BIPOC youth Surf Therapy session in Cardiff by the Sea — Un Mar de Colores

Un Mar de Colores · Cardiff by the Sea, CA

Where Cardiff by the Sea Families Find Free Surf Therapy

Shuttle from partner schools for inland Cardiff by the Sea families (on the coast) — access when the beach feels far.

Un Mar de Colores ofrece surf therapy gratuitas para jóvenes de Cardiff by the Sea de 6–17 años, directamente en la costa de Cardiff by the Sea. Sirviendo a una comunidad del 22% BIPOC (11,724 residentes), nuestra instrucción se lleva a cabo en Cardiff Reef, con entrenadores bilingües certificados y todo el equipo proporcionado. La inscripción prioritaria es para estudiantes de Ada Harris Elementary, Cardiff Elementary.

Horario — programa en Cardiff by the Sea

Monthly cohorts, year-round · Completamente gratis

Quizás sientes esto

  • BIPOC youth in Cardiff by the Sea (22% of residents) face mental health stigma layered on coastal access barriers.
  • Your child was referred to a clinic across San Diego — the commute alone became another source of stress.
  • Your family is navigating instability — housing, work, immigration — and you need support that doesn't add another bill.

Lo que cambia cuando los jóvenes entran al agua

  • Kumeyaay-led healing modules developed with elders — culturally grounded, not generic wellness language.
  • Referral pathways from Cardiff School District counselors and mental health agencies streamline enrollment.
  • Somatic and movement-based therapy integrated with surf — body literacy through ocean movement.

Por qué operamos este programa en Cardiff by the Sea

Cardiff Reef is one of California's most beginner-friendly longboard breaks — cobblestone-to-sand bottom with gentle reform. Our Cardiff cohorts draw primarily from Cardiff School District's Ada Harris and Cardiff Elementary, plus Encinitas Union partner schools. The San Elijo Lagoon Ecological Reserve anchors our Cardiff marine biology curriculum, connecting surf to watershed in a way unique to this corner of North County.

Población
11,724
Residentes BIPOC
22%
Hogares hispanohablantes
10%
Distancia a la playa
En la costa

Surf Therapy en Cardiff by the Sea — Lo que debes saber

Referrals from Cardiff School District counselors and mental health agencies streamline enrollment for Cardiff by the Sea youth — reducing the friction that keeps eligible families out.

Family caregiver support sessions in surf therapy acknowledge that Cardiff by the Sea parents carry stress too — healing isn't isolated to the child on the board.

Por qué Cardiff by the Sea importa para nuestra misión

The ocean off Cardiff by the Sea belongs to everyone. Un Mar de Colores exists because San Diego has spent decades telling BIPOC youth otherwise — and we're changing that story one cohort at a time.

Recruitment in Cardiff by the Sea 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 Cardiff by the Sea

Cardiff Reef

Principiante

Un Mar's primary Cardiff location. The cobblestone-to-sand bottom produces gentle, slow-reforming waves that are remarkably forgiving for first-time surfers.

Cardiff Reef's cobblestone point has formed over thousands of years from sediment deposited by the San Elijo Lagoon. One of the most welcoming beginner lineup cultures in California.

Fondo: Sand/CobbleOleaje: 1–5 ft typicalSalvavidas: Estacional

Socios comunitarios locales en Cardiff by the Sea

En asociación con el Cardiff School District y organizaciones comunitarias locales, reclutamos jóvenes de 2+ escuelas Título I.

Distrito escolar y escuelas Título I

  • Cardiff School District
  • Ada Harris Elementary
  • Cardiff Elementary

Socios comunitarios

  • San Elijo Lagoon Conservancy
  • Cardiff 101 Mainstreet
  • San Dieguito Academy (high school referrals)

Currículo del programa

Surf therapy at Un Mar de Colores is more than recreational — it's a structured, trauma-informed mental health program that uses the ocean as a therapeutic setting. Licensed mental health professionals partner with trauma-informed surf coaches to deliver small-group sessions (8 youth maximum) combining ocean-based mindfulness, somatic movement, and culturally grounded healing modules developed with Kumeyaay elders. The program is especially effective for youth navigating anxiety, grief, immigration-related stress, and family instability. All programming is free and open to youth referred through partner schools, mental health agencies, and community organizations.

  • Ocean-based mindfulness practices
  • Small-group peer mentorship
  • Somatic and movement-based therapy integration
  • Trauma-informed surf coaching
  • Culturally grounded healing (Kumeyaay-led modules)
  • Family and caregiver support sessions

Qué se incluye — Gratis para cada joven de Cardiff by the Sea

  • Licensed mental health professional on-site
  • Trauma-informed certified surf coaches
  • Small cohort size (8 youth maximum)
  • Wetsuit, soft-top board, and all equipment
  • Transportation from partner schools and referral orgs
  • Family caregiver support sessions

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 Therapy en Cardiff by the Sea

Are family members included in surf therapy?+

Yes — family and caregiver support sessions are part of the program. Cardiff by the Sea parents and guardians receive bilingual updates and dedicated sessions — healing isn't isolated to the child on the board.

Can my child continue after surf therapy ends?+

Yes — pathways open to Ocean Stewards after-school, year-round surf lessons, and other Un Mar programs. Therapy cohorts are a bridge, not a dead end for Cardiff by the Sea youth.

How much does surf therapy cost in Cardiff by the Sea?+

Un Mar de Colores surf therapy in Cardiff by the Sea is 100% free — including licensed MH professionals, trauma-informed coaches, wetsuits, boards, transportation, and family caregiver sessions. Commercial ocean wellness programs often charge $150–$300 per session. We fund access through grants and donors so Cardiff by the Sea families never pay.

¿Los programas de Surf Therapy en Cardiff by the Sea son realmente gratuitos?+

Sí. Todos los programas de Un Mar de Colores en Cardiff by the Sea son 100% gratuitos. Proporcionamos trajes de neopreno 3/2mm, tablas de surf, transporte desde escuelas asociadas como Ada Harris Elementary, Cardiff 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 Cardiff by the Sea?+

Las lecciones principales se realizan en Cardiff Reef. Todas las sesiones de agua ocurren dentro de las zonas salvavidas de la bandera.

¿Qué edades son elegibles en Cardiff by the Sea?+

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 Cardiff School District.

¿Cómo inscribo a mi hijo/a?+

Contáctenos a través de nuestra página de contacto. La inscripción prioritaria se otorga a estudiantes de Ada Harris Elementary, Cardiff Elementary y otras escuelas de Título I en Cardiff School District. Los grupos de verano suelen llenarse con 3-4 semanas de anticipación.

¿Listo para entrar al agua?

Join hundreds of Cardiff by the Sea families who trust Un Mar de Colores for free ocean programming. Enroll today.

Todos los programas de Un Mar de Colores son gratuitos para jóvenes de Cardiff by the Sea. 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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