“It’s like there’s a magic in the air. There are smiles and tears all day long. This is a day these kids remember.”

OCEAN CITY – Surfers Healing returned to the beaches of Ocean City this week for the 10th annual day-long surf camp for children with autism.

On Wednesday, more than 200 children, their families and surfers from Hawaii, New Zealand and California gathered on the beach in front of the Castle in the Sand Hotel for Ocean City’s 10th annual Surfers Healing camp.

Founders Israel and Danielle Paskowitz started the organization in 1996 as a way to help and connect with their youngest son, who has autism. Israel Paskowitz found that surfing calmed his son and soon began inviting other families to join them. Since that time, Surfers Healing has expanded to several yearly events around the nation and in other countries.

Camp Co-Director Kat Trammell shared her efforts to bring Surfers Healing to Ocean City more than a decade ago. She noted the impact the event had on her own son.

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