Youth Surf Therapy at La Jolla Shores (18 miles) and Del Mar 15th Street (14 miles) near Poway, California

Un Mar de Colores · Poway, CA

Poway Surf Therapy — Trauma-Informed, 100% Free

Kumeyaay-led healing modules developed with elders — coastal stewardship as cultural recovery, not decoration.

Un Mar de Colores ofrece surf therapy gratuitas para jóvenes de Poway de 6–17 años, con transporte gratuito de 14 millas desde Poway a nuestras playas de enseñanza. Sirviendo a una comunidad del 46% BIPOC (48,841 residentes), nuestra instrucción se lleva a cabo en La Jolla Shores (18 miles) y Del Mar 15th Street (14 miles), con entrenadores bilingües certificados y todo el equipo proporcionado. La inscripción prioritaria es para estudiantes de Meadowbrook Middle, Valley Elementary (Poway).

Horario — programa en Poway

Monthly cohorts, year-round · Completamente gratis

Quizás sientes esto

  • Your family is navigating instability — housing, work, immigration — and you need support that doesn't add another bill.
  • Your child was referred to a clinic across San Diego — the commute alone became another source of stress.
  • Kumeyaay and Indigenous healing practices matter to you, but commercial wellness programs erase coastal cultural roots.

Lo que cambia cuando los jóvenes entran al agua

  • Kumeyaay-led healing modules developed with elders — culturally grounded, not generic wellness language.
  • Monthly cohorts year-round — support isn't summer-only when Poway youth need it in November too.
  • Trauma-informed certified surf coaches pace for anxiety, grief, and first-time ocean exposure.

Por qué operamos este programa en Poway

Poway is an inland North County city home to Poway Unified School District, one of the largest K-12 districts in California. Our Poway cohorts travel to Del Mar's 15th Street Beach and La Jolla Shores for water programming, with classroom partnership at Poway Library and the Poway Center for the Performing Arts for cultural programming.

Población
48,841
Residentes BIPOC
46%
Hogares hispanohablantes
17%
Distancia a la playa
14 mi

Surf Therapy en Poway — Lo que debes saber

Trauma-informed surf therapy in Poway should pace for anxious beginners — not throw youth into overhead surf for Instagram content. Our progression model starts in chest-deep whitewater with licensed support and certified coaches coordinated with lifeguard safety protocols.

Monthly year-round cohorts mean Poway families access support in fall and winter — not only when commercial camps run summer wellness weeks.

Por qué Poway importa para nuestra misión

Safe, lifeguard-coordinated instruction is non-negotiable for Poway youth. Every water session runs inside flagged zones with certified coaches — parents shouldn't have to choose between access and safety.

Poway families deserve instructors who look like their kids and speak their language. With 46% BIPOC residents, bilingual coaching isn't a nice-to-have — it's how we earn trust on day one.

Socios comunitarios locales en Poway

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

Distrito escolar y escuelas Título I

  • Poway Unified School District
  • Meadowbrook Middle
  • Valley Elementary (Poway)

Socios comunitarios

  • Poway Unified School District
  • Poway Library
  • Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater San Diego (Poway branch)

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 Poway

  • 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

Program safety is documented: lifeguard coordination, 4:1 ratios on youth water days, trauma-informed staff training, and parent communication protocols in English and Spanish.

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 Poway

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 Poway.

How much does surf therapy cost in Poway?+

Un Mar de Colores surf therapy in Poway 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 Poway families never pay.

How do we get referred to surf therapy in Poway?+

Contact Un Mar directly or ask your Poway Unified School District counselor, mental health provider, or community partner org for a referral. We route Poway families to the appropriate monthly cohort based on age and need.

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

Sí. Todos los programas de Un Mar de Colores en Poway son 100% gratuitos. Proporcionamos trajes de neopreno 3/2mm, tablas de surf, transporte desde escuelas asociadas como Meadowbrook Middle, Valley Elementary (Poway), e instrucción bilingüe certificada. El financiamiento proviene de la San Diego Foundation, subvenciones comunitarias y donantes individuales.

¿Dónde se realizan exactamente las lecciones en Poway?+

Los jóvenes de Poway viajan en nuestro transporte a La Jolla Shores (18 miles), aproximadamente a 14 millas. Los componentes de aula ocurren en escuelas y bibliotecas asociadas dentro de Poway.

¿Qué edades son elegibles en Poway?+

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 Poway 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 Meadowbrook Middle, Valley Elementary (Poway) y otras escuelas de Título I en Poway Unified School District. Los grupos de verano suelen llenarse con 3-4 semanas de anticipación.

¿Listo para entrar al agua?

Free means free. No hidden fees, no gear costs, no transportation charges for Poway participants.

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