BIPOC youth Surf Camp session in Carlsbad — Un Mar de Colores

Un Mar de Colores · Carlsbad, CA

Free Summer Surf Camp Near Tamarack State Beach, South Ponto State Beach for Carlsbad Families

Every camper gets a wetsuit, soft-top board, rashguard, transportation, lunch, and snacks for the full week.

Un Mar de Colores ofrece surf camp gratuitas para jóvenes de Carlsbad de 6–17 años, directamente en la costa de Carlsbad. Sirviendo a una comunidad del 41% BIPOC (114,571 residentes), nuestra instrucción se lleva a cabo en Tamarack State Beach, South Ponto State Beach, con entrenadores bilingües certificados y todo el equipo proporcionado. La inscripción prioritaria es para estudiantes de Jefferson Elementary, Buena Vista Elementary, Magnolia Elementary.

Horario — programa en Carlsbad

Summer (June–August), Monday–Friday cohorts · Completamente gratis

Quizás sientes esto

  • After-school is packed during the year — summer is the only window, and affordable options in Carlsbad vanish fast.
  • Working parents in Carlsbad need Monday–Friday full-day coverage, not another half-day program with no transport.
  • Instagram surf camp content shows kids who already surf. Beginners from Carlsbad feel locked out before signup.

Lo que cambia cuando los jóvenes entran al agua

  • Beach sites chosen for beginner safety — sandy bottoms, lifeguard coverage, manageable conditions near Tamarack State Beach, South Ponto State Beach.
  • Pathways to year-round surf lessons and Surf Athletic Scholarships open after camp graduation.
  • Four hours daily in the water with certified bilingual coaches and 4:1 student-to-instructor ratios.

Por qué operamos este programa en Carlsbad

Carlsbad's 7-mile coastline — from Agua Hedionda Lagoon to Batiquitos — is one of North County's most accessible learn-to-surf corridors. We run programs at Tamarack State Beach in the Village and at South Ponto, partnering with Carlsbad Unified's 11,000+ students, especially from Jefferson, Buena Vista, and Magnolia Elementary schools serving the city's inland barrio communities.

Población
114,571
Residentes BIPOC
41%
Hogares hispanohablantes
18%
Distancia a la playa
En la costa

Surf Camp en Carlsbad — Lo que debes saber

Free youth surf camps in San Diego are rare because equipment, insurance, and food costs are real. Un Mar combines San Diego Foundation grants, community donors, and disciplined safety protocols — operating since 2018 without charging families.

Week-long surf camp in Carlsbad should combine daily in-water progression with afternoon enrichment — not four hours of standing practice and a pizza party. Our curriculum integrates marine biology, Kumeyaay coastal history, and cultural arts workshops every afternoon.

Por qué Carlsbad importa para nuestra misión

Parents in Carlsbad often ask how a nonprofit can offer everything free. Answer: San Diego Foundation grants, community donors, and partners who believe Carlsbad youth belong in the lineup — same as any other kid in San Diego.

Carlsbad sits inside San Diego County's coastal equity gap — 41% of residents identify as BIPOC, yet beach access has historically been gated by cost, transportation, and culture. Un Mar de Colores closes that gap with free programming and school-based recruitment.

Dónde surfeamos en Carlsbad

Tamarack State Beach

Principiante

Un Mar's primary Carlsbad teaching location. Full year-round lifeguard coverage, sand bottom, and mellow inside reform.

Tamarack sits in the heart of Carlsbad Village, with direct access to the Carlsbad Library and downtown. Named after the native tamarack trees that once lined the coastline.

Fondo: SandOleaje: 1–4 ft typicalSalvavidas: Todo el año

South Ponto State Beach

Principiante

Progression break for Carlsbad cohorts graduating from Tamarack. Wide sandbar accommodates group lessons with plenty of paddle-out room.

South Ponto borders the Batiquitos Lagoon ecological reserve, giving our cohorts direct access to watershed ecology programming alongside surf instruction.

Fondo: SandOleaje: 2–6 ft typicalSalvavidas: Estacional

Socios comunitarios locales en Carlsbad

En asociación con el Carlsbad Unified School District y organizaciones comunitarias locales, reclutamos jóvenes de 4+ escuelas Título I.

Distrito escolar y escuelas Título I

  • Carlsbad Unified School District
  • Jefferson Elementary
  • Buena Vista Elementary
  • Magnolia Elementary
  • Valley Middle School

Socios comunitarios

  • Boys & Girls Club of Carlsbad
  • Carlsbad Library (Cole & Dove branches)
  • Agua Hedionda Lagoon Foundation
  • City of Carlsbad Parks & Recreation
  • North County Lifeline

Currículo del programa

Our summer surf camps run Monday through Friday across North County and San Diego, serving BIPOC youth ages 6–17. Each one-week cohort combines four mornings of in-water surf instruction with afternoon programming in marine ecology, Kumeyaay coastal history, and cultural arts. Camps are capped at 18 students per cohort to maintain a 4:1 student-to-instructor ratio, and every camp ends with a Friday family showcase on the beach. Camps are entirely free — wetsuits, boards, transportation, daily lunch, and all materials included.

  • Daily in-water surf instruction (4 hrs/day)
  • Marine ecology & watershed education
  • Cultural arts workshops (painting, poetry, storytelling)
  • Kumeyaay coastal history and stewardship
  • Nutrition and hydration for athletes
  • Friday family showcase and celebration

Qué se incluye — Gratis para cada joven de Carlsbad

  • 5-day Monday–Friday full-day camp (8am–3pm)
  • Certified bilingual instructors (CPR + First Aid, 4:1 ratio)
  • Wetsuit, soft-top surfboard, and rashguard for the week
  • Free daily lunch and snacks
  • Round-trip transportation from Title I schools
  • Cultural arts and marine biology enrichment
  • Family showcase and photo album

Por qué Un Mar de Colores

Our impact is measured in youth served, school partnerships, and watershed stewardship hours — published annually in our impact reports at mar-de-colores.org.

Lo que dice nuestra comunidad

"He used to approach new activities with extreme anxiety — to the point where sometimes we couldn't even get out of the car. Now he goes much deeper into the water."

— Middle school student— Parent, One Ocean

Preguntas frecuentes — Surf Camp en Carlsbad

Is transportation provided from Carlsbad to surf camp?+

Round-trip shuttle transportation runs from partner Title I schools. If Carlsbad is inland (on the coast from the coast), we solve the daily commute — not your family. Coastal cohorts meet directly at local teaching beaches near Tamarack State Beach, South Ponto State Beach.

How much does surf camp cost in Carlsbad?+

Un Mar de Colores surf camp in Carlsbad is 100% free — five full Monday–Friday days including wetsuits, boards, rashguards, daily lunch and snacks, transportation from partner schools, and certified bilingual instruction. Commercial camps in San Diego County typically charge $400–$800 per week. We fund access through grants and donors so Carlsbad families never pay.

Who certifies surf camp instructors in Carlsbad?+

Coaches hold CPR and First Aid credentials and train with San Diego Fire-Rescue Lifeguard Division protocols. Many are alumni of our Surf Athletic Scholarship program. Safety documentation is available to Carlsbad parents on request.

¿Los programas de Surf Camp en Carlsbad son realmente gratuitos?+

Sí. Todos los programas de Un Mar de Colores en Carlsbad son 100% gratuitos. Proporcionamos trajes de neopreno 3/2mm, tablas de surf, transporte desde escuelas asociadas como Jefferson Elementary, Buena Vista Elementary, Magnolia Elementary, e instrucción bilingüe certificada. El financiamiento proviene de la San Diego Foundation, subvenciones comunitarias y donantes individuales.

¿Dónde se realizan exactamente las lecciones en Carlsbad?+

Las lecciones principales se realizan en Tamarack State Beach. También usamos South Ponto State Beach según el nivel del grupo. Todas las sesiones de agua ocurren dentro de las zonas salvavidas de la bandera.

¿Qué edades son elegibles en Carlsbad?+

Servimos a jóvenes de 6–17 años. Nuestra Beca One Ocean cubre las edades 6-12, Ocean Stewards After-School sirve a 13-17, y las Becas Atléticas de Surf están disponibles para jóvenes competitivos a través de nuestras asociaciones con Carlsbad Unified School District.

¿Cómo inscribo a mi hijo/a?+

Contáctenos a través de nuestra página de contacto. La inscripción prioritaria se otorga a estudiantes de Jefferson Elementary, Buena Vista Elementary, Magnolia Elementary y otras escuelas de Título I en Carlsbad Unified School District. Los grupos de verano suelen llenarse con 3-4 semanas de anticipación.

¿Listo para entrar al agua?

Spots in our Carlsbad cohorts are limited to keep instructor ratios safe. Contact us to reserve a place.

Todos los programas de Un Mar de Colores son gratuitos para jóvenes de Carlsbad. Contáctanos para inscribirte, hacer voluntariado, o apoyar el movimiento.

Un Mar de Colores es una organización sin fines de lucro 501(c)(3) liderada por personas BIPOC, basada en Oceanside, California. Ofrecemos programación gratuita de surf, océano y educación ambiental para jóvenes en San Diego y Tijuana — conectando culturas, costas y comunidades desde 2018.

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