Ride The 5: York Surf Camp — 5 Days of Surfing, Skimboarding & SUP

Long Sands Beach in York, Maine is where Liquid Dreams’ Ride the 5 camp turns a week of summer into a compact ocean apprenticeship for kids ages 8–19. Held at the address 171 Long Beach Ave, York, ME 03909, USA, this five‑day program runs daily from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., and teaches surfing, boogie boarding, skimboarding, stand‑up paddling and body surfing. Small instructor ratios—five or fewer students per instructor—mean hands‑on coaching from Liquid Dreams’ team, described by the operator as some of the region’s most experienced watermen. Each morning begins with a 1–2 hour surf lesson in the protected breaks of Long Sands; afternoons rotate to the day’s best skill for conditions, and every camper leaves with wetsuit time and board experience. All equipment is included and the program costs $495 per student; camps run weekly from June 16 through August 29 with a minimum of five and maximum of ten students per week.

The beach itself is classic southern Maine: long sandy stretches backed by low dunes, rock headlands that frame Saco Bay and a coastline shaped by glacial scouring and granite outcrops. That mix creates learner‑friendly waves and sheltered paddling zones ideal for developing wave reading and balance. Wildlife sightings are common—harbor seals cruise the inshore waters and shorebirds like terns and piping plovers use the sands—so instructors emphasize safety and local stewardship.

Ride the 5 stands out because it compresses five distinct water disciplines into one curriculum, accelerating confidence and cross‑training skills that feed back into better surfing. Instructors also offer equipment discounts for families who want to keep progressing after the week ends. Practical details are straightforward: campers should bring a packed lunch, bathing suit, towel, and sunscreen; pickup is at 3:15 p.m. Liquid Dreams supplies wetsuits and boards and adapts afternoon activities to tides and swell.

Each week instructors run a simple progression plan: pop‑up drills on sand, whitewater practice, green‑wave positioning and etiquette when students are ready, topped with guided paddle sessions that improve core strength and board control. Instructors carry basic first‑aid kits, maintain radio contact with nearby lifeguards when conditions call for it, and keep groups within sight lines so parents can watch confidence grow. Photos of sessions are available upon request.

For parents and guardians, this camp is a durable introduction to New England surf culture: kids learn ocean awareness, paddling technique and etiquette around other beach users, all while being rooted at one of Maine’s oldest coastal communities—York has been settled by Europeans since the 1600s. Whether aiming toward a season of weekend breaks or simply seeking a confident week of play and skill-building, Ride the 5 compresses a summer of lessons into five purposeful days on Long Sands.