Del Mar Surf Therapy — free ocean program by Un Mar de Colores

Un Mar de Colores · Del Mar, CA

Free Family-Inclusive Surf Therapy for Del Mar Youth

Pathways to Ocean Stewards and year-round surf lessons — therapy opens doors, not closes them after one cohort.

Un Mar de Colores ofrece surf therapy gratuitas para jóvenes de Del Mar de 6–17 años, directamente en la costa de Del Mar. Sirviendo a una comunidad del 20% BIPOC (4,161 residentes), nuestra instrucción se lleva a cabo en 15th Street Beach, con entrenadores bilingües certificados y todo el equipo proporcionado. La inscripción prioritaria es para estudiantes de Del Mar Heights Elementary, Ashley Falls Elementary.

Horario — programa en Del Mar

Monthly cohorts, year-round · Completamente gratis

Quizás sientes esto

  • BIPOC youth in Del Mar (20% of residents) face mental health stigma layered on coastal access barriers.
  • Your youth tried talk therapy and shut down — they need movement, nature, and peers who understand, not another office.
  • Mental health support in Del Mar often defaults to English-only clinicians who don't grasp your family's cultural context.

Lo que cambia cuando los jóvenes entran al agua

  • Coach continuity and cohort consistency build mentor relationships that outlast single sessions.
  • Monthly cohorts year-round — support isn't summer-only when Del Mar youth need it in November too.
  • Small cohort size — eight youth maximum — ensures therapeutic attention and peer trust.

Por qué operamos este programa en Del Mar

Del Mar's 2.5-mile coastline produces some of the cleanest water and most consistent small waves in the region, protected by the San Dieguito River mouth eddies. Our 15th Street Beach lessons sit in front of Powerhouse Park, which doubles as our outdoor classroom. We partner with Del Mar Union's Del Mar Heights and Ashley Falls Elementary — serving primarily inland Del Mar Mesa and Carmel Valley neighborhoods.

Población
4,161
Residentes BIPOC
20%
Hogares hispanohablantes
8%
Distancia a la playa
En la costa

Surf Therapy en Del Mar — Lo que debes saber

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

Referrals from Del Mar Union School District counselors and mental health agencies streamline enrollment for Del Mar youth — reducing the friction that keeps eligible families out.

Por qué Del Mar importa para nuestra misión

Environmental justice in Del Mar isn't abstract: watershed health, beach closures, and plastic pollution affect the same communities we serve. Our programs connect surf skills to stewardship of San Diego's coastline.

Del Mar's Spanish-speaking households (8%) get parent communications in both languages, every time. Coastal access fails when language is treated as an afterthought.

Dónde surfeamos en Del Mar

15th Street Beach

Principiante

Un Mar's primary Del Mar location, directly in front of Powerhouse Park — which doubles as our outdoor classroom space.

15th Street sits in the heart of Del Mar Village, adjacent to Powerhouse Park, the historic 1928 beach concession building that gives the park its name.

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

Socios comunitarios locales en Del Mar

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

Distrito escolar y escuelas Título I

  • Del Mar Union School District
  • Del Mar Heights Elementary
  • Ashley Falls Elementary

Socios comunitarios

  • Del Mar Foundation
  • Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve
  • San Dieguito River Park — Lagoon Stewards
  • City of Del Mar Parks & Recreation

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 Del Mar

  • 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

Un Mar is a member of the surf equity ecosystem across California — connected to Surf Justice Collective, Native Like Water, and cross-border watershed coalitions.

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 Del Mar

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 Del Mar youth.

Where do Del Mar surf therapy sessions happen?+

Sessions occur at lifeguard-covered beaches chosen for beginner safety — sandy bottoms and manageable conditions near 15th Street Beach. Sites vary by cohort and daily conditions.

Is transportation provided from Del Mar?+

Transportation runs from partner schools and referral organizations. If Del Mar is inland (on the coast from the coast), we solve the commute — not your family.

¿Los programas de Surf Therapy en Del Mar son realmente gratuitos?+

Sí. Todos los programas de Un Mar de Colores en Del Mar son 100% gratuitos. Proporcionamos trajes de neopreno 3/2mm, tablas de surf, transporte desde escuelas asociadas como Del Mar Heights Elementary, Ashley Falls 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 Del Mar?+

Las lecciones principales se realizan en 15th Street Beach. Todas las sesiones de agua ocurren dentro de las zonas salvavidas de la bandera.

¿Qué edades son elegibles en Del Mar?+

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 Del Mar Union School District.

¿Cómo inscribo a mi hijo/a?+

Contáctenos a través de nuestra página de contacto. La inscripción prioritaria se otorga a estudiantes de Del Mar Heights Elementary, Ashley Falls Elementary y otras escuelas de Título I en Del Mar Union School District. Los grupos de verano suelen llenarse con 3-4 semanas de anticipación.

¿Listo para entrar al agua?

Every Del Mar child deserves the ocean. Start with a single conversation — we'll handle the rest.

Todos los programas de Un Mar de Colores son gratuitos para jóvenes de Del Mar. 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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