

Long Beach students joined others from neighboring communities for the annual Surfers Healing Surf Camp held at Lido West Town Beach.

The event provided a day of uplifting experiences in the calmness of the ocean for students in Long Beach High School’s Life Skills program and the special education program housed at East School.

Professional Surfers Healing instructors brought students out individually on long boards and gave everyone the opportunity to create their own surfing journeys as they left their comfort zones and rode waves back to shore. They were cheered on and congratulated by members of the Long Beach High School surf team, who proudly handed out medals and high-fives.

Students in the high school’s marching band and color guard also volunteered and led the event’s opening ceremony. Staff members, parents and other attendees, including Hempstead Town Supervisor Kate Murray, showed support as well.

Surfers Healing seeks to enhance the lives of children and teens with special needs, specifically those with autism. The combination of this organization’s stellar team and the ocean’s therapeutic effect has been making a difference in the lives of its participants for 16 years. This was one of many one-day Surfers Healing camps held across the nation, and was organized in partnership with the Town of Hempstead.