Un Mar de Colores · Santee, CA
BIPOC Teen After-School Program in Santee, CA
Tuesday and Wednesday: homework support, NGSS-aligned environmental literacy, and college prep at partner school sites.
Un Mar de Colores opera su programa estrella Ocean Stewards After-School para adolescentes de Santee de 13 a 17 años, en asociación con Santee 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 (17 miles)). Nuestro grupo de Santee proviene principalmente de Hill Creek Elementary, Cajon Park Elementary. El transporte, las comidas, la tutoría y las clases de surf son completamente gratuitos.
Horario — programa en Santee
Tuesday–Thursday, year-round · Completamente gratis
Quizás sientes esto
- —Your teen needs after-school support, but paid tutoring in Santee costs more per hour than you can sustain all year.
- —Bilingual support matters at home, but most Santee-area after-school programs default to English-only staff.
- —Your teen is curious about environmental justice but school curriculum skips why Santee beaches close after storms.
Lo que cambia cuando los jóvenes entran al agua
- Parent and guardian engagement sessions keep families informed and involved — not sidelined.
- NGSS-aligned environmental literacy modules connect classroom science to Santee's watershed and coastline realities.
- Every Thursday is a beach day — surf instruction at local breaks reinforcing the week's environmental curriculum.
Por qué operamos este programa en Santee
Santee is an East County city home to Santee School District (approximately 6,000 students). Our Santee cohort travels 17 miles to OB Pier for water programming, making Santee one of our more transportation-intensive partnerships. Hill Creek and Cajon Park Elementary are our Title I partnership schools.
- Población
- 58,895
- Residentes BIPOC
- 38%
- Hogares hispanohablantes
- 17%
- Distancia a la playa
- 17 mi
After-School Program en Santee — Lo que debes saber
Annual leadership retreat connects Ocean Stewards cohorts across San Diego County — Santee teens build networks beyond their neighborhood.
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 Santee families.
Por qué Santee importa para nuestra misión
Safe, lifeguard-coordinated instruction is non-negotiable for Santee youth. Every water session runs inside flagged zones with certified coaches — parents shouldn't have to choose between access and safety.
Parents in Santee often ask how a nonprofit can offer everything free. Answer: San Diego Foundation grants, community donors, and partners who believe Santee youth belong in the lineup — same as any other kid in San Diego.
Socios comunitarios locales en Santee
En asociación con el Santee School District / Grossmont Union High y organizaciones comunitarias locales, reclutamos jóvenes de 2+ escuelas Título I.
Distrito escolar y escuelas Título I
- Santee School District / Grossmont Union High
- •Hill Creek Elementary
- •Cajon Park Elementary
Socios comunitarios
- ◆Santee School District
- ◆Santee Library
- ◆Town Center Community Park
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 Santee
- ✓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 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.
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 Santee
Is there an annual retreat for Ocean Stewards?+
Yes — an annual leadership retreat connects Santee teens with cohorts across San Diego. It's an opportunity to build county-wide community, deepen environmental leadership skills, and connect with alumni mentors.
What days does after-school run in Santee?+
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 OB Pier (17 miles) and Coronado Central (16 miles). We publish cohort calendars early for Santee families.
Can my teen join if they don't surf yet?+
Absolutely — many Ocean Stewards teens start Thursday sessions with limited ocean experience. We build water comfort progressively in supervised zones with certified bilingual coaches. No swimming test required.
¿Los programas de After-School Program en Santee son realmente gratuitos?+
Sí. Todos los programas de Un Mar de Colores en Santee son 100% gratuitos. Proporcionamos trajes de neopreno 3/2mm, tablas de surf, transporte desde escuelas asociadas como Hill Creek Elementary, Cajon Park 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 Santee?+
Los jóvenes de Santee viajan en nuestro transporte a OB Pier (17 miles), aproximadamente a 17 millas. Los componentes de aula ocurren en escuelas y bibliotecas asociadas dentro de Santee.
¿Qué edades son elegibles en Santee?+
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 Santee 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 Hill Creek Elementary, Cajon Park Elementary y otras escuelas de Título I en Santee School District / Grossmont Union High. Los grupos de verano suelen llenarse con 3-4 semanas de anticipación.
¿Listo para entrar al agua?
Volunteer, donate, or enroll — however you join, you're helping Santee youth access the coast.
Todos los programas de Un Mar de Colores son gratuitos para jóvenes de Santee. 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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