Un Mar de Colores · San Diego County
Free After-School Tutoring Near The Strand, Tamarack, Moonlight Beach, La Jolla Shores, Mission Beach, and Imperial Beach for San Diego County Teens
Three afternoons a week — tutoring, environmental science, and Thursday beach days — zero cost for San Diego County families.
- Edades
- 13–17
- Horario
- Tuesday–Thursday, year-round
- Costo
- Free
The Ocean Stewards After-School Program is Un Mar de Colores's flagship year-round offering for BIPOC teens ages 13–17. Three afternoons a week, students meet at partner school sites for academic tutoring, environmental literacy modules aligned with the California NGSS standards, career exploration, and college preparation. Every Thursday is a beach day — students head to The Strand, Tamarack, or Moonlight for water programming that reinforces the week's environmental science curriculum. The program runs during the full school year, connecting academic outcomes with coastal stewardship and career pathways in marine science.
Este hub conecta a familias del condado de San Diego con programa después de la escuela en 27 ciudades. Cada enlace de ciudad abajo es una página completa con contexto local, playas, socios escolares y cómo inscribirse — no una puerta vacía.
Quizás sientes esto
- —After-school flyers promise 'STEM' but deliver worksheets. Your teen wants real environmental science tied to the coast.
- —Working families in San Diego County need predictable Tue–Thu schedules, not another program that cancels without notice.
- —School ends at 3pm and you're at work — unstructured hours in San Diego County feel risky when options are thin.
- —Bilingual support matters at home, but most San Diego County-area after-school programs default to English-only staff.
Lo que cambia cuando los jóvenes entran al agua
- Kumeyaay water and coastal perspectives integrated into science modules — not erased from environmental curriculum.
- College preparation and counseling help San Diego County teens navigate applications, financial aid, and pathway decisions.
- Annual leadership retreat connects San Diego County teens with cohorts across San Diego County — building county-wide community.
- Every Thursday is a beach day — surf instruction at local breaks reinforcing the week's environmental curriculum.
Programa Después de la Escuela en el Condado de San Diego — lo que las familias deben saber
Representation in mentorship changes retention. When San Diego County teens see staff who share their language and background, engagement rises — they're not guests in someone else's program.
How much does after-school tutoring cost in California? Commercial centers often charge $40–$80 per hour. Un Mar de Colores charges $0 for tutoring, environmental science, Thursday surf, meals, and transport for San Diego County teens.
Sign-up friction keeps eligible San Diego County teens out. We prioritize counselor referrals from partner Title I school districts across San Diego County and partner org introductions — contact us to route your teen to the right cohort.
With about one-third Spanish-speaking households in San Diego County, bilingual after-school instruction and parent updates are standard — not an accommodation requested at enrollment.
Por qué el Condado de San Diego es nuestra área de servicio
Environmental justice in San Diego County isn't abstract: watershed health, beach closures, and plastic pollution affect the same communities we serve. Our programs connect surf skills to stewardship of San Diego County's coastline.
San Diego County sits inside San Diego County's coastal equity gap — over 55% 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.
Currículo del programa y cómo funciona
- →Academic tutoring (math, reading, writing)
- →Environmental literacy and watershed science
- →Surf instruction (Thursday ocean sessions)
- →Career exploration in marine science and coastal conservation
- →College preparation and counseling
- →Mentorship pairings with Un Mar staff and alumni
Qué se incluye — gratis para cada joven
- ✓Three afternoons per week (3pm–6pm)
- ✓Weekly Thursday ocean session (beach day)
- ✓Healthy snacks and meals
- ✓Homework support with certified tutors
- ✓Round-trip transportation from partner schools
- ✓Parent/guardian engagement sessions
- ✓Annual leadership retreat
Por qué Un Mar de Colores (E-E-A-T)
Since 2018, Un Mar de Colores has served thousands of youth across San Diego County and the Cali-Baja region — with funding from the San Diego Foundation, community grants, and individual donors keeping every program 100% free.
Lo que dice nuestra comunidad
“"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."”
Ciudades que servimos — elige tu comunidad
Un Mar de Colores opera programa después de la escuela en 27 ciudades del condado de San Diego. Cada página de ciudad cubre playas locales, socios escolares y cómo inscribirse.
- OceansideCiudad costera
- CarlsbadCiudad costera
- EncinitasCiudad costera
- Cardiff by the SeaCiudad costera
- Solana BeachCiudad costera
- Del MarCiudad costera
- La JollaCiudad costera
- Pacific BeachCiudad costera
- Mission BeachCiudad costera
- Ocean BeachCiudad costera
- Point LomaCiudad costera
- Sunset CliffsCiudad costera
- CoronadoCiudad costera
- Imperial BeachCiudad costera
- Chula Vista10 mi a la playa
- National City8 mi a la playa
- Vista7 mi a la playa
- San Marcos11 mi a la playa
- Escondido17 mi a la playa
- San DiegoCiudad costera
- Poway14 mi a la playa
- Fallbrook22 mi a la playa
- Bonita10 mi a la playa
- Lemon Grove10 mi a la playa
- El Cajon14 mi a la playa
- Santee17 mi a la playa
- Spring Valley12 mi a la playa
Preguntas frecuentes — Programa Después de la Escuela
Who can enroll from San Diego County?+
BIPOC teens ages 13–17 with priority for Title I students and referrals from partner Title I school districts across San Diego County counselors and partner organizations. Contact us to confirm current cohort availability in San Diego County.
Is transportation provided from San Diego County?+
Round-trip shuttle transportation runs from partner Title I schools. If San Diego County is inland (across coastal and inland communities from the coast), weekly Thursday beach days are possible because we solve transport — not your family.
What pathways open after Ocean Stewards?+
Teens connect to surf therapy, ocean stewardship cleanups, year-round surf lessons, and the Surf Athletic Scholarship program. After-school is a long-term arc for San Diego County youth — not a single-semester program.
Can my teen join if they don't surf yet?+
Absolutely — many Ocean Stewards teens start Thursday sessions with limited ocean experience. We build water comfort progressively in supervised zones with certified bilingual coaches. No swimming test required.
Are after-school programs in San Diego County bilingual?+
Yes — all programming is bilingual. In San Diego County, where about one-third of households are Spanish-speaking, bilingual staff lead every session and parent communications arrive in both English and Spanish.
¿Listo para que tu hijo entre al agua?
Free means free. No hidden fees, no gear costs, no transportation charges for San Diego County participants.
Todos los programas de Un Mar de Colores son gratuitos para jóvenes BIPOC en el condado de San Diego. Contáctanos para inscribirte, hacer voluntariado o apoyar el movimiento.
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