The week runs Sunday to Saturday. Teens arrive at camp around 6pm on Sunday, settle into their tents and meet the group over dinner. Departure is Saturday before noon. If needed, the camp can arrange a transfer to or from Bordeaux airport or Bordeaux train station.

Surfing takes up most of each day. There are nine lessons across the week, normally two a day, with graduate, experienced instructors. Session times move with the tides and swell rather than following a fixed clock, so the schedule shifts a little day to day. The beach itself is a natural, undeveloped stretch about a 15-minute walk from the campsite. Lunch is either eaten back at camp or packed in the morning and taken to the surf school.

Camp life is hands-on. A large kitchen tent sits in the middle of the surfcamp, with a fridge, hob and oven. The teens take turns helping prepare meals and do the dishes according to a schedule. Everyone eats together at large tables, which is a big part of why the group gels so quickly.

Downtime is relaxed but there's plenty to do. Hammocks are strung around the common area, with armchairs and coffee tables for card games after surfing. The more energetic can use the badminton court, slackline and Mölkky set on the camp. They also have access to the campsite's tennis and basketball courts, table tennis and mini golf.

What sets this apart from a general holiday camp is the focus and the size. It's a surf week first, with real lesson volume, and it's limited to 16 teens. That's small enough for the animators to keep a close eye on everyone and for nobody to get lost in a crowd. Supervising staff hold the BAFA, France's standard qualification for leading youth holidays.

The location is the French Atlantic coast within reach of Bordeaux: pine-shaded campsite, a short walk to an open beach with no development on it, and the kind of summer campsite atmosphere where there's usually a concert or dance evening on.

What's included

- 6 nights in a two-person, single-gender tent at Camping La Grigne - Meals prepared at the camp kitchen (teens help cook on a rota) - 9 surf lessons with qualified instructors - Surf school sessions timed to tides and swell - Supervision by BAFA-qualified animators - Slackline, badminton, Mölkky and beach games - Access to campsite tennis and basketball courts, table tennis and mini golf - Evening games and activities - Sunset beach picnic with pizzas - 1% of the stay donated to ocean-protection associations

What's not included

- Travel to and from the camp - Transfers from Bordeaux airport or train station (available on request) - Travel insurance - Pocket money and personal spending - Anything not listed as included