Un Mar de Colores · Santee, CA
Trauma-Informed Surf Therapy Near OB Pier (17 miles) and Coronado Central (16 miles) for Santee
Monthly cohorts year-round — healing isn't limited to summer when Santee youth need support most.
Un Mar de Colores offers free surf therapy sessions for Santee youth ages 6–17, combining licensed mental health support with trauma-informed surf coaching. Santee participants are shuttled 17 miles to our nearest teaching beaches, including OB Pier (17 miles) and Coronado Central (16 miles) (closest breaks to Santee). Referrals come through Santee School District / Grossmont Union High counselors and community partners including Santee School District and Santee Library. Cohorts are capped at 8 youth for safety and therapeutic depth.
Schedule — Santee Program Days
Monthly cohorts, year-round · Completely free
You Might Be Feeling This
- —Kumeyaay and Indigenous healing practices matter to you, but commercial wellness programs erase coastal cultural roots.
- —You worry the ocean isn't safe for a child already anxious — nobody explained trauma-informed pacing on the water.
- —School counselors mention programs, but 'free' mental health surf always seems to have hidden fees or eligibility walls.
What Changes When Youth Get in the Water
- Monthly cohorts year-round — support isn't summer-only when Santee youth need it in November too.
- Bilingual staff and parent communications in English and Spanish — 17% households served fully.
- Coach continuity and cohort consistency build mentor relationships that outlast single sessions.
Why We Run This Program in Santee
Santee is an East County city home to Santee School District (approximately 6,000 students). Our Santee cohort travels 17 miles to OB Pier for water programming, making Santee one of our more transportation-intensive partnerships. Hill Creek and Cajon Park Elementary are our Title I partnership schools.
- Population
- 58,895
- BIPOC residents
- 38%
- Spanish-speaking households
- 17%
- Distance to beach
- 17 mi
Surf Therapy in Santee — What You Should Know
BIPOC surf therapy in Santee addresses layered barriers: 38% of local residents are BIPOC, yet mental health and coastal access gaps compound. Our staff and alumni reflect the communities we serve — representation changes whether a child believes healing on the water is for them.
Looking for free mental health surf programs for kids in Santee? Every cohort includes licensed MH professionals, trauma-informed coaches, wetsuits, boards, transportation, and family caregiver sessions — commercial ocean therapy often charges $150–$300 per session.
Why Santee Matters to Our Mission
With 58,895 residents, Santee 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 (17 miles inland) a logistics problem we solve, not a barrier families carry alone.
From Santee's Title I schools to the sand, our pipeline is built on real partnerships — not generic 'serving the area' language. Every cohort names the schools, beaches, and community orgs involved.
Local Santee Partners & Referral Sources
In partnership with Santee School District / Grossmont Union High and local community organizations, we recruit youth from 2+ Title I schools.
School district & Title I partners
- Santee School District / Grossmont Union High
- •Hill Creek Elementary
- •Cajon Park Elementary
Community partners
- ◆Santee School District
- ◆Santee Library
- ◆Town Center Community Park
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 Santee 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
Our impact is measured in youth served, school partnerships, and watershed stewardship hours — published annually in our impact reports at mar-de-colores.org.
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 Santee
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 Santee.
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 Santee participants start with limited pool experience.
Where do Santee surf therapy sessions happen?+
Sessions occur at lifeguard-covered beaches chosen for beginner safety — sandy bottoms and manageable conditions near OB Pier (17 miles) and Coronado Central (16 miles). Sites vary by cohort and daily conditions.
Are surf therapy in Santee really free?+
Yes. All Un Mar de Colores programs in Santee are 100% free — including 3/2mm wetsuits, soft-top surfboards, transportation from partner schools like Hill Creek Elementary, Cajon Park Elementary, and certified bilingual instruction. Funding comes from the San Diego Foundation, community grants, and individual donors. No Santee family has ever paid for our programming.
Where exactly do surf therapy happen in Santee?+
Santee is 17 miles inland from the coast, so our cohorts are shuttled to OB Pier (17 miles) — our nearest Un Mar teaching beach. Classroom components including curriculum, cultural arts, and tutoring happen at Santee School District and partner schools inside Santee.
What ages can enroll in Santee?+
We serve youth ages 6–17. In Santee specifically, our recruitment runs through Santee School District / Grossmont Union High — with priority enrollment for students from Hill Creek Elementary, Cajon Park 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 (17 miles), supervised by instructors certified by the San Diego Fire-Rescue Lifeguard Division. Water comfort is built progressively. In Santee, we also run pre-cohort pool-familiarization sessions at inland pools via our Santee School District partnership for students who request extra comfort-building.
Are lessons taught in Spanish in Santee?+
Yes. All Un Mar de Colores programs are bilingual — and in Santee, where 17% 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 Santee?+
Three ways: (1) everything is free, while most Santee surf programs charge $50–$150 per lesson; (2) we are BIPOC-led and our coaches reflect the 38%-BIPOC Santee 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 Santee, not just those who can afford access.
How do I sign my Santee child up?+
Visit our sign-up page or contact us directly. Priority enrollment goes to students of Hill Creek Elementary, Cajon Park Elementary and referrals from Santee School District and Santee Library. Summer cohorts fill 3–4 weeks before start, so early contact is recommended.
Ready to Get in the Water?
Free means free. No hidden fees, no gear costs, no transportation charges for Santee participants.
All Un Mar de Colores programs are free for Santee 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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