Un Mar de Colores · Point Loma, CA
Marine Ecology Meets Surf Camp — Free for Point Loma Youth
Marine biology modules connect Point Loma youth to watershed health and the beaches they surf.
Un Mar de Colores runs free summer surf camps for Point Loma youth ages 6–17. Each week-long Monday–Friday cohort combines morning surf instruction at Sunset Cliffs and Garbage Beach (closest breaks to Point Loma) with afternoons of marine ecology, cultural arts, and Kumeyaay coastal history. Priority enrollment goes to students of Point Loma High, Cabrillo Elementary. Wetsuits, soft-top boards, daily lunch, and round-trip transportation are all included.
Schedule — Point Loma Program Days
Summer (June–August), Monday–Friday cohorts · Completely free
You Might Be Feeling This
- —You need predictable schedules and bilingual parent updates — not a signup page that ghosts Spanish-speaking families.
- —School counselors mention programs, but 'free' surf camps always seem to have a catch or a waitlist.
- —Working parents in Point Loma need Monday–Friday full-day coverage, not another half-day program with no transport.
What Changes When Youth Get in the Water
- Alumni coaches and scholarship recipients mentor campers — representation changes who believes they belong.
- Free daily lunch and snacks mean no packing stress or hidden food fees for Point Loma working families.
- Photo album documents the week — tangible proof of growth beyond a single social media post.
Why We Run This Program in Point Loma
Point Loma's Sunset Cliffs coastline is too advanced for beginner instruction, but our Point Loma youth cohorts travel to OB Pier and Dog Beach for water sessions, with dryland instruction at Cabrillo National Monument and Point Loma Nazarene University (our educational partner). The Kumeyaay coastal history of the peninsula is woven into every Point Loma cohort curriculum.
- Population
- 32,000
- BIPOC residents
- 34%
- Spanish-speaking households
- 17%
- Distance to beach
- Coastal
Surf Camp in Point Loma — What You Should Know
Free youth surf camps in San Diego are rare because equipment, insurance, and food costs are real. Un Mar combines San Diego Foundation grants, community donors, and disciplined safety protocols — operating since 2018 without charging families.
How much does surf camp cost in California? Commercial rates often run $400–$800 per week plus gear rental. Un Mar de Colores charges $0 — including five full days, equipment, transport, lunch, and Friday family showcase.
Why Point Loma Matters to Our Mission
Serving Point Loma means meeting families where they are: San Diego schools, community centers, and partner orgs that already hold trust. We don't wait for families to find the beach — we bring youth to the water.
With 32,000 residents, Point Loma is one of the communities where a single free surf cohort can change dozens of lives per season. Our shuttles and school partnerships make distance (on the coast) a logistics problem we solve, not a barrier families carry alone.
Local Point Loma Partners & Referral Sources
In partnership with San Diego Unified School District and local community organizations, we recruit youth from 2+ Title I schools.
School district & Title I partners
- San Diego Unified School District
- •Point Loma High
- •Cabrillo Elementary
Community partners
- ◆Cabrillo National Monument (NPS)
- ◆Point Loma Nazarene University
- ◆Point Loma Library
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 Point Loma 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 Point Loma 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 Point Loma
What is the daily schedule for surf camp in Point Loma?+
Camp runs Monday through Friday, 8am–3pm. Mornings include up to four hours of in-water surf instruction. Afternoons cover marine ecology, Kumeyaay coastal history, cultural arts workshops, and nutrition education. Friday ends with a family showcase on the beach.
Is transportation provided from Point Loma to surf camp?+
Round-trip shuttle transportation runs from partner Title I schools. If Point Loma is inland (on the coast from the coast), we solve the daily commute — not your family. Coastal cohorts meet directly at local teaching beaches near Sunset Cliffs and Garbage Beach.
How much does surf camp cost in Point Loma?+
Un Mar de Colores surf camp in Point Loma is 100% free — five full Monday–Friday days including wetsuits, boards, rashguards, daily lunch and snacks, transportation from partner schools, and certified bilingual instruction. Commercial camps in San Diego County typically charge $400–$800 per week. We fund access through grants and donors so Point Loma families never pay.
Are surf camp in Point Loma really free?+
Yes. All Un Mar de Colores programs in Point Loma are 100% free — including 3/2mm wetsuits, soft-top surfboards, transportation from partner schools like Point Loma High, Cabrillo Elementary, and certified bilingual instruction. Funding comes from the San Diego Foundation, community grants, and individual donors. No Point Loma family has ever paid for our programming.
Where exactly do surf camp happen in Point Loma?+
Primary water sessions run at Sunset Cliffs. Classroom components happen at Cabrillo National Monument (NPS) and other partner sites. All water activities happen within lifeguard-flag zones.
What ages can enroll in Point Loma?+
We serve youth ages 6–17. In Point Loma specifically, our recruitment runs through San Diego Unified School District — with priority enrollment for students from Point Loma High, Cabrillo Elementary. 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 Sunset Cliffs, supervised by instructors certified by the San Diego Fire-Rescue Lifeguard Division. Water comfort is built progressively. In Point Loma, we also run pre-cohort pool-familiarization sessions at local community pools for students who request extra comfort-building.
Are lessons taught in Spanish in Point Loma?+
Yes. All Un Mar de Colores programs are bilingual — and in Point Loma, where 17% 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 Point Loma?+
Three ways: (1) everything is free, while most Point Loma surf programs charge $50–$150 per lesson; (2) we are BIPOC-led and our coaches reflect the 34%-BIPOC Point Loma 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 Point Loma, not just those who can afford access.
How do I sign my Point Loma child up?+
Visit our sign-up page or contact us directly. Priority enrollment goes to students of Point Loma High, Cabrillo Elementary and referrals from Cabrillo National Monument (NPS) and Point Loma Nazarene University. Summer cohorts fill 3–4 weeks before start, so early contact is recommended.
Ready to Get in the Water?
Don't wait for summer — year-round Point Loma cohorts fill fast. Reach out now for free enrollment.
All Un Mar de Colores programs are free for Point Loma 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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