Meet the Cowabunga Surf & Watersports Camp Team
Camp Leadership
Brett Jenkins (“EAGLE”)
Camp Director
With more than 18 years of teaching experience on the Treasure Coast, Brett has taught over 9,000 successful lessons to a broad variety of students ranging in age from 3 to 82! Using his own simplified teaching method and his understanding of technique, Brett is able to train and coach all levels of surfer from beginner to advanced. He also holds current Lifeguard, CPR and First Aid certifications.
Originator, designer, and Managing Director of Cowabunga Surf and Water Sports Camp, Brett has a deep passion for surfing and for inspiring children and youth to build their character and their confidence in and out of the water. Brett has led and mentored children and youth for well over a decade. He served as a summer camp counselor at Kanakuk Kamps in Branson, Mo. for five consecutive years, worked full time for Boosterthon Fun Run for four seasons, and has served, and continues to serve, as a youth leader at local churches.
Born and raised within five minutes of the Atlantic shore, Brett also enjoys kite boarding, boating, fishing, wake boarding, and just about every other water-related sport.
Melissa Jenkins (“MOMMA J”)
Camp Administrator
Momma J (aka Melissa Jenkins), co-owner of Cowabunga Surf and Sport with son Brett and husband Tom, has lived in South Florida within one mile of the Atlantic beaches all of her life. Growing up in Fort Lauderdale, she has resided in Stuart with Tom and sons Brett, Skyler, & Connor since 1987 and now is blessed with an adored daughter-in-law, Connor’s wife, Lyndi.
Melissa’s background for over 30 years was in marketing, promotion and public relations, working in her own business and as a freelancer for local marketing firms. In December, 2012, she and her family purchased Cowabunga Surf and Sport, embarking on a new and exciting adventure! She claims the greatest benefit of owning the shop, besides working with her treasured family, are the many wonderful visitors, families, and conversations enjoyed over the past years. “We are privileged to call so many of our customers friends!”, she claims.
Some of Momma J’s favorite things are spending time outside, hanging with her family, meeting new people, Bible Study Fellowship, finding unusual additions for her tropical garden, and creating new and different recipes. Her favorite foods? Mediterranean!
“Frodo”
Camp Counselor
Frodo moved to the Treasure Coast three years ago from Woodbridge, Virginia just outside Washington DC and has one older and one younger sister. This area holds many treasured memories for him, as his father and grandparents are from here and he grew up with Jensen Beach being the family vacation destination.
Considering himself to be very sympathetic and helpful, Frodo hopes to be instrumental in helping Cowabunga campers have a great time this summer, meeting their seaside and water sport goals. He has done a lot of babysitting and child care within his family and church, as well as for others, and has much experience overseeing and guiding younger children. He also has served as a swimming pool lifeguard.
With a true heart for music and art, Frodo likes to play the guitar, sing, write songs, and draw, using his designs to create custom t-shirts. He also enjoys mornings at the beach and surfing, a sport he learned at age 14 from The Eagle. He finds the ocean to be very therapeutic and claims that being in the water on a surfboard is the only thing that really helps him forget the troubles and stresses of the day. He also enjoys wake boarding and describes one of his best memories as a wakeboard trip several years ago.
Frodo’s favorite restaurant is Berry Fresh, claiming that their breakfast is awesome, and always enjoys a snack or lunch of an acai bowl loaded peanut butter. Over the course of the Quarantine, he says the most important lesson learned was “to count your blessings”.