The morning was cloudy in Huntington Beach on Thursday. High tide proved challenging for the Little Surf Co. Surf & Science Academy, where the young surfers enjoyed riding waves just north of Goldenwest Street and Tower 22. Nevertheless, there were delightful moments. “Check out those dolphins!” Jason Graney shouted, peering into the water not far […]
The morning was cloudy in Huntington Beach on Thursday.
High tide proved challenging for the Little Surf Co. Surf & Science Academy, where the young surfers enjoyed riding waves just north of Goldenwest Street and Tower 22.
Nevertheless, there were delightful moments.
“Check out those dolphins!” Jason Graney shouted, peering into the water not far from the shore. “Dude, we saw three dolphins!”
The conclusion of the nearly two-hour surf session transformed into a dolphin-watching event, with staff and students captivated by the playful marine creatures.
The area where the kids surf is situated just down the beach from the location of Jason and his wife Kayla’s first date, which took place 19 years ago.
Kayla and Jason Graney established the Little Surf Co. Institute in 2019. The institute serves as a learning enrichment center focusing on various enrichment programs, including the Surf & Science Academy, LSC Learning Center, and Little Ocean Explorers TK.
(Don Leach / Staff Photographer)
The ocean and shoreline have consistently influenced their lives, fueling their decision to create the Little Surf Co. Institute in 2019.
“We aspired to develop something distinctive for our family that could forge a connection with the wider community,” Kayla Graney shared.
Before the establishment of the school, she was a college professor for almost ten years, while Jason was affiliated with a gym in south Orange County.
“Initially, we designed our logo and printed it on a coffee mug, which we then placed in our foyer,” Kayla Graney recounted. “For two years, we looked at it, thinking, ‘someday we’ll do something with this.’ During a challenging time when his mother underwent a double transplant and nearly passed away, we realized the importance of spending more time as a family. Our hectic schedules were causing us to miss out on seeing each other.”
Currently, the family, residing in Fountain Valley and now including two boys in kindergarten and third grade, spends the majority of their mornings at the beach along with their students.
A child leaps off her surfboard while instructor Deakan Leach steadies the board during a Little Surf Co. Institute surf session at Goldenwest St. in Huntington Beach on Thursday.
(Don Leach / Staff Photographer)
Kayla describes the Little Surf Co. Institute as a specialized comprehensive hybrid homeschooling initiative. It serves nearly 150 students from TK age up to sixth grade and is set to expand into junior high programming next year.
Some of the students surf in the mornings alongside the Graneys and the surf instructors. Others participate in yoga sessions on the beach led by Alison Zimmer, a math teacher who also offers business classes at the school, while additional morning enrichment activities encompass dance, music, and Spanish courses.
The institute has an ongoing contract with Huntington Beach to utilize the beach area from Tower 18 going north for six years. Little Surf Co. keeps a shipping container at the beach for storage, and the Huntington Beach Fire Department Marine Safety Division can be reached quickly in case of emergencies.
“Depending on the swell, tides, and seasonality, we can adjust our location and follow the sandbar a bit as well,” explained Jason Graney, a native of Fountain Valley. “It’s pretty cool.”
After the beach activities, Jason carpools the students in a spacious van to the actual school location, which is situated on the premises of Community Bible Church in Huntington Beach.
Maren Munson, 8, is one of the enthusiastic participants in the Little Surf Co. Institute at Goldenwest Street in Huntington Beach on Thursday.
(Don Leach / Staff Photographer)
“Almost guaranteed, sand will be spilling from their shoes,” grinned Little Surf Co. kindergarten teacher Georgina Gennawey. “We have vacuums for that.”
Zimmer, who operates a yoga studio locally, serves as the homeroom teacher for the older fifth- and sixth-graders. She also instructs classes in business entrepreneurship and public speaking.
“They arrive at school with such positivity,” said Zimmer. “We enjoy a three-week break for Christmas, and for them, it’s genuinely a downer.”
December indeed heralds the festive season at Little Surf Co., with Santa and Mrs. Claus making an appearance at the beach on Tuesday, and preparations are underway for an upcoming holiday performance.
A monthly assembly took place on Thursday, during which Zimmer’s student of the month was Finn Ramelot, a fifth-grader known for his surfing skills at the school.
He participates in the Little Surf Co. morning Surf & Science Academy four days a week, where the science component incorporates ocean education and marine biology topics throughout the curriculum.
Students at the Little Surf Co. Institute surf a wave during a session at Goldenwest Street in Huntington Beach on Thursday.
(Don Leach / Staff Photographer)
Finn and his peers also have recreational time at the park adjacent to the Main Street Library, a quick walk from Community Bible Church.
“I’ve always been exposed to homeschooling, so [being at school] feels a bit different, but it’s enjoyable,” Finn stated. “I appreciate being around the kids. It’s wonderful.”
Anita Munson, whose daughter, Maren, is in the third grade at the school, shares similar sentiments. She values the flexibility that Little Surf Co. offers.
Maren surfs five days a week, attending school on Mondays and Fridays, while taking extracurricular classes like speech and creative writing. Core curriculum activities are conducted at home on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays.
Regarding the educational program, Little Surf Co.’s operations director, Emily LeMonnier, noted that it adheres to state standards. The academy operates from September to May and partners with 10 charter schools.
The Little Surf Co. maintains small class sizes of 15 to 20 students, with a uniform policy on the school campus. Some surf instructors also act as teacher’s aides.
A young child gathers sand during a Little Surf Co. Institute surf session at Goldenwest Street in Huntington Beach on Thursday.
(Don Leach / Staff Photographer)
“Our goal is to create a distinctive learning environment,” stated LeMonnier, who joined the school as a surf instructor five years ago. “The students engage in hands-on learning experiences and project-based activities. Our philosophy is to minimize the time they spend in a classroom when it’s not necessary and encourage learning through experiential methods.”
Little Surf Co. also operates a summer camp that accommodates over 60 children, as shared by Kayla Graney. In her office on campus, she has a large board displaying future plans for the school.
It’s truly a labor of love for the Graneys, who affectionately refer to the academy as their “Little House on the Prairie” school. Their school motto is “Join the movement, let’s ride the wave.”
Being present at the beach each morning is a privilege they cherish, knowing it greatly enriches their students’ experiences.
“Bringing them into a classroom at 8 o’clock seems to contradict findings from numerous studies showing they may not be mentally prepared to focus yet,” Kayla Graney emphasized. “By inviting them outdoors, they get centered and release their energy.”
For additional details about the institute, visit littlesurfcoinstitute.com.
