First, I want to acknowledge that the surf camp itself is excellent. Our son has attended Erik…read moreNelsen's Surf Camps for the past four years, and the program has always been well organized. The instructors do a great job with the kids, the photos are the end of the week are a great remembrance of the lessons, and our son has genuinely enjoyed attending every summer. Unfortunately, our interaction with the owner, Erik Nelsen, has completely changed how we feel about returning.
Our son had an accident during camp and soiled himself. We received a call letting us know that the staff have provided him with a pair of shorts, and asked us to bring another pair. Based on that conversation, we understood that he was otherwise okay--not sick or in distress. We also had other parents at the beach who were with our son and kept us updated, reassuring us that he was doing fine and there was no immediate urgency.
Because we live over 30 minutes away, we stopped at a nearby Target to purchase shorts rather than driving all the way home first. We juggling multiple responsibilities at once and were trying to balance getting back as quickly as possible. We were only about six minutes away when Erik called a second time.
Instead of asking for an update, he immediately greeted us in an angry, confrontational tone with, "Where are you?" It was clear he was upset. We acknowledged afterward that there had been miscommunication on both sides. He wasn't aware that other parents were helping and keeping us informed. The problem wasn't that he was concerned about our son. Any parent would appreciate that.
The problem was how he chose to speak to us.
During that phone call, we each tried to explain our perspectives, but before the conversation could be resolved, Erik abruptly hung up on us. That only added to what was already a stressful situation. About 15-20 minutes later, Erik called me back and asked to speak with me one-on-one instead of with both my wife and me. I accepted the call because I genuinely believed this was an opportunity for us to calmly clear up the misunderstanding. I wasn't expecting a lengthy apology--just a simple acknowledgment that emotions were high, there had been a misunderstanding, and that speaking to us in that manner wasn't appropriate.
I listened respectfully while he explained his side. Much of what he said about wanting a parent to return quickly was understandable. However, when I explained our side one final time, the conversation quickly escalated again. Rather than acknowledging that his tone had been inappropriate, he became increasingly defensive, repeatedly stating that he had integrity and that he was justified in speaking to us the way he did. He specifically told me that he was allowed to speak to parents that way. Then, during that same conversation, he raised his voice again and said, "Where the FUCK were you?" At that moment, any hope of resolving the misunderstanding disappeared.
There is simply no circumstance where it is appropriate for the owner of a children's business to curse at parents and speak to customers that way. It was unprofessional, disrespectful, and completely unnecessary.
A simple statement such as, "I'm sorry for how I spoke to you. It was a stressful situation and a misunderstanding," would have ended the matter. We would have accepted that and happily moved forward. Instead, the conversation became entirely about defending his behavior. There was no acknowledgment that his communication was inappropriate--only repeated justification for it.
That is what ultimately led us to write this review. When an owner cannot acknowledge speaking disrespectfully to long-time customers who have supported the business for years and referred other families, it raises concerns. Unfortunately, our experience appears not to be an isolated incident after looking at reviews online. The owner's inability to communicate respectfully and accept responsibility for his own conduct has left us questioning whether we feel comfortable returning.
