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.
BIPOC after-school programs in Imperial Beach address a real gap: 73% of local residents are BIPOC, yet enrichment marketing still centers narrow demographics. Our staff and alumni mentors reflect the communities we serve.
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 Imperial Beach families.
Whether Imperial Beach is on the coast or on the coast inland, we treat transportation as part of the program — not an extra parents must figure out. That's how you build real access, not marketing copy.
Parents in Imperial Beach often ask how a nonprofit can offer everything free. Answer: San Diego Foundation grants, community donors, and partners who believe Imperial Beach youth belong in the lineup — same as any other kid in San Diego.
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."”
Yes — all programming is bilingual. In Imperial Beach, where 42% of households are Spanish-speaking, bilingual staff lead every session and parent communications arrive in both English and Spanish.
We host parent and guardian engagement sessions throughout the year — bilingual updates on curriculum, safety protocols, college prep timelines, and opportunities for family participation. Imperial Beach families stay informed, not sidelined.
BIPOC teens ages 13–17 with priority for Title I students and referrals from South Bay Union School District counselors and partner organizations. Contact us to confirm current cohort availability in Imperial Beach.
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.
Ready to get your child in the water? Contact Un Mar de Colores — priority enrollment for Imperial Beach Title I school students.
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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