Santa Cruz, California

Registration opens February 2025. The First Descents community will be notified via email. To join the FD community and receive updates when Programs are open for registration, sign up here!

Ride the world-famous waves of Santa Cruz, California, on this weeklong surfing adventure with your First Descents community! With a coastline that is also part marine sanctuary, Santa Cruz offers sunny beach days and pristine wilderness that is perfect for catching waves with the incredible guides at Richard Schmidt Surf School. Your lodge, which is nestled next to acres of redwood forest, will be the perfect place to rest, recharge and then refuel with delicious homemade food by our First Descents chefs!

There will be four separate weeks of Oncology Santa Cruz Surfing programs in 2025.

WHERE: Santa Cruz, CA

WHAT: Surfing

WHEN: September 21 – 26, 2025 | September 28 – October 3, 2025 | October 5 – 10, 2025 | October 12 – 17, 2025

COST: Free!

FOOD: Professional chef-prepared meals

AIRPORT: San Jose, CA (SJC)

TRAVEL: Participants are responsible for getting to/from the program. Travel scholarships are available through the registration form.

HEALTH & SAFETY: All Participants are required to fill out a registration form. FD will select participants based on available space on the program. Once selected, participants may be required to get a medical form from their Doctor. FD strongly recommends that all Participants are fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Read more here.