After-School Program program in Oceanside, CA with Un Mar de Colores youth coaches

Un Mar de Colores · Oceanside, CA

Ocean Stewards After-School in Oceanside

Tutoring, environmental literacy, career exploration, and surfing — three days a week, all year round. Free for Oceanside teens.

Un Mar de Colores opera su programa estrella Ocean Stewards After-School para adolescentes de Oceanside de 13 a 17 años, en asociación con Oceanside Unified 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 The Strand, Wisconsin Street Beach. Nuestro grupo de Oceanside proviene principalmente de South Oceanside Elementary, Cesar Chavez Middle School, Ditmar Elementary. El transporte, las comidas, la tutoría y las clases de surf son completamente gratuitos.

Ocean Stewards after-school program Oceanside

Free. Year-round. For Oceanside teens.

Why This Program Exists

The Ocean Stewards After-School Program is Un Mar de Colores’s free expanded learning program for Oceanside teens. It runs Tuesday through Thursday and combines tutoring, environmental literacy, career exploration, and surf instruction — with all equipment provided at no cost.

Ver programas juveniles →

Horario — programa en Oceanside

Tuesday–Thursday, year-round · Completamente gratis

Tuesday–Thursday, year-round during the school year. Thursday is the Oceanside ocean / beach session day. Contact us for current partner sites and open seats — the program is completely free.

Quizás sientes esto

—You want your teen learning about Tijuana River pollution and coastal policy — not just recycling slogans.
—Your student is bright but falling behind in math — and nobody connects academic help to something they actually care about.
—Your teen sees surfing on social media but has no pathway that doesn't require money, connections, or a car to The Strand, Wisconsin Street Beach.

Lo que cambia cuando los jóvenes entran al agua

Round-trip transportation from partner Title I schools — inland teens aren't left behind (on the coast solved).
Small cohort sizes keep mentorship personal — not 50 teens in a gym with one supervisor.
Kumeyaay water and coastal perspectives integrated into science modules — not erased from environmental curriculum.

Por qué operamos este programa en Oceanside

Oceanside is Un Mar de Colores's home city — where free surf lessons, summer surf camp, and Ocean Stewards after-school were built for BIPOC youth, not as a commercial surf school. With 3.5 miles of coastline, the 1,942-foot Oceanside Pier, and 53,000+ students in Oceanside Unified, it is the epicenter of our work. The Strand, Wisconsin Street, and South Oceanside Beach host nearly all of our year-round programming, and most of our staff and youth come from the MLK Community Center and Boys & Girls Club of Oceanside.

Población: 174,068
Residentes BIPOC: 61%
Hogares hispanohablantes: 36%
Distancia a la playa: En la costa

After-School Program en Oceanside — Lo que debes saber

For many Oceanside teens, the after-school hours are the hardest. Ocean Stewards fills that time with something real: academic support, environmental education, and a direct connection to the ocean. Thursday beach days at The Strand tie classroom watershed learning to the water youth already live next to.

On our Youth Programs page this sits in The Reef — where identity meets stewardship. Place-based programming across Oceanside Unified, woven with Indigenous perspectives on the land and waters we share. Surfing is the entry point, not the endpoint.

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 Oceanside families.

Por qué Oceanside importa para nuestra misión

Oceanside'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.

When we say free for Oceanside youth, we mean wetsuits, soft-tops, rashguards, sunscreen, transportation, and instruction — the full stack commercial programs charge $50–$150 per session for.

Dónde surfeamos en Oceanside

Thursday ocean sessions for Ocean Stewards typically use The Strand — close to Oceanside Unified routes and beginner-friendly for teens new to the water — linking classroom watershed lessons to the harbor, pier, and Strand ecosystem.

The Strand

Principiante

Un Mar's primary Oceanside teaching beach — south of the pier. Sand-bottom beginner reform, year-round lifeguards, and direct access from Oceanside Unified make The Strand where most free surf lessons and Thursday Ocean Stewards sessions start.

South of Oceanside Pier, The Strand has been a teaching beach for San Diego County surf programs for decades. The Oceanside Fire-Rescue Lifeguard Division covers this stretch year-round. Summer swells here are often knee-to-waist high — ideal for first paddles without resorting to steeper North County point breaks.

Fondo: SandOleaje: 1–3 ft typicalSalvavidas: Todo el año

Wisconsin Street Beach

Principiante

Secondary Oceanside teaching beach between the pier and harbor jetty — used for Wednesday cohorts and intermediate progression after youth build confidence at The Strand.

Wisconsin Street sits between Oceanside Pier and the harbor breakwater. Slightly more exposed than The Strand, it is still a sand-bottom city beach with lifeguard coverage — our step-up spot before youth see heavier North County water.

Fondo: SandOleaje: 1–4 ft typicalSalvavidas: Estacional

Ocean Stewards in action

Socios comunitarios locales en Oceanside

En asociación con el Oceanside Unified School District y organizaciones comunitarias locales, reclutamos jóvenes de 7+ escuelas Título I.

Distrito escolar y escuelas Título I

Oceanside Unified School District
•South Oceanside Elementary
•Cesar Chavez Middle School
•Ditmar Elementary
•Laurel Elementary
•Lincoln Middle School
•Mission Elementary
•Palmquist Elementary

Socios comunitarios

◆Oceanside Boys & Girls Club (Carmelo Drive)
◆MLK Community Center (Division Street)
◆Oceanside Public Library
◆City of Oceanside Parks & Recreation
◆North County Lifeline
◆MiraCosta College Outreach

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 Oceanside

✓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
✓Three afternoons a week + Thursday beach day
✓Wetsuits, boards, instruction, and transport support
✓Tutoring + environmental literacy for Oceanside teens

Cómo inscribirse (gratis)

1Apply through Contact Us — it’s free.
2Share school, grade/age, and whether you need Spanish-language family communication.
3We confirm afternoon site, Thursday beach logistics, and transport if available.
4Space is limited — reach out early for the school-year cycle.

Quién lidera este trabajo

Liderazgo comunitario real — no instructores de una escuela comercial.

Mario Ordoñez-Calderón

Co-Founder & Executive Director

Leads Un Mar’s Oceanside-rooted work — free ocean access for BIPOC youth and familias across San Diego County and beyond borders.

Katia Gibson

Youth Programs Coordinator

Coordinates Oceanside youth cohorts, school partnerships, and family enrollment for Strand and Wisconsin Street sessions.

Chuy Reyna

Board · Lifelong Oceanside Surfer

Former pro surfer and Oceanside local — helping keep programming grounded in North County community and ocean culture.

Conoce al equipo completo

Por qué Un Mar de Colores

Ocean Stewards after-school is Un Mar’s flagship year-round youth pathway in our Oceanside home city — BIPOC-led, free, and part of the same Youth Programs cycle from Shore to Reef to Horizon.

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."”
— Middle school student— Parent, One Ocean

Preguntas frecuentes — After-School Program en Oceanside

What is the Ocean Stewards After-School Program in Oceanside?+

A free expanded learning program for Oceanside teens ages 13–17. It runs Tuesday through Thursday and combines tutoring, environmental literacy, career exploration, and surf instruction. All equipment is provided at no cost.

Is the Oceanside after-school program free?+

Yes. Ocean Stewards is completely free for participants. We provide wetsuits, surfboards, instruction, and transportation support at no cost. The program is funded through grants and community partnerships.

Do after-school students surf every day?+

No. Tuesday and Wednesday focus on tutoring and environmental literacy; Thursday is the dedicated Oceanside ocean / beach session.

Who can apply?+

Oceanside teens ages 13–17. We work with Oceanside Unified schools and community partners. Space is limited — contact us to apply.

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. Oceanside families stay informed, not sidelined.

How much does after-school cost in Oceanside?+

Ocean Stewards in Oceanside 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 Oceanside families never pay.

¿Los programas de After-School Program en Oceanside son realmente gratuitos?+

Sí. Todos los programas de Un Mar de Colores en Oceanside son 100% gratuitos. Proporcionamos trajes de neopreno 3/2mm, tablas de surf, transporte desde escuelas asociadas como South Oceanside Elementary, Cesar Chavez Middle School, Ditmar 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 Oceanside?+

Las lecciones principales se realizan en The Strand. También usamos Wisconsin Street Beach según el nivel del grupo. Todas las sesiones de agua ocurren dentro de las zonas salvavidas de la bandera.

¿Qué edades son elegibles en Oceanside?+

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 Oceanside Unified School District.

¿Cómo inscribo a mi hijo/a?+

Contáctenos a través de nuestra página de contacto. La inscripción prioritaria se otorga a estudiantes de South Oceanside Elementary, Cesar Chavez Middle School, Ditmar Elementary y otras escuelas de Título I en Oceanside Unified School District. Los grupos de verano suelen llenarse con 3-4 semanas de anticipación.

¿Listo para entrar al agua?

Join hundreds of Oceanside 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 Oceanside. Contáctanos para inscribirte, hacer voluntariado, o apoyar el movimiento.

Inscríbete / Contáctanos Donar

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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