Un Mar de Colores · Imperial Beach, CA
Career exploration in marine science, coastal conservation, and environmental justice — not generic job fairs.
Un Mar de Colores opera su programa estrella Ocean Stewards After-School para adolescentes de Imperial Beach de 13 a 17 años, en asociación con South Bay Union School District. 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 IB Pier. Nuestro grupo de Imperial Beach proviene principalmente de Imperial Beach Elementary, Oneonta Elementary, Mar Vista Middle School. El transporte, las comidas, la tutoría y las clases de surf son completamente gratuitos.
Tuesday–Thursday, year-round · Completamente gratis
Imperial Beach is the southernmost beach city in California and ground zero for our Tijuana River watershed work. Beach closures from transboundary sewage flows regularly impact water quality here, which is why our Imperial Beach cohorts combine surf instruction with direct environmental justice education — kids learn about the river and the coast as a single system. Mar Vista Middle and Imperial Beach Elementary are our flagship Title I partners.
With 42% Spanish-speaking households in Imperial Beach, bilingual after-school instruction and parent updates are standard — not an accommodation requested at enrollment.
Parents searching after-school programs near Imperial Beach, CA often find paid tutoring centers first. Ocean Stewards is different: a 501(c)(3) BIPOC-led nonprofit prioritizing Title I referrals from South Bay Union School District with bilingual staff, transportation, and coastal programming built in.
From Imperial Beach's Title I schools to the sand, our pipeline is built on real partnerships — not generic 'serving the area' language. Every cohort names the schools, beaches, and community orgs involved.
Imperial Beach'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.
Primary Imperial Beach teaching location — WHEN water quality is safe. Tijuana River sewage flows regularly close this beach.
Imperial Beach sits at the southern terminus of California and is the closest beach to the US-Mexico border. The Tijuana River mouth is 2 miles south.
En asociación con el South Bay Union School District y organizaciones comunitarias locales, reclutamos jóvenes de 3+ escuelas Título I.
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.
Un Mar de Colores is a BIPOC-led 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in Oceanside, California in 2018. Our instructors are certified by the San Diego Fire-Rescue Lifeguard Division and hold CPR + First Aid credentials.
“"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."”
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 Imperial Beach's communities.
Yes — Ocean Stewards includes college prep and counseling: application guidance, financial aid navigation, and career pathway exploration in marine science and coastal conservation. Imperial Beach teens get support beyond homework help.
Certified tutors support math, reading, and writing — homework help aligned with South Bay Union School District curriculum. Environmental literacy modules cover watershed science, marine ecology, coastal policy, and career exploration in marine science and conservation.
Sí. Todos los programas de Un Mar de Colores en Imperial Beach son 100% gratuitos. Proporcionamos trajes de neopreno 3/2mm, tablas de surf, transporte desde escuelas asociadas como Imperial Beach Elementary, Oneonta Elementary, Mar Vista Middle School, e instrucción bilingüe certificada. El financiamiento proviene de la San Diego Foundation, subvenciones comunitarias y donantes individuales.
Las lecciones principales se realizan en IB Pier. Todas las sesiones de agua ocurren dentro de las zonas salvavidas de la bandera.
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 South Bay Union School District.
Contáctenos a través de nuestra página de contacto. La inscripción prioritaria se otorga a estudiantes de Imperial Beach Elementary, Oneonta Elementary, Mar Vista Middle School y otras escuelas de Título I en South Bay Union School District. Los grupos de verano suelen llenarse con 3-4 semanas de anticipación.
Volunteer, donate, or enroll — however you join, you're helping Imperial Beach youth access the coast.
Todos los programas de Un Mar de Colores son gratuitos para jóvenes de Imperial Beach. 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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