Un Mar de Colores · El Cajon, CA
Full-Day Free Surf Camp — El Cajon Youth Welcome
Nutrition and hydration education for young athletes — lunch included, no hidden snack fees.
Un Mar de Colores runs free summer surf camps for El Cajon youth ages 6–17. Each week-long Monday–Friday cohort combines morning surf instruction (shuttled to our nearest coastal location, OB Pier (14 miles)) with afternoons of marine ecology, cultural arts, and Kumeyaay coastal history. Priority enrollment goes to students of Bostonia Elementary, Chase Avenue Elementary, Cajon Valley Middle and other Title I schools in Cajon Valley Union School District / Grossmont Union High. Wetsuits, soft-top boards, daily lunch, and round-trip transportation are all included.
Schedule — El Cajon Program Days
Summer (June–August), Monday–Friday cohorts · Completely free
You Might Be Feeling This
- —Your student is curious about marine science but camps split surf and ecology into separate expensive enrollments.
- —School counselors mention programs, but 'free' surf camps always seem to have a catch or a waitlist.
- —You need predictable schedules and bilingual parent updates — not a signup page that ghosts Spanish-speaking families.
What Changes When Youth Get in the Water
- Your family joins a BIPOC-led movement rewriting coastal access across San Diego County — not a tourist camp.
- Wetsuits, soft-top boards, and rashguards provided for the entire week — properly sized youth gear.
- Round-trip transportation from partner Title I schools — inland El Cajon families aren't left behind.
Why We Run This Program in El Cajon
El Cajon is home to one of the largest Middle Eastern/Chaldean communities in the United States and a 32% Hispanic/Latino population. Our El Cajon cohorts shuttle 14 miles to OB Pier, with cultural programming tailored to the city's unique demographic mix. Cajon Valley Union's Bostonia and Chase Avenue Elementary are our anchor partnerships.
- Population
- 106,215
- BIPOC residents
- 55%
- Spanish-speaking households
- 32%
- Distance to beach
- 14 mi
Surf Camp in El Cajon — What You Should Know
Ocean equity in El Cajon means more than one free beach day. A full camp week builds skill, trust, and community — with pathways to year-round lessons and scholarship programming.
Free surf camp for El Cajon youth is part of a broader Cali-Baja movement — ocean access, watershed health, and cultural arts — documented across our partner network in San Diego County.
Why El Cajon Matters to Our Mission
Cross-border watershed work matters to El Cajon because Tijuana River pollution and coastal health don't stop at a border fence. Our education modules name that reality honestly.
Environmental justice in El Cajon 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.
Local El Cajon Partners & Referral Sources
In partnership with Cajon Valley Union School District / Grossmont Union High and local community organizations, we recruit youth from 4+ Title I schools.
School district & Title I partners
- Cajon Valley Union School District / Grossmont Union High
- •Bostonia Elementary
- •Chase Avenue Elementary
- •Cajon Valley Middle
- •El Cajon Valley High
Community partners
- ◆Cajon Valley Union School District
- ◆El Cajon Library
- ◆Chaldean American Chamber of Commerce
- ◆Grossmont College (student volunteers)
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 El Cajon 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
Our coaches include graduates of the Surf Athletic Scholarship program and bilingual educators who reflect the BIPOC communities we serve. We partner with 15+ Title I schools across North County and San Diego.
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 El Cajon
When do El Cajon surf camp cohorts run?+
Summer camps run June through August with Monday–Friday cohorts. Cohorts fill 3–4 weeks ahead — contact us early if you're enrolling from El Cajon for a specific week. Priority goes to Title I referrals and partner org introductions.
Who certifies surf camp instructors in El Cajon?+
Coaches hold CPR and First Aid credentials and train with San Diego Fire-Rescue Lifeguard Division protocols. Many are alumni of our Surf Athletic Scholarship program. Safety documentation is available to El Cajon parents on request.
Is transportation provided from El Cajon to surf camp?+
Round-trip shuttle transportation runs from partner Title I schools. If El Cajon is inland (14 miles inland from the coast), we solve the daily commute — not your family. Coastal cohorts meet directly at local teaching beaches near OB Pier (14 miles) and Coronado Central (13 miles).
Are surf camp in El Cajon really free?+
Yes. All Un Mar de Colores programs in El Cajon are 100% free — including 3/2mm wetsuits, soft-top surfboards, transportation from partner schools like Bostonia Elementary, Chase Avenue Elementary, Cajon Valley Middle, and certified bilingual instruction. Funding comes from the San Diego Foundation, community grants, and individual donors. No El Cajon family has ever paid for our programming.
Where exactly do surf camp happen in El Cajon?+
El Cajon is 14 miles inland from the coast, so our cohorts are shuttled to OB Pier (14 miles) — our nearest Un Mar teaching beach. Classroom components including curriculum, cultural arts, and tutoring happen at Cajon Valley Union School District and partner schools inside El Cajon.
What ages can enroll in El Cajon?+
We serve youth ages 6–17. In El Cajon specifically, our recruitment runs through Cajon Valley Union School District / Grossmont Union High — with priority enrollment for students from Bostonia Elementary, Chase Avenue Elementary, Cajon Valley Middle and 1 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 OB Pier (14 miles), supervised by instructors certified by the San Diego Fire-Rescue Lifeguard Division. Water comfort is built progressively. In El Cajon, we also run pre-cohort pool-familiarization sessions at inland pools via our Cajon Valley Union School District partnership for students who request extra comfort-building.
Are lessons taught in Spanish in El Cajon?+
Yes. All Un Mar de Colores programs are bilingual — and in El Cajon, where 32% 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 El Cajon?+
Three ways: (1) everything is free, while most El Cajon surf programs charge $50–$150 per lesson; (2) we are BIPOC-led and our coaches reflect the 55%-BIPOC El Cajon 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 El Cajon, not just those who can afford access.
How do I sign my El Cajon child up?+
Visit our sign-up page or contact us directly. Priority enrollment goes to students of Bostonia Elementary, Chase Avenue Elementary, Cajon Valley Middle and referrals from Cajon Valley Union School District and El Cajon Library. Summer cohorts fill 3–4 weeks before start, so early contact is recommended.
Ready to Get in the Water?
Join hundreds of El Cajon families who trust Un Mar de Colores for free ocean programming. Enroll today.
All Un Mar de Colores programs are free for El Cajon 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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