Un Mar de Colores · Chula Vista, CA
Where Chula Vista Families Find Free Surf Therapy
Licensed mental health professionals partner with trauma-informed surf coaches — eight youth maximum per cohort.
Un Mar de Colores offers free surf therapy sessions for Chula Vista youth ages 6–17, combining licensed mental health support with trauma-informed surf coaching. Chula Vista participants are shuttled 10 miles to our nearest teaching beaches, including Imperial Beach (10 miles) and Coronado Central (12 miles) (closest breaks to Chula Vista). Referrals come through Chula Vista Elementary School District / Sweetwater Union High counselors and community partners including Chula Vista Elementary School District and Sweetwater Union High School District. Cohorts are capped at 8 youth for safety and therapeutic depth.
Schedule — Chula Vista Program Days
Monthly cohorts, year-round · Completely free
You Might Be Feeling This
- —Large group 'surf therapy' events feel like photo ops — your child needs eight kids max, not fifty strangers on the sand.
- —BIPOC youth in Chula Vista (81% of residents) face mental health stigma layered on coastal access barriers.
- —One-off beach wellness days don't build continuity — your child needs monthly cohorts across the school year.
What Changes When Youth Get in the Water
- Pathways to Ocean Stewards after-school and year-round surf lessons after therapy cohorts.
- Peer mentorship in small groups builds community — youth heal alongside others from Chula Vista schools.
- Trauma-informed certified surf coaches pace for anxiety, grief, and first-time ocean exposure.
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 Therapy in Chula Vista — What You Should Know
Licensed mental health professionals on-site differentiate Un Mar from volunteer-led beach days marketed as 'therapy' near Imperial Beach (10 miles) and Coronado Central (12 miles).
Referrals from Chula Vista Elementary School District / Sweetwater Union High counselors and mental health agencies streamline enrollment for Chula Vista youth — reducing the friction that keeps eligible families out.
Why Chula Vista Matters to Our Mission
Serving Chula Vista 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.
Chula Vista sits inside San Diego County's coastal equity gap — 81% of residents identify as BIPOC, yet beach access has historically been gated by cost, transportation, and culture. Un Mar de Colores closes that gap with free programming and school-based recruitment.
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
Surf therapy at Un Mar de Colores is more than recreational — it's a structured, trauma-informed mental health program that uses the ocean as a therapeutic setting. Licensed mental health professionals partner with trauma-informed surf coaches to deliver small-group sessions (8 youth maximum) combining ocean-based mindfulness, somatic movement, and culturally grounded healing modules developed with Kumeyaay elders. The program is especially effective for youth navigating anxiety, grief, immigration-related stress, and family instability. All programming is free and open to youth referred through partner schools, mental health agencies, and community organizations.
- →Ocean-based mindfulness practices
- →Small-group peer mentorship
- →Somatic and movement-based therapy integration
- →Trauma-informed surf coaching
- →Culturally grounded healing (Kumeyaay-led modules)
- →Family and caregiver support sessions
What's Included — Free for Every Chula Vista Youth
- ✓Licensed mental health professional on-site
- ✓Trauma-informed certified surf coaches
- ✓Small cohort size (8 youth maximum)
- ✓Wetsuit, soft-top board, and all equipment
- ✓Transportation from partner schools and referral orgs
- ✓Family caregiver support sessions
Why Un Mar de Colores
Un Mar de Colores is a BIPOC-led 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in Oceanside, California in 2018. Our instructors are certified by the San Diego Fire-Rescue Lifeguard Division and hold CPR + First Aid credentials.
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 Therapy in Chula Vista
Are family members included in surf therapy?+
Yes — family and caregiver support sessions are part of the program. Chula Vista parents and guardians receive bilingual updates and dedicated sessions — healing isn't isolated to the child on the board.
Is surf therapy in Chula Vista bilingual?+
Yes — all programming is bilingual. In Chula Vista, where 58% of households are Spanish-speaking, bilingual staff lead every session and parent communications arrive in both English and Spanish.
What is surf therapy at Un Mar de Colores in Chula Vista?+
Surf therapy is a structured, trauma-informed mental health program using the ocean as a therapeutic setting. Licensed mental health professionals partner with certified surf coaches to deliver small-group sessions (eight youth max) combining ocean-based mindfulness, somatic movement, and Kumeyaay-led healing modules for BIPOC youth ages 6–17 in Chula Vista.
Are surf therapy 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 therapy 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 therapy 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?
Support the movement or enroll your youth — Un Mar de Colores is building coastal access for Chula Vista families.
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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