Ian and the Team at Big Dog Surf Camp were Awesome... Very organized and friendly. My twins were so excited and now can surf.

Big Dog Surf camp came out to Bolinas for a planned yoga surf day with the Sarah Pascual yoga group...and... It was beyond AMAZING!!! Big Dog and his crew got it done! We were a nice sized group and we all left completely joyous and satisfied! add sore to the day after. I was near tears scared of surfing (sharks?) and had not slept at all the night before with anxiety-but these guys just throw ya right in-like surfing bootcamp. It was go time and the two hours in water was magical!! Even my cheeks hurt from laughing at how hilarious these guys are. I am super grateful and appreciative of this experience and think everyone should have surfing lesson parties! *add adult camp and parties to website. ;) Damn my birthday for being in December! I am a child at 34-but some people might not make the call and book ya. read more

Big Dog Summer Surf Camp - The impossible happened! I attempted surfing!! hahahaha..These guys really made our Bolinas Yoga/Surf day magical!!! Thanks guys - Active Life Near Me - Mill Valley, California

I hosted a charity event where we taught 20 kids how to surf. Ian and his gang at Big Dog provided the training. They were absolutely incredible. They were kind, playful, encouraging, and excited to help the kids. Yelp needs to create a 6 star rating for these guys. read more

We LOVE BDSC!! My kids keep saying, 'I miss Big Dog and surf camp!' My three kids (girl 13 and two boys 10 and 7) have been so delighted and so empowered by the skills and confidence they developed this summer at BDSC. The skills taught here, the fun, the BDSC culture, plus the vibe of all the coaches - have all inspired an independence, confidence and kindness in my kids. And my kids say BDSC campers are all the coolest nicest kids anywhere. It's the BDSC culture that facilitates this. BDSC coaches are the best - they made my kids feel so special, able, and confident. BDSC is fantastic on so many levels - we are huge fans and can't wait to return every summer. THANK YOU BIG DOG!! read more

Big Dog Summer Surf Camp - Active Life Near Me - Mill Valley, California

My son was in the Big Dog SUV that went off of the cliff on Highway 1, flipped 4 times, and went 300 feet down the embankment. Luckily most of the people in the SUV had minor injuries. The driver fell asleep and simply drive right off the cliff. The Big Dog organization did not deal with it well, neither did the young adults working at the camp that day. When I drove down to pick up my son, I saw numerous fire trucks and sheriffs vehicles, sirens blaring, headed up the hill from Tam Junction. I waited 25 minutes, while other kids were being dropped off, and still no sign our group. I know now that some of the counselors who had come back by then knew that a Big Dog car had gone off the cliff, but they kept telling me that they did not know why 4 kids were still missing. When another camp counselor finally drove up, in hysterics, I heard her say, "...they just drove off the cliff..." . When I asked the counselors there what the hell was going on, they looked at me blankly. When I asked them what they were doing about it, they looked at me blankly. Ian, the owner, was nowhere to be found. Because the camp counselors were too checked out to take any initiative, I called 911 to find out what was going on. The operator knew instantly what I was referring to, and patched me through to the sheriff. My original discussion with the sheriff had him telling me, "...we cannot confirm that there are any survivors, it does not look good...". The sheriff kept calling me every five minutes to keep me updated, and his final statement was, "They are alive, no serious injuries, but I need to tell you that it is an absolute miracle that they are not all dead." After several discussions with Ian, I am not confident that this is a company that you would want to trust with the life of your child. Yes, it's cool to have your kid learn how to surf, and yes, it's nice to have someone watch them from 8-4, but maybe you should drive them out yourself. You might want to stick around, too, because this is not the group that I would trust in an ocean accident either. read more

Ian and crew got my fat ass up on a short board. I am now hanging 10 in two places.....

We have been sending our boys to Big Dogs Surf Camp for 5 years and it has become the boys favorite part of their summer vacation! They insist that this is the only camp they want to do.They started at ages 7 and 6 when they didnt even know how to get up on a board to now are rippin it up! All The coaches are attentive,supportive, knowledgable and fun. The boys always have the best stories at dinner time after a week of surf camp with Ian aka "Big Dog" I would highly recommend this surf camp to anyone who wants to learn about and explore the local Marin surf and beach scene and have a blast doing it. read more

Only great things to say about this incredible camp for kids. If only I could rid myself of the envy I feel after I drop my son off and the new addiction to Equator shop lattes and pastries. . . read more

Went surfing for the first time for my bachelorette party. It was so much fun! Ian had great energy and was determined for me and all my bridesmaids to catch waves. And much to my surprise we did! Ian made this trip for me and all of my girls! read more

This is our 4th year, and my son literally waits all year for this fabulous camp. Ian and the coaches are AMAZING at what they do, and the quality of teaching and forming a lovely and supportive community is heartwarming. Thank you Ian and all the coaches! read more

My daughter, 10, has had an amazing week with Ian and the rest of the coaching crew. This is her first experience learning how to surf (she spends hours on her boogie board...but not at all the same!). Her second day of camp, she "got the motion" and was UP. Every day she comes home telling me how awesome her coaches are and how awesome Big Dog (Ian, the owner) is.....Today I drove out to Muir beach so I could take some pictures and watch her in the water......absolute pure joy on her face....coaches are in the water, helping the kiddos and pushing them into the waves and lots of cheers and high fives.... I would, without hesitation, recommend BDSC for an incredible summer experince in Marin! She is already asking for TWO weeks next summer. :) read more

My kids have been hanging with Biggie and his staff for years- always the highlight of their summer. They actually asked to go to NO OTHER camps next year- all BDSC for summer 2015. Epic! read more

Big Dog Surf Camp......I was lucky enough to be out at Bolinas Beach watching my son work on his surfing technique when Ian from Big Dog Surf Camp came along and asked me if I was ok with him helping my son to get one good long ride. Of course I said yes and Ian spent some time with Sam, asking to see his pop up and giving him some tips After working with Sam for a while and Sam getting a couple of waves, Ian told us the group he was coaching were going on a lunch break and he would be happy for Sam to continue practicing on the school surfboard.......WOW...thank you so much....mahalo..... great to see the real surfing culture alive and well! read more

Flagged my review for my opinion, dishonest group. They advertise and operate in bolinas drawing more and more people to a town that they are not based in. Despite popular belief tourists do not help the local economy (most people were employed ins thinsglike construction until recntly) out there and neither do they. This company is profiting by expposing my homeland to further gentrification by advetising on TV. This is something i am adamant about and it has to do with their service and its collateral damage. Also there are a few locally run surf camps such as Mt tamalpias surf club, if you are a visitor respect where you are. read more

Wow. Amazing! after one week of camp my 9 year old said: "paps on the first day I thought this is the worst camp ever until by the end of the day I caught my first wave to the beach" and then it turned into the BEST camp ever. I found all the staff to be very helpful friendly appropriate and just having lots of fun with the kids. We will make this a regular summer event. read more

My two boys, then 9 & 11, went last summer. I got a call one day from my 11 yr old on his phone from Bolinas telling me my 9 yr old wiped out on a rock, hit his head and had a HUGE bump. The sole 16 yr old girl watching them and several other kids sat my 9 yr old on the beach, asked him how many fingers she was holding and at least did stay with him. The other kids she was in charge of were all in the water with no other adult. She did not speak to me, or ask to, and my 11 yr old did not let on she was with them. He's 11. She just watched him inform me about it, between dropped calls. I asked my 11 yr old where the main instructor was. He said "He went surfing way down the beach with another group". 45 minutes and many dropped calls later, I finally speak to an adult for the first time, the main instructor, calling from my son's phone telling me they're on a 15 minute walk with my hurt son to get him some ice. I was never called from an instructor's phone at all. My son was left with a head wound of undetermined seriousness with no treatment for an hour, and with no adult attempt to call his parents for 45 minutes. I notice other camp web sites mention the safety training of their instructors and instructor- to-kid ratios. Big Dog's does not, and now I know why. Good luck. P.S. - When tax time came, I left two voicemails asking for the tax ID #. Return call? Nope. read more

Big Dog and his instructors are top notch. They are amazing with kids and can really help you get past any worries you may have. At the end of the day everyone was catching waves and having the time of their life. Thanks guys!! read more