Free Surf Camp for BIPOC youth in Pacific Beach, California — Un Mar de Colores

Un Mar de Colores · Pacific Beach, CA

Marine Ecology Meets Surf Camp — Free for Pacific Beach Youth

Five full days of surf instruction, marine ecology, cultural arts, and daily lunch — 100% free for Pacific Beach families.

Un Mar de Colores ofrece surf camp gratuitas para jóvenes de Pacific Beach de 6–17 años, directamente en la costa de Pacific Beach. Sirviendo a una comunidad del 44% BIPOC (45,892 residentes), nuestra instrucción se lleva a cabo en Tourmaline Surfing Park, Crystal Pier, con entrenadores bilingües certificados y todo el equipo proporcionado. La inscripción prioritaria es para estudiantes de Pacific Beach Middle, Mission Bay High, Mission Beach Elementary.

Horario — programa en Pacific Beach

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

Quizás sientes esto

  • You need predictable schedules and bilingual parent updates — not a signup page that ghosts Spanish-speaking families.
  • You live on the coast from the coast and can't shuttle kids daily — transportation is the hidden camp cost.
  • Your child wants a full week in the water, but one-off beach days never build real confidence or skill.

Lo que cambia cuando los jóvenes entran al agua

  • Environmental justice framing teaches why Pacific Beach beaches close after storms — not just how to paddle.
  • Wetsuits, soft-top boards, and rashguards provided for the entire week — properly sized youth gear.
  • Integration with Ocean Stewards after-school gives Pacific Beach teens a year-round arc beyond one summer week.

Por qué operamos este programa en Pacific Beach

Pacific Beach sits between Mission Bay and the open Pacific, producing the mellowest learner waves in the city. Tourmaline Surfing Park — designated a surf-only beach in 1981 — is the safest and most instructor-friendly break in San Diego. Over 55% of students at Mission Beach Elementary, Pacific Beach Middle, and Mission Bay High qualify for free or reduced meals, making this one of our highest-impact urban partnerships.

Población
45,892
Residentes BIPOC
44%
Hogares hispanohablantes
28%
Distancia a la playa
En la costa

Surf Camp en Pacific Beach — Lo que debes saber

Sign-up friction keeps eligible Pacific Beach families out. We prioritize counselor referrals from San Diego Unified School District and partner org introductions — contact us to route your child to the right summer cohort.

Cultural arts workshops during camp — visual art, poetry, oral tradition — center voices historically marginalized in coastal culture. Every cohort contributes work to community showcases.

Por qué Pacific Beach importa para nuestra misión

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

Recruitment in Pacific Beach runs through counselors, teachers, and community partners who know which students need this most. We don't run open enrollment chaos — we build intentional cohorts.

Dónde surfeamos en Pacific Beach

Tourmaline Surfing Park

Principiante

Un Mar's primary Pacific Beach teaching location. Designated a surf-only beach in 1981 — the safest and most instructor-friendly break in San Diego.

Tourmaline was designated surf-only by San Diego City in 1981, making it the first formally protected teaching beach in Southern California.

Fondo: Sand/CobbleOleaje: 1–4 ft typicalSalvavidas: Todo el año

Crystal Pier

Intermedio

South side of pier offers a sand-bottom peak ideal for graduating students from Tourmaline.

Crystal Pier was built in 1927 and is one of only two piers in California with an overnight hotel (Crystal Pier Hotel & Cottages).

Fondo: SandOleaje: 1–5 ft typicalSalvavidas: Todo el año

Socios comunitarios locales en Pacific Beach

En asociación con el San Diego Unified School District y organizaciones comunitarias locales, reclutamos jóvenes de 3+ escuelas Título I.

Distrito escolar y escuelas Título I

  • San Diego Unified School District
  • Pacific Beach Middle
  • Mission Bay High
  • Mission Beach Elementary

Socios comunitarios

  • Kate Sessions Park & Rec Center
  • San Diego Junior Lifeguards
  • Mission Bay Aquatic Center
  • Pacific Beach Library

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 Pacific Beach

  • 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 coaches include graduates of the Surf Athletic Scholarship program and bilingual educators who reflect the BIPOC communities we serve. We partner with 15+ Title I schools across North County and San Diego.

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 Pacific Beach

How much does surf camp cost in Pacific Beach?+

Un Mar de Colores surf camp in Pacific Beach 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 Pacific Beach families never pay.

What is the daily schedule for surf camp in Pacific Beach?+

Camp runs Monday through Friday, 8am–3pm. Mornings include up to four hours of in-water surf instruction. Afternoons cover marine ecology, Kumeyaay coastal history, cultural arts workshops, and nutrition education. Friday ends with a family showcase on the beach.

Are surf camps in Pacific Beach taught in Spanish?+

Yes — all programming is bilingual. In Pacific Beach, where 28% of households are Spanish-speaking, bilingual coaches lead every session and parent communications arrive in both English and Spanish.

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

Sí. Todos los programas de Un Mar de Colores en Pacific Beach son 100% gratuitos. Proporcionamos trajes de neopreno 3/2mm, tablas de surf, transporte desde escuelas asociadas como Pacific Beach Middle, Mission Bay High, Mission Beach 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 Pacific Beach?+

Las lecciones principales se realizan en Tourmaline Surfing Park. También usamos Crystal Pier según el nivel del grupo. Todas las sesiones de agua ocurren dentro de las zonas salvavidas de la bandera.

¿Qué edades son elegibles en Pacific Beach?+

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 San Diego 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 Pacific Beach Middle, Mission Bay High, Mission Beach Elementary y otras escuelas de Título I en San Diego Unified School District. Los grupos de verano suelen llenarse con 3-4 semanas de anticipación.

¿Listo para entrar al agua?

Spots in our Pacific Beach 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 Pacific Beach. 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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