Un Mar de Colores · Lemon Grove, CA
Free Family-Inclusive Surf Therapy for Lemon Grove Youth
Shuttle from partner schools for inland Lemon Grove families (10 miles inland) — access when the beach feels far.
Un Mar de Colores offers free surf therapy sessions for Lemon Grove youth ages 6–17, combining licensed mental health support with trauma-informed surf coaching. Lemon Grove participants are shuttled 10 miles to our nearest teaching beaches, including OB Pier (11 miles) and Coronado Central (10 miles) (closest breaks to Lemon Grove). Referrals come through Lemon Grove School District counselors and community partners including Lemon Grove School District and Lemon Grove Public Library. Cohorts are capped at 8 youth for safety and therapeutic depth.
Schedule — Lemon Grove Program Days
Monthly cohorts, year-round · Completely free
You Might Be Feeling This
- —Your child was referred to a clinic across San Diego — the commute alone became another source of stress.
- —Your youth tried talk therapy and shut down — they need movement, nature, and peers who understand, not another office.
- —You've hesitated because your child doesn't swim confidently — and nobody explained how beginner therapeutic sessions start.
What Changes When Youth Get in the Water
- Pathways to Ocean Stewards after-school and year-round surf lessons after therapy cohorts.
- Free wetsuits, soft-top boards, rashguards, and sunscreen — no gear barrier during hard seasons.
- Trauma-informed culture welcomes youth without requiring a diagnosis to prove they belong.
Why We Run This Program in Lemon Grove
Lemon Grove is 45% Hispanic/Latino and 18% Black — one of the most racially diverse small cities in San Diego County. Our Lemon Grove program partners with Lemon Grove School District (3 Title I schools) for shuttle-based transportation to OB Pier and Coronado Central Beach. Classroom components run at Lemon Grove Public Library.
- Population
- 27,598
- BIPOC residents
- 78%
- Spanish-speaking households
- 40%
- Distance to beach
- 10 mi
Surf Therapy in Lemon Grove — What You Should Know
Environmental justice framing in therapy modules connects emotional healing to why Lemon Grove beaches close after storms — watershed stress isn't abstract.
How much does surf therapy cost in California? Commercial wellness and equine-adjacent ocean programs often charge premium rates. Un Mar de Colores charges $0 — including gear, transport, licensed professionals, and caregiver support for Lemon Grove families.
Why Lemon Grove Matters to Our Mission
Lemon Grove families deserve instructors who look like their kids and speak their language. With 78% BIPOC residents, bilingual coaching isn't a nice-to-have — it's how we earn trust on day one.
Parents in Lemon Grove often ask how a nonprofit can offer everything free. Answer: San Diego Foundation grants, community donors, and partners who believe Lemon Grove youth belong in the lineup — same as any other kid in San Diego.
Local Lemon Grove Partners & Referral Sources
In partnership with Lemon Grove School District and local community organizations, we recruit youth from 3+ Title I schools.
School district & Title I partners
- Lemon Grove School District
- •San Altos Elementary
- •San Miguel Elementary
- •Mt. Vernon Elementary
Community partners
- ◆Lemon Grove School District
- ◆Lemon Grove Public Library
- ◆Grossmont Union High School District
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 Lemon Grove 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
Federal EIN 85-2947340. Mailing: PO BOX 232471, Encinitas, CA 92024. We operate on the ancestral lands of the Kumeyaay Nation with respect and community accountability.
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 Lemon Grove
Does my child need to know how to swim?+
No swimming test is required. We begin in chest-deep whitewater under direct coach and clinical supervision, building water comfort progressively. Many Lemon Grove participants start with limited pool experience.
Is surf therapy in Lemon Grove bilingual?+
Yes — all programming is bilingual. In Lemon Grove, where 40% of households are Spanish-speaking, bilingual staff lead every session and parent communications arrive in both English and Spanish.
Are family members included in surf therapy?+
Yes — family and caregiver support sessions are part of the program. Lemon Grove parents and guardians receive bilingual updates and dedicated sessions — healing isn't isolated to the child on the board.
Are surf therapy in Lemon Grove really free?+
Yes. All Un Mar de Colores programs in Lemon Grove are 100% free — including 3/2mm wetsuits, soft-top surfboards, transportation from partner schools like San Altos Elementary, San Miguel Elementary, Mt. Vernon Elementary, and certified bilingual instruction. Funding comes from the San Diego Foundation, community grants, and individual donors. No Lemon Grove family has ever paid for our programming.
Where exactly do surf therapy happen in Lemon Grove?+
Lemon Grove is 10 miles inland from the coast, so our cohorts are shuttled to OB Pier (11 miles) — our nearest Un Mar teaching beach. Classroom components including curriculum, cultural arts, and tutoring happen at Lemon Grove School District and partner schools inside Lemon Grove.
What ages can enroll in Lemon Grove?+
We serve youth ages 6–17. In Lemon Grove specifically, our recruitment runs through Lemon Grove School District — with priority enrollment for students from San Altos Elementary, San Miguel Elementary, Mt. Vernon 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 (11 miles), supervised by instructors certified by the San Diego Fire-Rescue Lifeguard Division. Water comfort is built progressively. In Lemon Grove, we also run pre-cohort pool-familiarization sessions at inland pools via our Lemon Grove School District partnership for students who request extra comfort-building.
Are lessons taught in Spanish in Lemon Grove?+
Yes. All Un Mar de Colores programs are bilingual — and in Lemon Grove, where 40% 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 Lemon Grove?+
Three ways: (1) everything is free, while most Lemon Grove surf programs charge $50–$150 per lesson; (2) we are BIPOC-led and our coaches reflect the 78%-BIPOC Lemon Grove 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 Lemon Grove, not just those who can afford access.
How do I sign my Lemon Grove child up?+
Visit our sign-up page or contact us directly. Priority enrollment goes to students of San Altos Elementary, San Miguel Elementary, Mt. Vernon Elementary and referrals from Lemon Grove School District and Lemon Grove Public Library. Summer cohorts fill 3–4 weeks before start, so early contact is recommended.
Ready to Get in the Water?
Spots in our Lemon Grove cohorts are limited to keep instructor ratios safe. Contact us to reserve a place.
All Un Mar de Colores programs are free for Lemon Grove 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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