Gnome Surf | Kids Out and About Providence

Gnome Surf

Address: 
15 Main St.
Little Compton , RI , 02837
Phone: (508) 981-8152
41° 33' 15.5124" N, 71° 7' 43.5216" W
Contact name: 
Christopher Antao, Founder
We are a 501(c)(3) non-profit Surf Therapy organization providing surf therapy, art therapy, eco therapy and yoga therapy to children and families of all abilities, on the autism spectrum, down syndrome, and the LGBTQ youth. We aim to create a world with kindness, love and happiness regardless of socio economic status. We have a world class research team, comprised of neurologists, doctors, and world renowned researchers and activists. Our research team is responsible for defining and implementing therapeutic programming, collecting data from our athletes, and analyzing the therapeutic effects of surf therapy to advance the cause for individuals who benefit tremendously from its healing qualities.

What is Surf Therapy?

Surf therapy combines the therapeutic elements of the ocean with the adventure of surfing to impact the physical and mental well-being of individuals worldwide positively.

We are currently a growing surf therapy program with the aspiration to maintain our unique position as an individualized, personalized, and intimate program. We offer one-on-one surf lessons and small camps capped at 15 athletes. We believe that surf therapy can be enhanced by building friendships and bonds that can only be created in these intimate settings. We have created over 300+ opportunities for our children and families to interact and socialize. We are at a crucial point in our development where our founder, Christopher Antao, has put his own life savings on the line to purchase land in a Blue Zone of Costa Rica, a wellness mecca where we will build a tree house resort for families to rejuvenate and be educated on creating a cultural shift towards kindness, love, and happiness.

Who can benefit from Surf Therapy?

At Gnome Surf we are “raising the bar” for surf therapy and establish through evidence-base research that Surfing alleviates symptoms of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), anxiety and depression and has profound benefits for humans (children, youth, teenagers, adults) dealing with mental or physical challenges:

  • Autism
  • Learning Disabilities
  • Down Syndrome
  • Blindness
  • Amputees
  • Paraplegic, quadriplegic
  • At-risk youth from foster care
  • Inner-city youth and young adults
  • Veterans, Active-Duty military
  • Adults rehabilitating from prison
  • Homeless
  • Recovering addicts

& all those in need by using the ocean,
surfing and the outdoors to make positive and lasting life changes.

At Gnome Surf, we’re building confidence, community, and cultural shifts toward inlusion, love, acceptance, and kindness,—one wave at a time. Our certified instructors deliver transformative surf therapy through one-on-one sessions, adaptive camps, SurfFit conditioning, caregiver wellness programming and more across Rhode Island and Massachusetts and beyond. We’re not just teaching surfing; we’re creating inclusive ocean access for our athletes and families, grounded in clinical expertise and ocean-based joy. Do Good… Dream BIG