Gnome Surf kicks off Happy Camps in February to help kids with Autism, Down syndrome, Depression, Anxiety; ADD, ADHD, and more

Gnome Surf is back with updates about Happy Camp in CR which starts in February 2023. Here’s the show notes from another great conversation with Mr. Chris Antao:

• Chris needs shoulder help after 800 lessons
• Happy Camp happening in February
• Happy Camp non profit 501c3 autism, ADD ADHD, depression & anxiety
• families from all over coming
• gnome traveling to Texas, CR, not just northeast
• Chris done with investment banking job and now a firefighter due to gnomes growth
• Gnome doing well was on PBS, the good news movement, more corporate sponsors and hitting sustainability limits for survival
• used to be 200 to 400 families, now 3000+
• looking to build camp in NE similar to Happy Camp in CR
• Rich rants about surfing going from a bad thing to being cool & socially accepted
• Chris explains how at first surf therapy wasn’t accepted. But now is. Kids aren’t just learning to surf… They are learning to get back up again
• Chris explains naysayers always existed and some still do. Rich asks chris to explain further
• Chris says knew surf therapy real because helped him
• Brown University, Harvard, etc wanting to work with Gnome
• rich asks if struggle over. Chris says struggle was real but door now closed. CVS & others giving funds and product for Gnome athletes
• Pharmaceutical bad joke from rich
• Over 20 paid instructors in US, 4 years ago just chris
• In US 25 to 40 lessons per day on weekends event days
• Gnome doesn’t need big waves
• 50 to 75 passes sold for next season already. Over 10 week long camps out of Rhode Island
• Gnome is: Inclusion, Love and Kindness for all kids
• Good PR is foundation for rough times and people knowing Gnome stands for inclusion and acceptance
• Biking, snowboarding on way
• In Nosara Chris wants to help local kids with autism, Down syndrome, anxiety, etc
• Goal is one local camp per year
• Feb 18th week
• inquiries coming in about Nosara Happy Camps so need help from locals