Un Mar de Colores · San Marcos, CA
Licensed Mental Health & Surf — Free for San Marcos Youth
Somatic and movement-based therapy integrated with paddle, breath, and wave rhythm — body and ocean connected.
Un Mar de Colores offers free surf therapy sessions for San Marcos youth ages 6–17, combining licensed mental health support with trauma-informed surf coaching. San Marcos participants are shuttled 11 miles to our nearest teaching beaches, including Carlsbad Tamarack (11 miles) and Oceanside Pier (13 miles) (closest breaks to San Marcos). Referrals come through San Marcos Unified School District counselors and community partners including California State University San Marcos (student volunteers) and San Marcos Unified School District. Cohorts are capped at 8 youth for safety and therapeutic depth.
Schedule — San Marcos Program Days
Monthly cohorts, year-round · Completely free
You Might Be Feeling This
- —Your youth tried talk therapy and shut down — they need movement, nature, and peers who understand, not another office.
- —Your teen sees surfing as escape on social media but has no trauma-informed pathway in San Marcos.
- —Insurance covers some therapy but not ocean-based programs — the gap leaves San Marcos families without options.
What Changes When Youth Get in the Water
- Free wetsuits, soft-top boards, rashguards, and sunscreen — no gear barrier during hard seasons.
- Bilingual staff and parent communications in English and Spanish — 37% households served fully.
- Trauma-informed certified surf coaches pace for anxiety, grief, and first-time ocean exposure.
Why We Run This Program in San Marcos
San Marcos is the most diverse inland city in North County, with 37% Hispanic/Latino population and home to California State University San Marcos. Our cohorts travel from Alvin Dunn Elementary and San Marcos Middle to Carlsbad's Tamarack for water programming. CSUSM student volunteers support our program delivery, making this one of our strongest university-nonprofit partnerships.
- Population
- 96,664
- BIPOC residents
- 51%
- Spanish-speaking households
- 37%
- Distance to beach
- 11 mi
Surf Therapy in San Marcos — What You Should Know
Kumeyaay-led healing modules in surf therapy connect San Marcos youth to Indigenous coastal stewardship narratives — not erased by generic mindfulness language. Cultural grounding is clinical strategy, not decoration.
Somatic therapy through surf integrates paddle, breath, and wave rhythm — movement-based healing for youth who shut down in traditional talk therapy offices in San Marcos.
Why San Marcos Matters to Our Mission
San Marcos sits inside San Diego County's coastal equity gap — 51% 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.
The ocean off San Marcos belongs to everyone. Un Mar de Colores exists because North County has spent decades telling BIPOC youth otherwise — and we're changing that story one cohort at a time.
Local San Marcos Partners & Referral Sources
In partnership with San Marcos Unified School District and local community organizations, we recruit youth from 5+ Title I schools.
School district & Title I partners
- San Marcos Unified School District
- •Alvin Dunn Elementary
- •Paloma Elementary
- •San Marcos Elementary
- •San Marcos Middle School
- •San Marcos High School
Community partners
- ◆California State University San Marcos (student volunteers)
- ◆San Marcos Unified School District
- ◆Boys & Girls Club of San Marcos
- ◆San Marcos Library
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 San Marcos 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
Program safety is documented: lifeguard coordination, 4:1 ratios on youth water days, trauma-informed staff training, and parent communication protocols in English and Spanish.
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 San Marcos
What makes Kumeyaay-led modules part of surf therapy?+
Healing modules developed with Kumeyaay elders connect coastal stewardship, water relationships, and cultural recovery — culturally grounded practice for San Marcos Indigenous and Latino youth, not generic wellness language.
How many youth are in each surf therapy cohort?+
Cohorts cap at eight youth maximum. Small groups ensure therapeutic attention, peer trust, and trauma-informed pacing — especially important for anxious first-timers from San Marcos.
Is transportation provided from San Marcos?+
Transportation runs from partner schools and referral organizations. If San Marcos is inland (11 miles inland from the coast), we solve the commute — not your family.
Are surf therapy in San Marcos really free?+
Yes. All Un Mar de Colores programs in San Marcos are 100% free — including 3/2mm wetsuits, soft-top surfboards, transportation from partner schools like Alvin Dunn Elementary, Paloma Elementary, San Marcos Elementary, and certified bilingual instruction. Funding comes from the San Diego Foundation, community grants, and individual donors. No San Marcos family has ever paid for our programming.
Where exactly do surf therapy happen in San Marcos?+
San Marcos is 11 miles inland from the coast, so our cohorts are shuttled to Carlsbad Tamarack (11 miles) — our nearest Un Mar teaching beach. Classroom components including curriculum, cultural arts, and tutoring happen at California State University San Marcos (student volunteers) and partner schools inside San Marcos.
What ages can enroll in San Marcos?+
We serve youth ages 6–17. In San Marcos specifically, our recruitment runs through San Marcos Unified School District — with priority enrollment for students from Alvin Dunn Elementary, Paloma Elementary, San Marcos 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 Carlsbad Tamarack (11 miles), supervised by instructors certified by the San Diego Fire-Rescue Lifeguard Division. Water comfort is built progressively. In San Marcos, we also run pre-cohort pool-familiarization sessions at inland pools via our California State University San Marcos (student volunteers) partnership for students who request extra comfort-building.
Are lessons taught in Spanish in San Marcos?+
Yes. All Un Mar de Colores programs are bilingual — and in San Marcos, where 37% 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 San Marcos?+
Three ways: (1) everything is free, while most San Marcos surf programs charge $50–$150 per lesson; (2) we are BIPOC-led and our coaches reflect the 51%-BIPOC San Marcos 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 San Marcos, not just those who can afford access.
How do I sign my San Marcos child up?+
Visit our sign-up page or contact us directly. Priority enrollment goes to students of Alvin Dunn Elementary, Paloma Elementary, San Marcos Elementary and referrals from California State University San Marcos (student volunteers) and San Marcos Unified School District. Summer cohorts fill 3–4 weeks before start, so early contact is recommended.
Ready to Get in the Water?
Every San Marcos child deserves the ocean. Start with a single conversation — we'll handle the rest.
All Un Mar de Colores programs are free for San Marcos 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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