Un Mar de Colores · Bonita, CA
Free Tutoring & Surf for Bonita Teens Ages 13–17
Certified tutors, bilingual staff, healthy snacks, and transportation — the full package free for Bonita teens.
Un Mar de Colores opera su programa estrella Ocean Stewards After-School para adolescentes de Bonita de 13 a 17 años, en asociación con Chula Vista Elementary / Sweetwater Union. Los estudiantes se reúnen tres tardes a la semana para tutoría, alfabetización ambiental y exploración de carreras, con un día de playa los jueves en nuestra playa más cercana (Imperial Beach (10 miles)). Nuestro grupo de Bonita proviene principalmente de Sunnyside Elementary, Bonita Vista Middle. El transporte, las comidas, la tutoría y las clases de surf son completamente gratuitos.
Horario — programa en Bonita
Tuesday–Thursday, year-round · Completamente gratis
Quizás sientes esto
- —School ends at 3pm and you're at work — unstructured hours in Bonita feel risky when options are thin.
- —Surf culture in Bonita still looks like a club with unwritten rules — your teen doesn't see themselves in the lineup.
- —After-school slots in Bonita fill fast and 'free' programs always seem to have equipment fees or deposits.
Lo que cambia cuando los jóvenes entran al agua
- Certified tutors support math, reading, and writing — homework help that actually improves grades in Chula Vista Elementary / Sweetwater Union.
- Trauma-informed culture welcomes teens navigating anxiety, grief, immigration stress, and family instability.
- Kumeyaay water and coastal perspectives integrated into science modules — not erased from environmental curriculum.
Por qué operamos este programa en Bonita
Bonita is a South Bay community adjacent to Chula Vista and National City, with a 58% Hispanic/Latino population. Our Bonita cohorts shuttle to Imperial Beach and Coronado, with classroom components at Bonita-Sunnyside Library. Students primarily come from Sunnyside Elementary and Bonita Vista Middle as part of our South Bay Title I partnership network.
- Población
- 12,795
- Residentes BIPOC
- 68%
- Hogares hispanohablantes
- 41%
- Distancia a la playa
- 10 mi
After-School Program en Bonita — Lo que debes saber
Free teen programs in San Diego combining academics and ocean access are rare. Un Mar funds Ocean Stewards through San Diego Foundation grants and community donors — operating since 2018 without charging Bonita families.
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.
Por qué Bonita importa para nuestra misión
Bonita's relationship to the Pacific is complicated by history and economics. Our curriculum weaves Kumeyaay coastal stewardship, environmental justice, and culturally grounded instruction into every session — not as an add-on, but as the foundation.
Cross-border watershed work matters to Bonita because Tijuana River pollution and coastal health don't stop at a border fence. Our education modules name that reality honestly.
Socios comunitarios locales en Bonita
En asociación con el Chula Vista Elementary / Sweetwater Union y organizaciones comunitarias locales, reclutamos jóvenes de 2+ escuelas Título I.
Distrito escolar y escuelas Título I
- Chula Vista Elementary / Sweetwater Union
- •Sunnyside Elementary
- •Bonita Vista Middle
Socios comunitarios
- ◆Bonita-Sunnyside Library
- ◆Sweetwater Union High School District
- ◆Chula Vista Elementary School District
Currículo del programa
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.
- →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 de Bonita
- ✓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
Federal EIN 85-2947340. Mailing: PO BOX 232471, Encinitas, CA 92024. We operate on the ancestral lands of the Kumeyaay Nation with respect and community accountability.
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."”
Preguntas frecuentes — After-School Program en Bonita
Are after-school programs in Bonita bilingual?+
Yes — all programming is bilingual. In Bonita, where 41% of households are Spanish-speaking, bilingual staff lead every session and parent communications arrive in both English and Spanish.
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 Bonita youth — not a single-semester program.
Does after-school include college preparation?+
Yes — Ocean Stewards includes college prep and counseling: application guidance, financial aid navigation, and career pathway exploration in marine science and coastal conservation. Bonita teens get support beyond homework help.
¿Los programas de After-School Program en Bonita son realmente gratuitos?+
Sí. Todos los programas de Un Mar de Colores en Bonita son 100% gratuitos. Proporcionamos trajes de neopreno 3/2mm, tablas de surf, transporte desde escuelas asociadas como Sunnyside Elementary, Bonita Vista Middle, e instrucción bilingüe certificada. El financiamiento proviene de la San Diego Foundation, subvenciones comunitarias y donantes individuales.
¿Dónde se realizan exactamente las lecciones en Bonita?+
Los jóvenes de Bonita viajan en nuestro transporte a Imperial Beach (10 miles), aproximadamente a 10 millas. Los componentes de aula ocurren en escuelas y bibliotecas asociadas dentro de Bonita.
¿Qué edades son elegibles en Bonita?+
Servimos a jóvenes de 13–17 años. Nuestra Beca One Ocean cubre las edades 6-12, Ocean Stewards After-School sirve a 13-17, y las Becas Atléticas de Surf están disponibles para jóvenes competitivos a través de nuestras asociaciones con Chula Vista Elementary / Sweetwater Union.
¿Cómo inscribo a mi hijo/a?+
Contáctenos a través de nuestra página de contacto. La inscripción prioritaria se otorga a estudiantes de Sunnyside Elementary, Bonita Vista Middle y otras escuelas de Título I en Chula Vista Elementary / Sweetwater Union. Los grupos de verano suelen llenarse con 3-4 semanas de anticipación.
¿Listo para entrar al agua?
Spots in our Bonita cohorts are limited to keep instructor ratios safe. Contact us to reserve a place.
Todos los programas de Un Mar de Colores son gratuitos para jóvenes de Bonita. Contáctanos para inscribirte, hacer voluntariado, o apoyar el movimiento.
Un Mar de Colores es una organización sin fines de lucro 501(c)(3) liderada por personas BIPOC, basada en Oceanside, California. Ofrecemos programación gratuita de surf, océano y educación ambiental para jóvenes en San Diego y Tijuana — conectando culturas, costas y comunidades desde 2018.
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