Un Mar de Colores · National City, CA
BIPOC Youth Surf Therapy in National City — Licensed MH Staff
Monthly cohorts year-round — healing isn't limited to summer when National City youth need support most.
Un Mar de Colores offers free surf therapy sessions for National City youth ages 6–17, combining licensed mental health support with trauma-informed surf coaching. National City participants are shuttled 8 miles to our nearest teaching beaches, including Imperial Beach (8 miles) and Coronado Central (7 miles) (closest breaks to National City). Referrals come through National School District / Sweetwater Union High counselors and community partners including National School District and National City Public Library. Cohorts are capped at 8 youth for safety and therapeutic depth.
Schedule — National City Program Days
Monthly cohorts, year-round · Completely free
You Might Be Feeling This
- —Transportation to Imperial Beach (8 miles) and Coronado Central (7 miles) for weekly sessions feels impossible when National City is 8 miles inland inland and you're working.
- —Your teen sees surfing as escape on social media but has no trauma-informed pathway in National City.
- —BIPOC youth in National City (91% of residents) face mental health stigma layered on coastal access barriers.
What Changes When Youth Get in the Water
- Trauma-informed certified surf coaches pace for anxiety, grief, and first-time ocean exposure.
- Pathways to Ocean Stewards after-school and year-round surf lessons after therapy cohorts.
- BIPOC-led nonprofit — not a commercial wellness brand renting your child's story for marketing.
Why We Run This Program in National City
National City is 63% Hispanic/Latino and among the most economically impacted cities in San Diego County. Our programs here are built around transportation — youth from Central, Kimball, and Olivewood Elementary travel to Imperial Beach and Coronado for water programming, with classroom components at National City Public Library and the MLK Community Center. National City is a priority Title I partnership for our Ocean Stewards recruitment.
- Population
- 56,173
- BIPOC residents
- 91%
- Spanish-speaking households
- 61%
- Distance to beach
- 8 mi
Surf Therapy in National City — What You Should Know
Monthly year-round cohorts mean National City families access support in fall and winter — not only when commercial camps run summer wellness weeks.
Referrals from National School District / Sweetwater Union High counselors and mental health agencies streamline enrollment for National City youth — reducing the friction that keeps eligible families out.
Why National City Matters to Our Mission
Serving National City 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 56,173 residents, National City 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 (8 miles inland) a logistics problem we solve, not a barrier families carry alone.
Local National City Partners & Referral Sources
In partnership with National School District / Sweetwater Union High and local community organizations, we recruit youth from 4+ Title I schools.
School district & Title I partners
- National School District / Sweetwater Union High
- •Central Elementary (National City)
- •Kimball Elementary
- •Olivewood Elementary
- •Sweetwater High School
Community partners
- ◆National School District
- ◆National City Public Library
- ◆Kimball Park (City of National City)
- ◆Casa Familiar (nearby in San Ysidro)
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 National City 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 National City
Is there a licensed therapist at surf therapy sessions?+
Yes — a licensed mental health professional is on-site every session. This isn't a volunteer beach day marketed as therapy. Clinical staff work alongside trauma-informed surf coaches for National City cohorts.
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 National City participants start with limited pool experience.
Are family members included in surf therapy?+
Yes — family and caregiver support sessions are part of the program. National City parents and guardians receive bilingual updates and dedicated sessions — healing isn't isolated to the child on the board.
Are surf therapy in National City really free?+
Yes. All Un Mar de Colores programs in National City are 100% free — including 3/2mm wetsuits, soft-top surfboards, transportation from partner schools like Central Elementary (National City), Kimball Elementary, Olivewood Elementary, and certified bilingual instruction. Funding comes from the San Diego Foundation, community grants, and individual donors. No National City family has ever paid for our programming.
Where exactly do surf therapy happen in National City?+
National City is 8 miles inland from the coast, so our cohorts are shuttled to Imperial Beach (8 miles) — our nearest Un Mar teaching beach. Classroom components including curriculum, cultural arts, and tutoring happen at National School District and partner schools inside National City.
What ages can enroll in National City?+
We serve youth ages 6–17. In National City specifically, our recruitment runs through National School District / Sweetwater Union High — with priority enrollment for students from Central Elementary (National City), Kimball Elementary, Olivewood Elementary and 1 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 (8 miles), supervised by instructors certified by the San Diego Fire-Rescue Lifeguard Division. Water comfort is built progressively. In National City, we also run pre-cohort pool-familiarization sessions at inland pools via our National School District partnership for students who request extra comfort-building.
Are lessons taught in Spanish in National City?+
Yes. All Un Mar de Colores programs are bilingual — and in National City, where 61% 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 National City?+
Three ways: (1) everything is free, while most National City surf programs charge $50–$150 per lesson; (2) we are BIPOC-led and our coaches reflect the 91%-BIPOC National City 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 National City, not just those who can afford access.
How do I sign my National City child up?+
Visit our sign-up page or contact us directly. Priority enrollment goes to students of Central Elementary (National City), Kimball Elementary, Olivewood Elementary and referrals from National School District and National City Public Library. 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 National City families.
All Un Mar de Colores programs are free for National City 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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