Un Mar de Colores · La Jolla, CA
Free wetsuits, boards, transportation, and bilingual staff — zero cost during grief, stress, or instability.
Un Mar de Colores ofrece surf therapy gratuitas para jóvenes de La Jolla de 6–17 años, directamente en la costa de La Jolla. Sirviendo a una comunidad del 35% BIPOC (46,781 residentes), nuestra instrucción se lleva a cabo en La Jolla Shores, Windansea Beach, con entrenadores bilingües certificados y todo el equipo proporcionado. La inscripción prioritaria es para estudiantes de Kate Sessions Elementary, Bird Rock Elementary.
Monthly cohorts, year-round · Completamente gratis
La Jolla Shores has the gentlest beginner waves in San Diego County — a gradual sandbar bottom, 500 yards of lifeguarded beach, and consistent waist-high surf. Our cohorts come from San Diego Unified's Muirlands Middle, Kate Sessions Elementary, and Mission Bay High, with curriculum support from the Scripps Institution of Oceanography. Windansea serves only our advanced Surf Athletic Scholarship athletes.
Surf therapy pathways connect to Ocean Stewards after-school and year-round lessons — La Jolla youth aren't discharged into emptiness after one cohort.
BIPOC surf therapy in La Jolla addresses layered barriers: 35% of local residents are BIPOC, yet mental health and coastal access gaps compound. Our staff and alumni reflect the communities we serve — representation changes whether a child believes healing on the water is for them.
Safe, lifeguard-coordinated instruction is non-negotiable for La Jolla youth. Every water session runs inside flagged zones with certified coaches — parents shouldn't have to choose between access and safety.
La Jolla's relationship to the Pacific is complicated by history and economics. Our curriculum weaves Kumeyaay coastal stewardship, environmental justice, and culturally grounded instruction into every session — not as an add-on, but as the foundation.
The safest beginner break in San Diego County. Gradual sandbar, 500 yards of lifeguarded beach, consistent waist-high surf.
La Jolla Shores is home to Scripps Institution of Oceanography, our partner for marine ecology curriculum. The beach is protected by the La Jolla Underwater Park & Ecological Reserve.
Advanced-only break used exclusively for our Surf Athletic Scholarship cohort. Never used for beginner instruction.
Windansea is one of California's most historic surf spots, famously chronicled in Tom Wolfe's 'The Pump House Gang.' The iconic palm-frond shack dates to the 1940s.
En asociación con el San Diego Unified School District y organizaciones comunitarias locales, reclutamos jóvenes de 2+ escuelas Título I.
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.
We do not charge families. Ever. That policy is structural — grants, donors, and shop revenue fund access so La Jolla youth are never waitlisted for inability to pay.
“"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."”
Healing modules developed with Kumeyaay elders connect coastal stewardship, water relationships, and cultural recovery — culturally grounded practice for La Jolla Indigenous and Latino youth, not generic wellness language.
BIPOC youth ages 6–17, especially those navigating anxiety, grief, immigration-related stress, and family instability. Referrals welcome from San Diego Unified School District counselors, mental health agencies, and community organizations in La Jolla.
Un Mar de Colores surf therapy in La Jolla 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 La Jolla families never pay.
Sí. Todos los programas de Un Mar de Colores en La Jolla son 100% gratuitos. Proporcionamos trajes de neopreno 3/2mm, tablas de surf, transporte desde escuelas asociadas como Kate Sessions Elementary, Bird Rock Elementary, e instrucción bilingüe certificada. El financiamiento proviene de la San Diego Foundation, subvenciones comunitarias y donantes individuales.
Las lecciones principales se realizan en La Jolla Shores. También usamos Windansea Beach según el nivel del grupo. Todas las sesiones de agua ocurren dentro de las zonas salvavidas de la bandera.
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.
Contáctenos a través de nuestra página de contacto. La inscripción prioritaria se otorga a estudiantes de Kate Sessions Elementary, Bird Rock 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.
Volunteer, donate, or enroll — however you join, you're helping La Jolla youth access the coast.
Todos los programas de Un Mar de Colores son gratuitos para jóvenes de La Jolla. 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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