Un Mar de Colores · Chula Vista, CA
Free Chula Vista Summer Camp: Surf, Ecology & Cultural Arts
Cultural arts afternoons — painting, poetry, storytelling — center Indigenous and Latino coastal voices.
Un Mar de Colores runs free summer surf camps for Chula Vista youth ages 6–17. Each week-long Monday–Friday cohort combines morning surf instruction (shuttled to our nearest coastal location, Imperial Beach (10 miles)) with afternoons of marine ecology, cultural arts, and Kumeyaay coastal history. Priority enrollment goes to students of Rosebank Elementary, Castle Park Elementary, Harborside Elementary and other Title I schools in Chula Vista Elementary School District / Sweetwater Union High. Wetsuits, soft-top boards, daily lunch, and round-trip transportation are all included.
Schedule — Chula Vista Program Days
Summer (June–August), Monday–Friday cohorts · Completely free
You Might Be Feeling This
- —Large commercial ratios mean nervous first-timers from Chula Vista get lost in the lineup — or never enter it.
- —Summer camp flyers in Chula Vista list prices that equal a month's groceries — surf camps feel impossible.
- —Every paid surf camp assumes you already own gear and can drive to Imperial Beach (10 miles) and Coronado Central (12 miles) every morning at 8am.
What Changes When Youth Get in the Water
- Marine ecology afternoons connect surf skills to watershed science relevant to Chula Vista and San Diego.
- Your family joins a BIPOC-led movement rewriting coastal access across San Diego County — not a tourist camp.
- Beach sites chosen for beginner safety — sandy bottoms, lifeguard coverage, manageable conditions near Imperial Beach (10 miles) and Coronado Central (12 miles).
Why We Run This Program in Chula Vista
Chula Vista is California's 14th-largest city and home to one of the largest Latino populations in San Diego County — 58% Hispanic/Latino per the 2020 Census. We partner with Chula Vista Elementary School District (45,000+ students) and Sweetwater Union High to transport youth from Castle Park, Harborside, and Lauderbach Elementary to Imperial Beach and Coronado for free surf and ocean programming.
- Population
- 275,487
- BIPOC residents
- 81%
- Spanish-speaking households
- 58%
- Distance to beach
- 10 mi
Surf Camp in Chula Vista — What You Should Know
Free surf camp in Chula Vista isn't a summer gimmick — it's how Un Mar de Colores delivers full-week ocean immersion for BIPOC youth ages 6–17. While commercial camps charge $400–$800 per week, we provide five Monday–Friday full days of certified bilingual instruction, marine ecology, cultural arts, lunch, gear, and transportation at zero cost.
Latino and Indigenous youth in Chula Vista inherit coastal histories commercial surf culture erases. Camp afternoons integrate Kumeyaay stewardship narratives and environmental justice framing — surf as connection to place.
Why Chula Vista Matters to Our Mission
When we say free for Chula Vista youth, we mean wetsuits, soft-tops, rashguards, sunscreen, transportation, and instruction — the full stack commercial programs charge $50–$150 per session for.
Whether Chula Vista is on the coast or 10 miles inland inland, we treat transportation as part of the program — not an extra parents must figure out. That's how you build real access, not marketing copy.
Local Chula Vista Partners & Referral Sources
In partnership with Chula Vista Elementary School District / Sweetwater Union High and local community organizations, we recruit youth from 5+ Title I schools.
School district & Title I partners
- Chula Vista Elementary School District / Sweetwater Union High
- •Rosebank Elementary
- •Castle Park Elementary
- •Harborside Elementary
- •Lauderbach Elementary
- •Chula Vista Middle
Community partners
- ◆Chula Vista Elementary School District
- ◆Sweetwater Union High School District
- ◆Chula Vista Public Library (Civic Center Branch)
- ◆South Bay Community Services
- ◆Casa Familiar
Program Curriculum
Our summer surf camps run Monday through Friday across North County and San Diego, serving BIPOC youth ages 6–17. Each one-week cohort combines four mornings of in-water surf instruction with afternoon programming in marine ecology, Kumeyaay coastal history, and cultural arts. Camps are capped at 18 students per cohort to maintain a 4:1 student-to-instructor ratio, and every camp ends with a Friday family showcase on the beach. Camps are entirely free — wetsuits, boards, transportation, daily lunch, and all materials included.
- →Daily in-water surf instruction (4 hrs/day)
- →Marine ecology & watershed education
- →Cultural arts workshops (painting, poetry, storytelling)
- →Kumeyaay coastal history and stewardship
- →Nutrition and hydration for athletes
- →Friday family showcase and celebration
What's Included — Free for Every Chula Vista Youth
- ✓5-day Monday–Friday full-day camp (8am–3pm)
- ✓Certified bilingual instructors (CPR + First Aid, 4:1 ratio)
- ✓Wetsuit, soft-top surfboard, and rashguard for the week
- ✓Free daily lunch and snacks
- ✓Round-trip transportation from Title I schools
- ✓Cultural arts and marine biology enrichment
- ✓Family showcase and photo album
Why Un Mar de Colores
Board and staff leadership is BIPOC-majority. Decisions about Chula Vista programming are made with community partners, not corporate sponsors.
What our community says
“"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."”
Frequently Asked Questions — Surf Camp in Chula Vista
How is Un Mar surf camp different from commercial camps near Imperial Beach (10 miles) and Coronado Central (12 miles)?+
Commercial camps optimize for paying tourists and locals with gear. Un Mar is a BIPOC-led nonprofit: free instruction, Title I partnerships, marine ecology and Kumeyaay history curriculum, and coaches who reflect Chula Vista's communities. We're building access, not selling camp weeks.
Is lunch provided during surf camp?+
Yes — every camp day includes free lunch and snacks. Chula Vista families don't need to pack meals or pay hidden food fees. We accommodate common dietary needs — contact us at enrollment to discuss specifics.
What happens on the Friday family showcase?+
Friday is graduation on the sand — campers demonstrate surf skills, share cultural arts projects from the week, and celebrate with families. Grandparents, siblings, and neighbors from Chula Vista are welcome. We provide a photo album documenting the week.
Are surf camp in Chula Vista really free?+
Yes. All Un Mar de Colores programs in Chula Vista are 100% free — including 3/2mm wetsuits, soft-top surfboards, transportation from partner schools like Rosebank Elementary, Castle Park Elementary, Harborside Elementary, and certified bilingual instruction. Funding comes from the San Diego Foundation, community grants, and individual donors. No Chula Vista family has ever paid for our programming.
Where exactly do surf camp happen in Chula Vista?+
Chula Vista is 10 miles inland from the coast, so our cohorts are shuttled to Imperial Beach (10 miles) — our nearest Un Mar teaching beach. Classroom components including curriculum, cultural arts, and tutoring happen at Chula Vista Elementary School District and partner schools inside Chula Vista.
What ages can enroll in Chula Vista?+
We serve youth ages 6–17. In Chula Vista specifically, our recruitment runs through Chula Vista Elementary School District / Sweetwater Union High — with priority enrollment for students from Rosebank Elementary, Castle Park Elementary, Harborside Elementary and 2 other Title I schools. Cohorts are age-appropriate (One Ocean for 6–12, Ocean Stewards for 13–17).
Does my child need to know how to swim before starting?+
No. We begin every cohort with ocean-safety fundamentals in chest-deep whitewater at Imperial Beach (10 miles), supervised by instructors certified by the San Diego Fire-Rescue Lifeguard Division. Water comfort is built progressively. In Chula Vista, we also run pre-cohort pool-familiarization sessions at inland pools via our Chula Vista Elementary School District partnership for students who request extra comfort-building.
Are lessons taught in Spanish in Chula Vista?+
Yes. All Un Mar de Colores programs are bilingual — and in Chula Vista, where 58% of households are Spanish-speaking, we intentionally pair at least one bilingual coach to every session. Cultural programming is delivered in both languages, and parent communications are always sent in Spanish and English.
How is Un Mar de Colores different from other surf camp in Chula Vista?+
Three ways: (1) everything is free, while most Chula Vista surf programs charge $50–$150 per lesson; (2) we are BIPOC-led and our coaches reflect the 81%-BIPOC Chula Vista community we serve; (3) our curriculum includes environmental justice, Kumeyaay coastal history, and cultural arts — not just surf skills. We exist because the ocean should belong to everyone in Chula Vista, not just those who can afford access.
How do I sign my Chula Vista child up?+
Visit our sign-up page or contact us directly. Priority enrollment goes to students of Rosebank Elementary, Castle Park Elementary, Harborside Elementary and referrals from Chula Vista Elementary School District and Sweetwater Union High School District. Summer cohorts fill 3–4 weeks before start, so early contact is recommended.
Ready to Get in the Water?
Parents in Chula Vista: bilingual staff, certified lifeguard-trained coaches, and zero cost. Sign up now.
All Un Mar de Colores programs are free for Chula Vista youth. Reach out to enroll, volunteer, or support the movement.
Un Mar de Colores is a BIPOC-led 501(c)(3) nonprofit based in Oceanside, California. We provide free surf, ocean, and environmental programming for youth across San Diego and Tijuana — bridging cultures, coasts, and communities since 2018.
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