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 slots in San Diego County fill fast and 'free' programs always seem to have equipment fees or deposits.
- —College prep in San Diego County feels like it's reserved for families who already know the application pipeline.
- —Career counselors mention marine science, but no program connects San Diego County teens to actual coastal professionals.
- —Environmental clubs at school are underfunded — your teen wants hands-on watershed science, not a poster contest.
Lo que cambia cuando los jóvenes entran al agua
- Annual leadership retreat connects San Diego County teens with cohorts across San Diego County — building county-wide community.
- Bilingual staff and parent communications in English and Spanish every week.
- Citizen science and cleanup participation connect academics to real advocacy — teens become stewards, not consumers.
- Alumni coaches and scholarship recipients mentor Thursday surf sessions — representation changes belonging.
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.
Parents ask if Thursday beach days require swimming ability. We build water comfort progressively in supervised zones — many Ocean Stewards teens start with limited ocean experience and gain confidence within weeks.
Pathways from after-school to surf therapy, ocean stewardship, and scholarships give San Diego County teens a long-term arc — not a single-semester dead end.
College prep in San Diego County through after-school should include career exposure to marine science and coastal jobs — not generic resume workshops. Ocean Stewards connects teens to professionals and alumni pathways.
Por qué el Condado de San Diego es nuestra área de servicio
When we say free for San Diego County youth, we mean wetsuits, soft-tops, rashguards, sunscreen, transportation, and instruction — the full stack commercial programs charge $50–$150 per session for.
San Diego County's Spanish-speaking households (about one-third) get parent communications in both languages, every time. Coastal access fails when language is treated as an afterthought.
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
How is Un Mar after-school different from other programs in San Diego County?+
Commercial after-school optimizes for fees or shallow enrichment. Un Mar is a BIPOC-led nonprofit: free tutoring, NGSS environmental science, weekly surf, Title I partnerships, Kumeyaay curriculum integration, and mentors who reflect San Diego County's communities.
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.
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.
How do parent engagement sessions work?+
We host parent and guardian engagement sessions throughout the year — bilingual updates on curriculum, safety protocols, college prep timelines, and opportunities for family participation. San Diego County families stay informed, not sidelined.
What subjects get tutoring support?+
Certified tutors support math, reading, and writing — homework help aligned with partner Title I school districts across San Diego County curriculum. Environmental literacy modules cover watershed science, marine ecology, coastal policy, and career exploration in marine science and conservation.
¿Listo para que tu hijo entre al agua?
Ready to get your child in the water? Contact Un Mar de Colores — priority enrollment for San Diego County Title I school students.
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.
Web platform architecture and development by Codinito.