Campers skim and surf Lido Beach

If there’s one thing campers learned at Sarasota County’s Skim, Surf and Paddle Camp on June 28, it was to hang loose.

But, Benny Ray, the sports manager for the camp and Compound Boardshop, who runs the camp through Sarasota County Parks, Recreation and National Resources, hopes they take away more than that.

Along with the social skills of surfing, paddleboarding and skimboarding, Ray and the counselors are teaching the campers board anatomy, weather patterns, how waves are created and other marine topics during the five-day camp.

After one round of skimboarding, surfing and paddleboarding, campers took a break before catching more waves. Next on the schedule was a game of dodgeball, snack time and swimming.

“It’s just keeping them active and involved the entire time,” Ray said.