Un Mar de Colores · Solana Beach, CA
Kumeyaay coastal history and ocean equity are woven into every Solana Beach lesson plan.
Un Mar de Colores offers free surf lessons for Solana Beach youth ages 6–17, right on the Solana Beach coast. Serving one of San Diego County's 24%-BIPOC communities (13,296 residents), our instruction happens at Fletcher Cove, with certified bilingual coaches and all gear provided. Priority enrollment goes to students of Solana Vista Elementary, Skyline School.
Year-round weekly sessions · Completely free
Solana Beach's Fletcher Cove is one of North County's safest lifeguarded swim-and-surf beaches, making it ideal for our One Ocean Scholarship cohorts. We partner with Solana Beach School District and the San Dieguito Union High School District for youth recruitment, with a focus on inland neighborhoods east of I-5 where coastal access is geographically close but economically out of reach.
How much do surf lessons cost in California? Commercial rates often run $80–$150 per person. Un Mar de Colores charges $0 — including gear, transport from partner schools, and year-round cohort options for Solana Beach youth ages 6–17.
Ocean equity in Solana Beach means more than one free beach day a year. It means consistent mentorship, culturally grounded curriculum, and pathways from first paddle to Ocean Stewards after-school programming or Surf Athletic Scholarships.
Whether Solana Beach is on the coast or on the coast 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.
Solana Beach families deserve instructors who look like their kids and speak their language. With 24% BIPOC residents, bilingual coaching isn't a nice-to-have — it's how we earn trust on day one.
Primary Solana Beach teaching location. One of North County's safest lifeguarded swim-and-surf beaches.
Fletcher Cove was opened in 1946 after dynamite was used to blast through the sandstone bluffs — creating the only public beach access in Solana Beach.
In partnership with Solana Beach School District and local community organizations, we recruit youth from 2+ Title I schools.
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.
We do not charge families. Ever. That policy is structural — grants, donors, and shop revenue fund access so Solana Beach youth are never waitlisted for inability to pay.
“"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."”
If Solana Beach is inland, we provide shuttle transportation from partner Title I schools to our nearest teaching beaches — distance is on us, not your family. Coastal Solana Beach cohorts meet directly at local breaks. Confirm your cohort pickup location when you enroll.
We run year-round weekly sessions plus expanded summer programming. Cohorts fill 3–4 weeks ahead — contact us early if you're enrolling from Solana Beach for a specific season.
Yes — all programming is bilingual. In Solana Beach, where 14% of households are Spanish-speaking, we pair bilingual coaches to every session and send parent communications in both English and Spanish.
Yes. All Un Mar de Colores programs in Solana Beach are 100% free — including 3/2mm wetsuits, soft-top surfboards, transportation from partner schools like Solana Vista Elementary, Skyline School, and certified bilingual instruction. Funding comes from the San Diego Foundation, community grants, and individual donors. No Solana Beach family has ever paid for our programming.
Primary water sessions run at Fletcher Cove. Classroom components happen at La Colonia de Eden Gardens Community Center and other partner sites. All water activities happen within lifeguard-flag zones.
We serve youth ages 6–17. In Solana Beach specifically, our recruitment runs through Solana Beach School District — with priority enrollment for students from Solana Vista Elementary, Skyline School. Cohorts are age-appropriate (One Ocean for 6–12, Ocean Stewards for 13–17).
No. We begin every cohort with ocean-safety fundamentals in chest-deep whitewater at Fletcher Cove, supervised by instructors certified by the San Diego Fire-Rescue Lifeguard Division. Water comfort is built progressively. In Solana Beach, we also run pre-cohort pool-familiarization sessions at local community pools for students who request extra comfort-building.
Yes. All Un Mar de Colores programs are bilingual — and in Solana Beach, where 14% 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.
Three ways: (1) everything is free, while most Solana Beach surf programs charge $50–$150 per lesson; (2) we are BIPOC-led and our coaches reflect the 24%-BIPOC Solana Beach 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 Solana Beach, not just those who can afford access.
Visit our sign-up page or contact us directly. Priority enrollment goes to students of Solana Vista Elementary, Skyline School and referrals from La Colonia de Eden Gardens Community Center and Boys & Girls Club of Solana Beach. Summer cohorts fill 3–4 weeks before start, so early contact is recommended.
Parents in Solana Beach: bilingual staff, certified lifeguard-trained coaches, and zero cost. Sign up now.
All Un Mar de Colores programs are free for Solana Beach 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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