As reggae music flowed through the trees and the scent of the ocean hung in the air, supporters from across the Northeast gathered in Little Compton the Saturday before last to support surfing as therapy for those with special needs.

There was no shortage of smiles at the second annual Gnome Surf clambake fundraiser at the Little Compton Game Club, as attendees enjoyed arts and crafts and seafood served up by volunteers.

Gnome Surf encompasses art and yoga with surf therapy to create a hands-on approach with students as young as 14 months old all the way to college age. Founder Christopher Antao said he's overwhelmed with the response his non-profit has received, and believes it is making a huge difference in the lives of those who need and love it.

Antao, a Fall River native who spent his teenage years surfing in Little Compton, found peace of mind amidst the waves and founded his non-profit here three years ago. He specializes in working with children of all ages and all abilities, focusing on those with down syndrome, autism, physical limitations, anxiety disorders, and those with a variety of medical concerns.

“I grew up with undiagnosed ADHD my whole entire life, and whenever I stepped into the water, I felt this sense of calmness and joy, and I knew that I needed to share this with kids,” said Antao. “We promote inclusion, acceptance, diversity, and equality, for all kids of all abilities.”

Antao said he is amazed at how his work has spread.

“In 2020, we served 800 families. In 2021, we served 2,000. This year, we’re looking at roughly around 3,000,” he said. “You can see the smiles on these children’s faces when they’re in the water. And if that joy is coming through in a photo, imagine how it feels to be able to give that child that gift of joy and self confidence, and that’s all the inspiration and motivation I need is knowing that we’re making an impact in these kids' lives.”

Antao expects Gnome Surf to make waves up and down the East Coast, and has big plans.

“We want to build a ‘glamp camp’ here in Little Compton and Westport, where families can travel to us for our services and stay over, or even local families can have a ‘staycation,’’ said Antao. “We have a camp in Costa Rica as well, in which we take local families out there, so I envision us being one of the biggest surf therapy programs in the world.”

Gnome Surf recently expanded to 35 camps per summer, up from last year’s 25 camps. The camps are free for students, with participants learning surf techniques, incorporated with art and yoga. Surf camps run from May through October, but in the off-season, Gnome Surf hosts surf fitness, yoga classes, and art classes in the winter.

For those who want one-on-one surf therapy sessions, Gnome Surf offers individualized sessions at South Shore Beach in Little Compton, Horseneck Beach in Westport, and Second Beach in Middletown, by appointment.

“Our individual lessons are fee-for-service, but are need-based, so it depends on your income,” said Antao. “Things can get expensive, especially in Little Compton, so we want to make sure that money never becomes an issue for anybody who needs our services. We also give partial scholarships to kids in need.”