Un Mar de Colores · El Cajon, CA
Free Academic Support & Surf for El Cajon High Schoolers
Parent and guardian engagement sessions keep El Cajon families informed in English and Spanish.
Un Mar de Colores opera su programa estrella Ocean Stewards After-School para adolescentes de El Cajon de 13 a 17 años, en asociación con Cajon Valley Union School District / Grossmont 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 (OB Pier (14 miles)). Nuestro grupo de El Cajon proviene principalmente de Bostonia Elementary, Chase Avenue Elementary, Cajon Valley Middle. El transporte, las comidas, la tutoría y las clases de surf son completamente gratuitos.
Horario — programa en El Cajon
Tuesday–Thursday, year-round · Completamente gratis
Quizás sientes esto
- —You grew up being told the coast wasn't for people like you — that message still echoes in El Cajon teen households.
- —Scholarship and contest pathways feel reserved for kids whose parents already know the surf circuit. After-school should bridge that gap.
- —Your teen needs after-school support, but paid tutoring in El Cajon costs more per hour than you can sustain all year.
Lo que cambia cuando los jóvenes entran al agua
- Free means free: no deposits, no tutoring upsells, no 'scholarship' that still bills you.
- Certified tutors support math, reading, and writing — homework help that actually improves grades in Cajon Valley Union School District / Grossmont Union High.
- College preparation and counseling help El Cajon teens navigate applications, financial aid, and pathway decisions.
Por qué operamos este programa en El Cajon
El Cajon is home to one of the largest Middle Eastern/Chaldean communities in the United States and a 32% Hispanic/Latino population. Our El Cajon cohorts shuttle 14 miles to OB Pier, with cultural programming tailored to the city's unique demographic mix. Cajon Valley Union's Bostonia and Chase Avenue Elementary are our anchor partnerships.
- Población
- 106,215
- Residentes BIPOC
- 55%
- Hogares hispanohablantes
- 32%
- Distancia a la playa
- 14 mi
After-School Program en El Cajon — Lo que debes saber
After-school programs near OB Pier (14 miles) and Coronado Central (13 miles) for El Cajon teens run Tuesday through Thursday during the school year. Inland families rely on shuttles (14 miles inland) so weekly beach days aren't limited to coastal zip codes.
Environmental after-school in El Cajon should cover watershed-to-ocean science — especially Tijuana River cross-border pollution and why local beaches close after storms. Ocean Stewards curriculum integrates hydrology, policy, and coastal resilience.
Por qué El Cajon importa para nuestra misión
Serving El Cajon means meeting families where they are: San Diego schools, community centers, and partner orgs that already hold trust. We don't wait for families to find the beach — we bring youth to the water.
El Cajon families deserve instructors who look like their kids and speak their language. With 55% BIPOC residents, bilingual coaching isn't a nice-to-have — it's how we earn trust on day one.
Socios comunitarios locales en El Cajon
En asociación con el Cajon Valley Union School District / Grossmont Union High y organizaciones comunitarias locales, reclutamos jóvenes de 4+ escuelas Título I.
Distrito escolar y escuelas Título I
- Cajon Valley Union School District / Grossmont Union High
- •Bostonia Elementary
- •Chase Avenue Elementary
- •Cajon Valley Middle
- •El Cajon Valley High
Socios comunitarios
- ◆Cajon Valley Union School District
- ◆El Cajon Library
- ◆Chaldean American Chamber of Commerce
- ◆Grossmont College (student volunteers)
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 El Cajon
- ✓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
Un Mar is a member of the surf equity ecosystem across California — connected to Surf Justice Collective, Native Like Water, and cross-border watershed coalitions.
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 El Cajon
How much does after-school cost in El Cajon?+
Ocean Stewards in El Cajon is 100% free — tutoring, environmental science, Thursday surf sessions, healthy snacks, and transportation from partner schools. Commercial tutoring in San Diego County often costs $40–$80 per hour. We fund access through grants and donors so El Cajon families never pay.
Are after-school programs in El Cajon bilingual?+
Yes — all programming is bilingual. In El Cajon, where 32% of households are Spanish-speaking, bilingual staff lead every session and parent communications arrive in both English and Spanish.
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. El Cajon families stay informed, not sidelined.
¿Los programas de After-School Program en El Cajon son realmente gratuitos?+
Sí. Todos los programas de Un Mar de Colores en El Cajon son 100% gratuitos. Proporcionamos trajes de neopreno 3/2mm, tablas de surf, transporte desde escuelas asociadas como Bostonia Elementary, Chase Avenue Elementary, Cajon Valley 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 El Cajon?+
Los jóvenes de El Cajon viajan en nuestro transporte a OB Pier (14 miles), aproximadamente a 14 millas. Los componentes de aula ocurren en escuelas y bibliotecas asociadas dentro de El Cajon.
¿Qué edades son elegibles en El Cajon?+
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 Cajon Valley Union School District / Grossmont Union High.
¿Cómo inscribo a mi hijo/a?+
Contáctenos a través de nuestra página de contacto. La inscripción prioritaria se otorga a estudiantes de Bostonia Elementary, Chase Avenue Elementary, Cajon Valley Middle y otras escuelas de Título I en Cajon Valley Union School District / Grossmont Union High. Los grupos de verano suelen llenarse con 3-4 semanas de anticipación.
¿Listo para entrar al agua?
Free means free. No hidden fees, no gear costs, no transportation charges for El Cajon participants.
Todos los programas de Un Mar de Colores son gratuitos para jóvenes de El Cajon. 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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