Un Mar de Colores · Santee, CA
Where Santee Kids Learn to Surf for Free
If Santee is inland, our shuttle solves the access gap. If coastal, we teach on your local breaks.
Un Mar de Colores offers free surf lessons for Santee youth ages 6–17, shuttled 17 miles from Santee to our teaching beaches. Serving one of San Diego County's 38%-BIPOC communities (58,895 residents), our instruction happens at OB Pier (17 miles) and Coronado Central (16 miles) (closest breaks to Santee), with certified bilingual coaches and all gear provided. Priority enrollment goes to students of Hill Creek Elementary, Cajon Park Elementary.
Schedule — Santee Program Days
Year-round weekly sessions · Completely free
You Might Be Feeling This
- —Every surf camp flyer you see assumes you already own a wetsuit, a board, and a ride to the beach.
- —Your student comes home talking about the ocean in science class but has never felt salt water on their skin.
- —Summer fills up fast, and by the time you hear about a program, Santee cohorts are already full.
What Changes When Youth Get in the Water
- Parents see measurable growth — water comfort, confidence, community — not just a single photo day.
- Career exposure to marine science and coastal jobs opens doors beyond recreational surfing.
- Small cohort sizes keep instructor attention high and anxiety low for first-timers.
Why We Run This Program in Santee
Santee is an East County city home to Santee School District (approximately 6,000 students). Our Santee cohort travels 17 miles to OB Pier for water programming, making Santee one of our more transportation-intensive partnerships. Hill Creek and Cajon Park Elementary are our Title I partnership schools.
- Population
- 58,895
- BIPOC residents
- 38%
- Spanish-speaking households
- 17%
- Distance to beach
- 17 mi
Surf Lessons in Santee — What You Should Know
After-school overlap matters in Santee: families juggling work and childcare need predictable schedules. We publish cohort calendars early and coordinate with Santee School District / Grossmont Union High partners so enrollment isn't a guessing game.
Where can beginners surf in Santee? We teach at breaks chosen for sandy bottoms, lifeguard coverage, and manageable whitewater — names like OB Pier (17 miles) and Coronado Central (16 miles) appear in our city-specific lesson plans, not generic 'San Diego coast' language.
Why Santee Matters to Our Mission
Environmental justice in Santee 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.
When we say free for Santee youth, we mean wetsuits, soft-tops, rashguards, sunscreen, transportation, and instruction — the full stack commercial programs charge $50–$150 per session for.
Local Santee Partners & Referral Sources
In partnership with Santee School District / Grossmont Union High and local community organizations, we recruit youth from 2+ Title I schools.
School district & Title I partners
- Santee School District / Grossmont Union High
- •Hill Creek Elementary
- •Cajon Park Elementary
Community partners
- ◆Santee School District
- ◆Santee Library
- ◆Town Center Community Park
Program Curriculum
Un Mar de Colores offers free surf lessons year-round for youth ages 6–17 across Oceanside, Carlsbad, Encinitas, Cardiff, Del Mar, La Jolla, Pacific Beach, and partner cities. Our coaches are certified by the San Diego Fire-Rescue Lifeguard Division and many are graduates of our own Surf Athletic Scholarship program. Lessons prioritize water-safety fundamentals first: students start in chest-deep whitewater under direct instructor supervision and progress to unbroken waves only after demonstrating paddle control and ocean awareness. Every session is fully equipped — wetsuit, board, rashguard — and transportation is provided from our partner Title I schools across San Diego County.
- →Ocean safety fundamentals (rip currents, lifeguard communication)
- →Paddle technique and wave selection
- →Pop-up and stance mechanics
- →Whitewater to unbroken wave progression
- →Surf etiquette and lineup awareness
- →Environmental stewardship integration
What's Included — Free for Every Santee Youth
- ✓Certified bilingual instructors (CPR + First Aid)
- ✓3/2mm wetsuits year-round
- ✓Soft-top surfboards for beginners
- ✓Rashguards and sunscreen
- ✓Transportation from partner Title I schools
- ✓Ocean safety training coordinated with county lifeguards
- ✓No swimming test required
Why Un Mar de Colores
Since 2018, Un Mar de Colores has served thousands of youth across San Diego County and the Cali-Baja region — with funding from the San Diego Foundation, community grants, and individual donors keeping every program 100% free.
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 Lessons in Santee
Are surf lessons in Santee taught in Spanish?+
Yes — all programming is bilingual. In Santee, where 17% of households are Spanish-speaking, we pair bilingual coaches to every session and send parent communications in both English and Spanish.
Who certifies your surf instructors?+
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 Santee parents on request.
Where can beginners surf in Santee?+
Beginners in Santee learn at lifeguard-covered breaks with sandy bottoms and manageable whitewater — specific beaches vary by cohort and conditions. Un Mar coaches select sites daily based on swell, tide, and student level, prioritizing safety over spectacle. Sessions stay inside flagged zones with direct instructor supervision.
Are surf lessons in Santee really free?+
Yes. All Un Mar de Colores programs in Santee are 100% free — including 3/2mm wetsuits, soft-top surfboards, transportation from partner schools like Hill Creek Elementary, Cajon Park Elementary, and certified bilingual instruction. Funding comes from the San Diego Foundation, community grants, and individual donors. No Santee family has ever paid for our programming.
Where exactly do surf lessons happen in Santee?+
Santee is 17 miles inland from the coast, so our cohorts are shuttled to OB Pier (17 miles) — our nearest Un Mar teaching beach. Classroom components including curriculum, cultural arts, and tutoring happen at Santee School District and partner schools inside Santee.
What ages can enroll in Santee?+
We serve youth ages 6–17. In Santee specifically, our recruitment runs through Santee School District / Grossmont Union High — with priority enrollment for students from Hill Creek Elementary, Cajon Park 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 OB Pier (17 miles), supervised by instructors certified by the San Diego Fire-Rescue Lifeguard Division. Water comfort is built progressively. In Santee, we also run pre-cohort pool-familiarization sessions at inland pools via our Santee School District partnership for students who request extra comfort-building.
Are lessons taught in Spanish in Santee?+
Yes. All Un Mar de Colores programs are bilingual — and in Santee, 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 lessons in Santee?+
Three ways: (1) everything is free, while most Santee surf programs charge $50–$150 per lesson; (2) we are BIPOC-led and our coaches reflect the 38%-BIPOC Santee 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 Santee, not just those who can afford access.
How do I sign my Santee child up?+
Visit our sign-up page or contact us directly. Priority enrollment goes to students of Hill Creek Elementary, Cajon Park Elementary and referrals from Santee School District and Santee Library. Summer cohorts fill 3–4 weeks before start, so early contact is recommended.
Ready to Get in the Water?
Parents in Santee: bilingual staff, certified lifeguard-trained coaches, and zero cost. Sign up now.
All Un Mar de Colores programs are free for Santee 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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