Un Mar De Colores

Un Mar De Colores We celebrate diversity and inspire inclusivity by providing free surf therapy for marginalized youth.

A lot of the time, when we explain our programming, people say, “SURF THERAPY?!” How is surfing therapy? At the base of ...
05/05/2026

A lot of the time, when we explain our programming, people say, “SURF THERAPY?!” How is surfing therapy? At the base of this question comes the lie we’ve been told by the systems we exist in. That our relationship to our environment and mental health isn’t related. That it does nothing to the body to drill pipes and extract and consume endlessly. That it does nothing to the mind to be forcibly removed or passive agressivly exluded from oceans, rivers, forests, mountains, meadows, and gardens. That our relationship to nature isn’t integral to what makes us human.

Our flagship mental health program Mar y Mente is exploring what happens to identity and well-being when these relationships are restored and re-storied. Rooted in healing-centered care, the program helps young people restore connection to themselves, their communities, and the natural world. Within Un Mar programming, this work takes place through ecotherapy, storytelling, emotional support, reflection, and trusted mentoring relationships with staff.

Follow along with us this month as we dive deeper into our work, our belonging, and the beauty of our shared stories.

We showed up to celebrate an incredible graduation for our youth…and left with an honor of our own 🥲Right in the middle ...
05/04/2026

We showed up to celebrate an incredible graduation for our youth…and left with an honor of our own 🥲

Right in the middle of it all, our team found out that May 2nd is officially declared “Un Mar de Colores Day” in San Diego County. This proclamation from the County of San Diego Board of Supervisors, led by Chair Terra Lawson-Remer and Chair Pro Tem Paloma Aguirre, recognizes the impact our Un Mar community has built and the role it plays across our region.

We’re beyond grateful for the County supervisors recognition, our youth, our families, volunteers, our team, and every single person who has helped shape us into what it is.

And if receiving a County proclamation in board shorts isn’t the most Un Mar–coded thing ever… I don’t know what is. 🌊

Mark your calendars folks! May 2nd will forever be a day of COLORES.

Y ahora, celebramos 🌞🌊🎊

We’re proudly ending a month of neighborhood environmentalism with some beautiful words from one of our FAVORITE HUMANS,...
05/01/2026

We’re proudly ending a month of neighborhood environmentalism with some beautiful words from one of our FAVORITE HUMANS, and an absolute waterman through and through . If its in the water, Fer probably does it, and does it with style, joy, and an abundance of love. We feel like his words capture the heart of our mission out Un Mar, and our desire to see our communities connecting, protecting, and playing in the coastlines they call home. 

“The identities and history that I carry helped create a sense of respect and stewardship for the ocean. Learning about my ancestors’ relationship to the ocean taught me that I am also a part of her, so I’ve adopted practices like giving offerings of gratitude and passing forward knowledge on how to safely enjoy the water in its many forms. There are also moments when I feel like my identity is constantly changing, but practicing fluidity and remembering that I am always holding space for change is something I’m learning from the ocean.” — Fer

CAN YOU BELIEVE IT?! We’re almost halfway through the year but May means…OUR SUMMER SURF PROGRAMING IS BACK! For everyon...
05/01/2026

CAN YOU BELIEVE IT?! We’re almost halfway through the year but May means…OUR SUMMER SURF PROGRAMING IS BACK!

For everyone who has been asking for weekend volunteer options…this one’s for you! We’ve got a summer full of surf fiestas which blend surf therapy, environmental education, and mentorship into one joy filled community centered day.

Don’t surf?! Don’t worry we need hands on the beach to make these days fun and safe for our families. Visit the link in our bio for more information and to sign up!

Meet , the artist behind our month of Neighborhood Environmentalism! When we first brainstormed what to focus on for thi...
04/29/2026

Meet , the artist behind our month of Neighborhood Environmentalism! When we first brainstormed what to focus on for this Earth Month, the first idea that popped up was creating a map of a map. To us, maps inspire curiosity, a feeling of closeness + accessibility, adventure, and grassrootsness. We wanted this series to be fun and playful and scrappy…just like us!! Serendipitously, one morning while crafting the art direction, we met a new coworker at our office space, Dear Tomorrow. A quick conversation and look at Pearl’s work, and we knew that we were on the right path. At Un Mar, we always partner with artists we admire because we know the way the arts, environmentalism, and activism are intertwined. All of them speak to the ways we pay attention and show up to the world. They transform the way we listen and what we say. They rewrite and retell the stories that shape us. And maybe most importantly, they bring us all together, into a neighborhood full of curiosity and compassion.

04/28/2026

Our Oceanside Stewards have been assisting with Oceanside’s Dune Restoration project this past semester. For the last few months they’ve been helping restore, plant, and rebuild dunes and native plants to help midget coastal erosion that endangers the very beaches we surf at every week. It’s this kind of reciprocal care for the places that give so much to us that roots us in being stewards in our own neighborhoods!

HAPPY EARTH DAY! What a gift it is to live in the diverse and beautiful planet that we call home! Go hug a tree today. G...
04/22/2026

HAPPY EARTH DAY! What a gift it is to live in the diverse and beautiful planet that we call home! Go hug a tree today. Go hug your friend. Sign up to volunteer in your local regenerative food system. Lay in the grass and notice the way it holds you up. Share a wave with a friend, fish or human. Donate to an habitat restoration project. Say good morning to your neighbors. Don’t just exist in your environment. Love it—it’s the one precious wild one we’ve got!

Summer is just around the corner and you know what that means…?! SURF FIESTAS ARE BACK! Our summer surf fiestas are the ...
04/21/2026

Summer is just around the corner and you know what that means…?! SURF FIESTAS ARE BACK! Our summer surf fiestas are the backbone of our One Ocean programing, blending water safety, surfing, environmental education, and mental health into one joy packed day!

Looking to be apart of these amazing days. We’re always looking for volunteers to support in the water and on the beach, no surf experience necessary! Sign up at the link in our bio to join us this summer!

Summer is just around the corner and it’s time to build those summer reading lists. We asked some of our staff and frien...
04/17/2026

Summer is just around the corner and it’s time to build those summer reading lists. We asked some of our staff and friends their favorite books that inspire them to be neighborhood environmentalist and came up with this short list as a good intro the theories and impact of local, joyful, intersectional environmental work!

What are we missing?! Drop your book recs below!

Reading List
Braiding Sweet Grass: Robin Wall Kimmerer
Colors of Nature: Edited By Alison H. Deming + Lauren E. Savoy
The Intersectional Environmentalist: Leah Thomas
Ghost Fishing: Edited By Melissa Tuckey
Upstream: Mary Oliver
The Trouble With Wilderness: William Cronon
The One Straw Revolution: Masanobu Fukuoka
What If We Get It Right?: Ayana Elizabeth Johnson

APPLICATIONS FOR OUR FLAGSHIP PROGRAM ARE NOW OPEN!!One Ocean is a year-long interdisciplinary learning journey that int...
04/16/2026

APPLICATIONS FOR OUR FLAGSHIP PROGRAM ARE NOW OPEN!!

One Ocean is a year-long interdisciplinary learning journey that integrates surfing, ocean safety, environmental science, Indigenous knowledge, and trauma-informed eco-wellness into a coherent curriculum rooted in place and community. We have 20 scholarships open and are inviting students ages 6-12 from Imperial Beach to Oceanside, who come from Immigrant, Low-Income, Tribes, Communities of Color, or other historically underserved communities to apply.

Click the link in our bio to learn more + apply!

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Encinitas, CA
92007

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