Youth Surf Therapy at Tamarack State Beach, South Ponto State Beach near Carlsbad, California

Un Mar de Colores · Carlsbad, CA

Ocean-Based Mental Health for Carlsbad Youth Ages 6–17

Especially effective for youth navigating anxiety, grief, immigration stress, and family instability.

Un Mar de Colores ofrece surf therapy 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

Monthly cohorts, year-round · Completamente gratis

Quizás sientes esto

  • —Your youth needs peers who share language and background — not the only Brown kid in a white-dominated lineup.
  • —Your family is navigating instability — housing, work, immigration — and you need support that doesn't add another bill.
  • —Your teen sees surfing as escape on social media but has no trauma-informed pathway in Carlsbad.

Lo que cambia cuando los jóvenes entran al agua

  • Trauma-informed certified surf coaches pace for anxiety, grief, and first-time ocean exposure.
  • Peer mentorship in small groups builds community — youth heal alongside others from Carlsbad schools.
  • Trauma-informed culture welcomes youth without requiring a diagnosis to prove they belong.

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 Therapy en Carlsbad — Lo que debes saber

How much does surf therapy cost in California? Commercial wellness and equine-adjacent ocean programs often charge premium rates. Un Mar de Colores charges $0 — including gear, transport, licensed professionals, and caregiver support for Carlsbad families.

Trauma-informed surf coaching reduces intimidation for first-timers from Carlsbad — lineup awareness taught as safety, not ego.

Por qué Carlsbad importa para nuestra misión

Carlsbad's Spanish-speaking households (18%) get parent communications in both languages, every time. Coastal access fails when language is treated as an afterthought.

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.

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

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 Carlsbad

  • ✓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

Federal EIN 85-2947340. Mailing: PO BOX 232471, Encinitas, CA 92024. We operate on the ancestral lands of the Kumeyaay Nation with respect and community accountability.

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 Carlsbad

Who can enroll in surf therapy from Carlsbad?+

BIPOC youth ages 6–17, especially those navigating anxiety, grief, immigration-related stress, and family instability. Referrals welcome from Carlsbad Unified School District counselors, mental health agencies, and community organizations in Carlsbad.

How many youth are in each surf therapy cohort?+

Cohorts cap at eight youth maximum. Small groups ensure therapeutic attention, peer trust, and trauma-informed pacing — especially important for anxious first-timers from Carlsbad.

Is there a licensed therapist at surf therapy sessions?+

Yes — a licensed mental health professional is on-site every session. This isn't a volunteer beach day marketed as therapy. Clinical staff work alongside trauma-informed surf coaches for Carlsbad cohorts.

¿Los programas de Surf Therapy 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?

Sign your Carlsbad youth up today — every program is 100% free, with wetsuits, boards, and transportation included.

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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