Oceanside Surf Camp — free ocean program by Un Mar de Colores

Un Mar de Colores · Oceanside, CA

Free Surf Camp in Oceanside — Year-Round, Not Just Summer

Free, year-round surf camp for BIPOC youth in Oceanside. Ocean education, cultural arts, environmental stewardship — and waves. All equipment provided.

Un Mar de Colores ofrece surf camp gratuitas para jóvenes de Oceanside de 6–17 años, directamente en la costa de Oceanside. Sirviendo a una comunidad del 61% BIPOC (174,068 residentes), nuestra instrucción se lleva a cabo en The Strand, Wisconsin Street Beach, con entrenadores bilingües certificados y todo el equipo proporcionado. La inscripción prioritaria es para estudiantes de South Oceanside Elementary, Cesar Chavez Middle School, Ditmar Elementary.

Free year-round. Not just summer.

More Than a Summer Camp

Searching for surf camp in Oceanside usually turns up summer-only city or commercial camps. Un Mar de Colores runs free year-round programs near the Oceanside Pier — combining surf instruction with STEM education aligned to California Next Generation Science Standards, environmental stewardship, and cultural arts rooted in Kumeyaay heritage.

Ver programas juveniles →

Horario — programa en Oceanside

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

Summer intensives run in weekly Monday–Friday cohorts (announced each year). Year-round, Ocean Stewards continues after school Tuesday–Thursday, and One Ocean runs on a full-year scholarship rhythm. Contact us for open seats — enrollment is free.

Quizás sientes esto

—Every paid surf camp assumes you already own gear and can drive to The Strand, Wisconsin Street Beach every morning at 8am.
—Your child tried a pricey camp once and spent most of the week watching others catch waves.
—Summer camp flyers in Oceanside list prices that equal a month's groceries — surf camps feel impossible.

Lo que cambia cuando los jóvenes entran al agua

Round-trip transportation from partner Title I schools — inland Oceanside families aren't left behind.
Cultural arts workshops — painting, poetry, storytelling — with Kumeyaay coastal history modules.
Photo album documents the week — tangible proof of growth beyond a single social media post.

Por qué operamos este programa en Oceanside

Oceanside is Un Mar de Colores's home city — where free surf lessons, summer surf camp, and Ocean Stewards after-school were built for BIPOC youth, not as a commercial surf school. With 3.5 miles of coastline, the 1,942-foot Oceanside Pier, and 53,000+ students in Oceanside Unified, it is the epicenter of our work. The Strand, Wisconsin Street, and South Oceanside Beach host nearly all of our year-round programming, and most of our staff and youth come from the MLK Community Center and Boys & Girls Club of Oceanside.

Población: 174,068
Residentes BIPOC: 61%
Hogares hispanohablantes: 36%
Distancia a la playa: En la costa

Surf Camp en Oceanside — Lo que debes saber

While many Oceanside camps only run in summer, our model continues through Ocean Stewards after school (Tuesday–Thursday), One Ocean as a year-long scholarship for younger youth, and summer intensives like Watershed Explorers. Surf camp here means immersion in community — not a one-week tourist product.

We partner with Oceanside Unified School District, the Oceanside Boys & Girls Club, and community sites that reach inland and military families. Wetsuits, boards, snacks, instruction, and transportation support are included at no cost to families.

Free surf camp in Oceanside isn't a summer gimmick — it's how Un Mar de Colores delivers full-week ocean immersion for BIPOC youth ages 6–17. While commercial camps charge $400–$800 per week, we provide five Monday–Friday full days of certified bilingual instruction, marine ecology, cultural arts, lunch, gear, and transportation at zero cost.

Por qué Oceanside importa para nuestra misión

Oceanside families deserve instructors who look like their kids and speak their language. With 61% BIPOC residents, bilingual coaching isn't a nice-to-have — it's how we earn trust on day one.

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

Dónde surfeamos en Oceanside

Oceanside camp and immersion days center on The Strand and nearby beginner breaks by the pier — consistent summer conditions for first-time campers, with Wisconsin Street available for progression. City beaches and school-bus access keep days practical for OUSD families.

The Strand

Principiante

Un Mar's primary Oceanside teaching beach — south of the pier. Sand-bottom beginner reform, year-round lifeguards, and direct access from Oceanside Unified make The Strand where most free surf lessons and Thursday Ocean Stewards sessions start.

South of Oceanside Pier, The Strand has been a teaching beach for San Diego County surf programs for decades. The Oceanside Fire-Rescue Lifeguard Division covers this stretch year-round. Summer swells here are often knee-to-waist high — ideal for first paddles without resorting to steeper North County point breaks.

Fondo: SandOleaje: 1–3 ft typicalSalvavidas: Todo el año

Wisconsin Street Beach

Principiante

Secondary Oceanside teaching beach between the pier and harbor jetty — used for Wednesday cohorts and intermediate progression after youth build confidence at The Strand.

Wisconsin Street sits between Oceanside Pier and the harbor breakwater. Slightly more exposed than The Strand, it is still a sand-bottom city beach with lifeguard coverage — our step-up spot before youth see heavier North County water.

Fondo: SandOleaje: 1–4 ft typicalSalvavidas: Estacional

Camp in action — Oceanside

Socios comunitarios locales en Oceanside

En asociación con el Oceanside Unified School District y organizaciones comunitarias locales, reclutamos jóvenes de 7+ escuelas Título I.

Distrito escolar y escuelas Título I

Oceanside Unified School District
•South Oceanside Elementary
•Cesar Chavez Middle School
•Ditmar Elementary
•Laurel Elementary
•Lincoln Middle School
•Mission Elementary
•Palmquist Elementary

Socios comunitarios

◆Oceanside Boys & Girls Club (Carmelo Drive)
◆MLK Community Center (Division Street)
◆Oceanside Public Library
◆City of Oceanside Parks & Recreation
◆North County Lifeline
◆MiraCosta College Outreach

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 Oceanside

✓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
✓Certified bilingual instruction + all equipment
✓Ocean education & cultural arts — more than a summer camp
✓Year-round pathways after summer week ends

Cómo inscribirse (gratis)

1Enroll through Contact Us — it’s free.
2Share your youth’s age so we can place them in One Ocean (6–12), Ocean Stewards (13–17), or the right summer intensive.
3We confirm week or after-school cohort, beach meetup, and gear — everything remains free.
4Families are welcomed into showcase and community moments, not a sales funnel.

Quién lidera este trabajo

Liderazgo comunitario real — no instructores de una escuela comercial.

Mario Ordoñez-Calderón

Co-Founder & Executive Director

Leads Un Mar’s Oceanside-rooted work — free ocean access for BIPOC youth and familias across San Diego County and beyond borders.

Katia Gibson

Youth Programs Coordinator

Coordinates Oceanside youth cohorts, school partnerships, and family enrollment for Strand and Wisconsin Street sessions.

Chuy Reyna

Board · Lifelong Oceanside Surfer

Former pro surfer and Oceanside local — helping keep programming grounded in North County community and ocean culture.

Conoce al equipo completo

Por qué Un Mar de Colores

Un Mar’s Oceanside surf camp is free community programming from a BIPOC-led nonprofit founded here in 2018 — the same Youth Programs cycle that meets young people where they are and walks with them as they grow.

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 Oceanside

Is surf camp in Oceanside really free?+

Yes. All Un Mar de Colores surf camp programs are completely free for participants. We provide wetsuits, surfboards, certified instruction, ocean education materials, and transportation support at no cost.

What ages can attend surf camp in Oceanside?+

We serve youth ages 6 through 17. One Ocean is for ages 6–12, Ocean Stewards serves ages 13–17, and Watershed Explorers opens a broader youth age range during summer.

Is surf camp only in summer or year-round?+

Unlike most Oceanside surf camps that only run in summer, Un Mar offers year-round programming. Ocean Stewards runs after school Tuesday through Thursday, One Ocean is a year-long scholarship, and Watershed Explorers is our summer intensive.

What’s included in the surf camp?+

Certified bilingual surf instruction, all equipment (wetsuits, surfboards, rash guards), ocean safety training, environmental education, cultural arts programming, and snacks. Transportation support is available for families who need it.

Can my child continue after surf camp ends?+

Yes — camp graduates connect to year-round free surf lessons, Ocean Stewards after-school for teens, and the Surf Athletic Scholarship pathway. Camp is an entry point, not a dead end for Oceanside youth.

How much does surf camp cost in Oceanside?+

Un Mar de Colores surf camp in Oceanside 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 Oceanside families never pay.

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

Sí. Todos los programas de Un Mar de Colores en Oceanside son 100% gratuitos. Proporcionamos trajes de neopreno 3/2mm, tablas de surf, transporte desde escuelas asociadas como South Oceanside Elementary, Cesar Chavez Middle School, Ditmar 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 Oceanside?+

Las lecciones principales se realizan en The Strand. También usamos Wisconsin Street 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 Oceanside?+

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 Oceanside 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 South Oceanside Elementary, Cesar Chavez Middle School, Ditmar Elementary y otras escuelas de Título I en Oceanside Unified School District. Los grupos de verano suelen llenarse con 3-4 semanas de anticipación.

¿Listo para entrar al agua?

Spots in our Oceanside 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 Oceanside. Contáctanos para inscribirte, hacer voluntariado, o apoyar el movimiento.

Inscríbete / Contáctanos Donar

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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