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