San Diego County · Surf school and youth camps
Eli Howard Surf School
Moonlight Beach, Encinitas
Eli Howard Surf School pairs year-round surf lessons with children’s camps at Moonlight Beach. Founded by two Leucadia brothers, the school offers several ways to get in the water, from a private class to a shared group session.
Lesson prices
The pricing page lists two-hour group lessons at $75, with a minimum of two students, and private two-hour lessons at $120. Solo group bookings may revert to an $85 rate. Confirm all totals by phone; the semi-private pricing is inconsistent on the page.
Where they teach
Moonlight Beach in Encinitas is the homepage’s listed location for classes and morning camps. Confirm the beach for the specific program you reserve.
Founded by Greg Eli and Mike Howard Kessler
Brothers Greg Eli Kessler and Mike Howard Kessler founded the school in 1999. They grew up in North County and drew on early surf-camp experiences. The school later added children’s day camps, creating a mix of individual lessons and longer beach programs.
What a lesson looks like
Students can choose private, semi-private or group instruction. Lessons are offered year-round, seven days a week, while morning youth camps are seasonal. Ask which format and meeting time suit your experience and group before making the reservation.
Plan around the booked Moonlight Beach program
Moonlight Beach provides the setting identified for the school’s classes and morning camps. Confirm the precise check-in point and whether your chosen camp uses that location. Build your arrival plan around the booking instructions rather than the school’s historical teaching beaches.
Morning camps and Moonlight's wind pattern
Moonlight's morning camp slot lines up with the beach's best natural window. Like most of North County, it usually has its lightest wind early, before afternoon westerly sea breezes add bump to the surface. A clean 2 ft morning here is a very different lesson from a choppy 2 ft afternoon. Mid tide tends to give the softest shape on this sandbar. Check the wind line on our Moonlight forecast the night before camp to see how glassy the morning should be.
Who it’s best for
A fit for families looking at both lessons and camps, or visitors comparing private attention with a shared class. Several formats make it possible to discuss different goals within the same family before choosing.
Local tips before you go
Call to clarify the price for your exact group and ask about the required deposit. The school says reservations require a non-refundable deposit, with the balance due by the first program day. Confirm gear and current camp dates as part of that conversation.
Check the surf before your session
Check the forecast for the confirmed beach, then ask how the school plans to use the conditions for your class. Keep a phone contact available in case meeting arrangements need clarification.
Check the surf before your lesson
Live forecasts for the breaks where Eli Howard Surf School teaches.
FAQs
Who founded the school?
Greg Eli Kessler and Mike Howard Kessler founded it in 1999.
Are lessons offered outside summer?
Yes. The lesson page advertises year-round instruction seven days a week.
Are there private lessons?
Yes, alongside semi-private and group formats.
Find the right Eli Howard format
Call the school with your dates and group size to compare lessons and camps, confirm the total cost and reserve the appropriate program.
View lessons and programsNot sure which day to book?
Small, clean 1–3 ft waves are perfect for learning. Ask BODI which day looks mellow, or check the other schools.
More surf schools in San Diego
- Leucadia Surf School · Moonlight Beach, Encinitas
- Moonlight Beach Surf Camps · Moonlight Beach, Encinitas
- Encinitas Surf Lessons · Encinitas, Cardiff, Carlsbad, Oceanside and La Jolla
Breaks near Eli Howard Surf School
Nearby surf spots with live BODI forecasts, tides and wind.
D Street
Encinitas · Beach break with reef patches · All levels
Best: 2–5 ft, low to mid tide
See forecast →
Beacons
Leucadia, Encinitas · Reef and beach break · Intermediate
Best: 2–6 ft, low to mid tide
See forecast →
Cardiff Reef
Cardiff-by-the-Sea · Reef break · All levels
Best: 2–6 ft, low to mid tide
See forecast →
Sources
Facts checked against the school's website, October 7, 2026. Written by the Surfing Tomorrow Team.
Prices, schedules and booking rules can change. Confirm your reservation details with Eli Howard Surf School before you go. Surfing Tomorrow isn't affiliated with this school.