Un Mar de Colores · Vista, CA
Environmental Literacy Meets Surf — Free for Vista
Pathways to surf therapy, ocean stewardship, and scholarships — after-school is the long arc, not a semester fad.
Un Mar de Colores opera su programa estrella Ocean Stewards After-School para adolescentes de Vista de 13 a 17 años, en asociación con Vista 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 nuestra playa más cercana (Oceanside Pier (7 miles)). Nuestro grupo de Vista proviene principalmente de Alamosa Park Elementary, Breeze Hill Elementary, Monte Vista Elementary. El transporte, las comidas, la tutoría y las clases de surf son completamente gratuitos.
Horario — programa en Vista
Tuesday–Thursday, year-round · Completamente gratis
Quizás sientes esto
- —After-school flyers promise 'STEM' but deliver worksheets. Your teen wants real environmental science tied to the coast.
- —Mental health stress is real for Vista teens — but therapy waitlists are long and surf-as-healing sounds inaccessible.
- —School ends at 3pm and you're at work — unstructured hours in Vista feel risky when options are thin.
Lo que cambia cuando los jóvenes entran al agua
- Mentorship pairings with Un Mar staff and alumni provide consistent adults who reflect Vista communities.
- Bilingual staff and parent communications in English and Spanish every week.
- Certified tutors support math, reading, and writing — homework help that actually improves grades in Vista Unified School District.
Por qué operamos este programa en Vista
Vista is the second-largest inland city in North County San Diego with a 44% Hispanic/Latino population. Our Vista cohorts travel by shuttle from Alamosa Park Elementary and Rancho Minerva Middle to The Strand in Oceanside — a 15-minute drive. Vista Unified's Title I schools are one of our largest feeder populations for both the Ocean Stewards After-School Program and our One Ocean summer cohorts.
- Población
- 101,638
- Residentes BIPOC
- 59%
- Hogares hispanohablantes
- 44%
- Distancia a la playa
- 7 mi
After-School Program en Vista — Lo que debes saber
Free after-school program in Vista for BIPOC teens ages 13–17 is Ocean Stewards — Un Mar de Colores's flagship year-round offering. Three afternoons weekly combine academic tutoring, environmental literacy, career exploration, and Thursday beach days with surf instruction at zero cost to families.
Free teen programs in North County 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 Vista families.
Por qué Vista importa para nuestra misión
From Vista'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.
Vista'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 Vista
En asociación con el Vista Unified School District y organizaciones comunitarias locales, reclutamos jóvenes de 5+ escuelas Título I.
Distrito escolar y escuelas Título I
- Vista Unified School District
- •Alamosa Park Elementary
- •Breeze Hill Elementary
- •Monte Vista Elementary
- •Rancho Minerva Middle
- •Rancho Buena Vista High
Socios comunitarios
- ◆Vista Unified School District
- ◆Vista Library
- ◆Boys & Girls Club of Vista
- ◆MiraCosta College Vista Campus
- ◆North County Lifeline
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 Vista
- ✓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 is a member of the surf equity ecosystem across California — connected to Surf Justice Collective, Native Like Water, and cross-border watershed coalitions.
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 Vista
Is there an annual retreat for Ocean Stewards?+
Yes — an annual leadership retreat connects Vista teens with cohorts across North County. It's an opportunity to build county-wide community, deepen environmental leadership skills, and connect with alumni mentors.
Are after-school programs in Vista bilingual?+
Yes — all programming is bilingual. In Vista, where 44% of households are Spanish-speaking, bilingual staff lead every session and parent communications arrive in both English and Spanish.
What subjects get tutoring support?+
Certified tutors support math, reading, and writing — homework help aligned with Vista Unified School District curriculum. Environmental literacy modules cover watershed science, marine ecology, coastal policy, and career exploration in marine science and conservation.
¿Los programas de After-School Program en Vista son realmente gratuitos?+
Sí. Todos los programas de Un Mar de Colores en Vista son 100% gratuitos. Proporcionamos trajes de neopreno 3/2mm, tablas de surf, transporte desde escuelas asociadas como Alamosa Park Elementary, Breeze Hill Elementary, Monte Vista 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 Vista?+
Los jóvenes de Vista viajan en nuestro transporte a Oceanside Pier (7 miles), aproximadamente a 7 millas. Los componentes de aula ocurren en escuelas y bibliotecas asociadas dentro de Vista.
¿Qué edades son elegibles en Vista?+
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 Vista 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 Alamosa Park Elementary, Breeze Hill Elementary, Monte Vista Elementary y otras escuelas de Título I en Vista Unified School District. Los grupos de verano suelen llenarse con 3-4 semanas de anticipación.
¿Listo para entrar al agua?
Join hundreds of Vista 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 Vista. 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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