Un Mar de Colores · National City, CA
Where National City Teens Get Free After-School & Beach Days
Shuttle from partner Title I schools removes the barrier for inland National City families (8 miles inland from the coast).
Un Mar de Colores opera su programa estrella Ocean Stewards After-School para adolescentes de National City de 13 a 17 años, en asociación con National 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 (8 miles)). Nuestro grupo de National City proviene principalmente de Central Elementary (National City), Kimball Elementary, Olivewood Elementary. El transporte, las comidas, la tutoría y las clases de surf son completamente gratuitos.
Horario — programa en National City
Tuesday–Thursday, year-round · Completamente gratis
Quizás sientes esto
- —You want your teen learning about Tijuana River pollution and coastal policy — not just recycling slogans.
- —Your teen is curious about environmental justice but school curriculum skips why National City beaches close after storms.
- —Mental health stress is real for National City teens — but therapy waitlists are long and surf-as-healing sounds inaccessible.
Lo que cambia cuando los jóvenes entran al agua
- Your teen joins a BIPOC-led movement rewriting who the San Diego coast is for — year-round, not summer-only.
- Round-trip transportation from partner Title I schools — inland teens aren't left behind (8 miles inland solved).
- Trauma-informed culture welcomes teens navigating anxiety, grief, immigration stress, and family instability.
Por qué operamos este programa en National City
National City is 63% Hispanic/Latino and among the most economically impacted cities in San Diego County. Our programs here are built around transportation — youth from Central, Kimball, and Olivewood Elementary travel to Imperial Beach and Coronado for water programming, with classroom components at National City Public Library and the MLK Community Center. National City is a priority Title I partnership for our Ocean Stewards recruitment.
- Población
- 56,173
- Residentes BIPOC
- 91%
- Hogares hispanohablantes
- 61%
- Distancia a la playa
- 8 mi
After-School Program en National City — Lo que debes saber
Pathways from after-school to surf therapy, ocean stewardship, and scholarships give National City teens a long-term arc — not a single-semester dead end.
Parents searching after-school programs near National City, CA often find paid tutoring centers first. Ocean Stewards is different: a 501(c)(3) BIPOC-led nonprofit prioritizing Title I referrals from National School District / Sweetwater Union High with bilingual staff, transportation, and coastal programming built in.
Por qué National City importa para nuestra misión
When we say free for National City youth, we mean wetsuits, soft-tops, rashguards, sunscreen, transportation, and instruction — the full stack commercial programs charge $50–$150 per session for.
National City'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.
Socios comunitarios locales en National City
En asociación con el National School District / Sweetwater Union High y organizaciones comunitarias locales, reclutamos jóvenes de 4+ escuelas Título I.
Distrito escolar y escuelas Título I
- National School District / Sweetwater Union High
- •Central Elementary (National City)
- •Kimball Elementary
- •Olivewood Elementary
- •Sweetwater High School
Socios comunitarios
- ◆National School District
- ◆National City Public Library
- ◆Kimball Park (City of National City)
- ◆Casa Familiar (nearby in San Ysidro)
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 National City
- ✓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 coaches include graduates of the Surf Athletic Scholarship program and bilingual educators who reflect the BIPOC communities we serve. We partner with 15+ Title I schools across North County and San Diego.
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 National City
What subjects get tutoring support?+
Certified tutors support math, reading, and writing — homework help aligned with National School District / Sweetwater Union High curriculum. Environmental literacy modules cover watershed science, marine ecology, coastal policy, and career exploration in marine science and conservation.
What days does after-school run in National City?+
Ocean Stewards runs Tuesday through Thursday during the school year, 3pm–6pm. Tuesday and Wednesday are at partner school sites. Thursday is a beach day at local breaks near Imperial Beach (8 miles) and Coronado Central (7 miles). We publish cohort calendars early for National City families.
Is transportation provided from National City?+
Round-trip shuttle transportation runs from partner Title I schools. If National City is inland (8 miles inland from the coast), weekly Thursday beach days are possible because we solve transport — not your family.
¿Los programas de After-School Program en National City son realmente gratuitos?+
Sí. Todos los programas de Un Mar de Colores en National City son 100% gratuitos. Proporcionamos trajes de neopreno 3/2mm, tablas de surf, transporte desde escuelas asociadas como Central Elementary (National City), Kimball Elementary, Olivewood 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 National City?+
Los jóvenes de National City viajan en nuestro transporte a Imperial Beach (8 miles), aproximadamente a 8 millas. Los componentes de aula ocurren en escuelas y bibliotecas asociadas dentro de National City.
¿Qué edades son elegibles en National City?+
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 National 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 Central Elementary (National City), Kimball Elementary, Olivewood Elementary y otras escuelas de Título I en National School District / Sweetwater Union High. Los grupos de verano suelen llenarse con 3-4 semanas de anticipación.
¿Listo para entrar al agua?
Join hundreds of National City families who trust Un Mar de Colores for free ocean programming. Enroll today.
Todos los programas de Un Mar de Colores son gratuitos para jóvenes de National City. 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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