Un Mar de Colores · Chula Vista, CA
Where Chula Vista Teens Get Free After-School & Beach Days
Parent and guardian engagement sessions keep Chula Vista families informed in English and Spanish.
Un Mar de Colores opera su programa estrella Ocean Stewards After-School para adolescentes de Chula Vista de 13 a 17 años, en asociación con Chula Vista Elementary School District / Sweetwater Union High. 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 Chula Vista proviene principalmente de Rosebank Elementary, Castle Park Elementary, Harborside Elementary. El transporte, las comidas, la tutoría y las clases de surf son completamente gratuitos.
Horario — programa en Chula Vista
Tuesday–Thursday, year-round · Completamente gratis
Quizás sientes esto
- —Your teen is curious about environmental justice but school curriculum skips why Chula Vista beaches close after storms.
- —Surf culture in Chula Vista still looks like a club with unwritten rules — your teen doesn't see themselves in the lineup.
- —Working families in Chula Vista need predictable Tue–Thu schedules, not another program that cancels without notice.
Lo que cambia cuando los jóvenes entran al agua
- Kumeyaay water and coastal perspectives integrated into science modules — not erased from environmental curriculum.
- Bilingual staff and parent communications in English and Spanish every week.
- Career exploration opens doors to marine science, coastal conservation, and environmental justice careers.
Por qué operamos este programa en Chula Vista
Chula Vista is California's 14th-largest city and home to one of the largest Latino populations in San Diego County — 58% Hispanic/Latino per the 2020 Census. We partner with Chula Vista Elementary School District (45,000+ students) and Sweetwater Union High to transport youth from Castle Park, Harborside, and Lauderbach Elementary to Imperial Beach and Coronado for free surf and ocean programming.
- Población
- 275,487
- Residentes BIPOC
- 81%
- Hogares hispanohablantes
- 58%
- Distancia a la playa
- 10 mi
After-School Program en Chula Vista — Lo que debes saber
College prep in Chula Vista 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.
With 58% Spanish-speaking households in Chula Vista, bilingual after-school instruction and parent updates are standard — not an accommodation requested at enrollment.
Por qué Chula Vista importa para nuestra misión
Chula Vista'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.
With 275,487 residents, Chula Vista 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 (10 miles inland) a logistics problem we solve, not a barrier families carry alone.
Socios comunitarios locales en Chula Vista
En asociación con el Chula Vista Elementary School District / Sweetwater Union High y organizaciones comunitarias locales, reclutamos jóvenes de 5+ escuelas Título I.
Distrito escolar y escuelas Título I
- Chula Vista Elementary School District / Sweetwater Union High
- •Rosebank Elementary
- •Castle Park Elementary
- •Harborside Elementary
- •Lauderbach Elementary
- •Chula Vista Middle
Socios comunitarios
- ◆Chula Vista Elementary School District
- ◆Sweetwater Union High School District
- ◆Chula Vista Public Library (Civic Center Branch)
- ◆South Bay Community Services
- ◆Casa Familiar
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 Chula Vista
- ✓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
Our impact is measured in youth served, school partnerships, and watershed stewardship hours — published annually in our impact reports at mar-de-colores.org.
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 Chula Vista
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.
Who can enroll from Chula Vista?+
BIPOC teens ages 13–17 with priority for Title I students and referrals from Chula Vista Elementary School District / Sweetwater Union High counselors and partner organizations. Contact us to confirm current cohort availability in Chula Vista.
Is there an annual retreat for Ocean Stewards?+
Yes — an annual leadership retreat connects Chula Vista teens with cohorts across San Diego. It's an opportunity to build county-wide community, deepen environmental leadership skills, and connect with alumni mentors.
¿Los programas de After-School Program en Chula Vista son realmente gratuitos?+
Sí. Todos los programas de Un Mar de Colores en Chula Vista son 100% gratuitos. Proporcionamos trajes de neopreno 3/2mm, tablas de surf, transporte desde escuelas asociadas como Rosebank Elementary, Castle Park Elementary, Harborside Elementary, e instrucción bilingüe certificada. El financiamiento proviene de la San Diego Foundation, subvenciones comunitarias y donantes individuales.
¿Dónde se realizan exactamente las lecciones en Chula Vista?+
Los jóvenes de Chula Vista 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 Chula Vista.
¿Qué edades son elegibles en Chula Vista?+
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 School District / Sweetwater Union High.
¿Cómo inscribo a mi hijo/a?+
Contáctenos a través de nuestra página de contacto. La inscripción prioritaria se otorga a estudiantes de Rosebank Elementary, Castle Park Elementary, Harborside Elementary y otras escuelas de Título I en Chula Vista Elementary School District / Sweetwater Union High. Los grupos de verano suelen llenarse con 3-4 semanas de anticipación.
¿Listo para entrar al agua?
Volunteer, donate, or enroll — however you join, you're helping Chula Vista youth access the coast.
Todos los programas de Un Mar de Colores son gratuitos para jóvenes de Chula Vista. 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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