Ocean Stewardship program in Imperial Beach, CA with Un Mar de Colores youth coaches

Un Mar de Colores · Imperial Beach, CA

Free Beach Cleanups & Ocean Stewardship in Imperial Beach

Certificate of community service for students — documented hours for South Bay Union School District requirements.

Un Mar de Colores ofrece ocean stewardship gratuitas para jóvenes de Imperial Beach de All ages años, directamente en la costa de Imperial Beach. Sirviendo a una comunidad del 73% BIPOC (26,324 residentes), nuestra instrucción se lleva a cabo en IB Pier, con entrenadores bilingües certificados y todo el equipo proporcionado. La inscripción prioritaria es para estudiantes de Imperial Beach Elementary, Oneonta Elementary, Mar Vista Middle School.

Horario — programa en Imperial Beach

Monthly cleanups, quarterly workshops · Completamente gratis

Quizás sientes esto

  • —Transportation to monthly cleanups from inland Imperial Beach (on the coast) feels like another unpaid logistics burden.
  • —You've picked up trash alone on the sand and felt invisible — no data, no community, no policy connection.
  • —One-off Earth Day events don't build continuity — you want monthly action with the same community.

Lo que cambia cuando los jóvenes entran al agua

  • Free means free — no registration fees, no gear purchases, no eco-tourism upsells.
  • Post-cleanup debrief and reflection turn action into environmental literacy and advocacy motivation.
  • Watershed-to-ocean connection modules — especially Tijuana River cross-border case study relevant to San Diego.

Por qué operamos este programa en Imperial Beach

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.

Población
26,324
Residentes BIPOC
73%
Hogares hispanohablantes
42%
Distancia a la playa
En la costa

Ocean Stewardship en Imperial Beach — Lo que debes saber

Community service hours for South Bay Union School District students are documented at every Un Mar cleanup — Imperial Beach teens get verified hours with environmental depth, not parking-lot volunteer slots.

With 42% Spanish-speaking households in Imperial Beach, bilingual cleanup briefings and materials are standard — not English-only safety instructions on the sand.

Por qué Imperial Beach importa para nuestra misión

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.

Cross-border watershed work matters to Imperial Beach because Tijuana River pollution and coastal health don't stop at a border fence. Our education modules name that reality honestly.

Dónde surfeamos en Imperial Beach

IB Pier

Principiante

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.

Fondo: SandOleaje: 2–6 ft typicalSalvavidas: Todo el año

Socios comunitarios locales en Imperial Beach

En asociación con el South Bay Union School District y organizaciones comunitarias locales, reclutamos jóvenes de 3+ escuelas Título I.

Distrito escolar y escuelas Título I

  • South Bay Union School District
  • •Imperial Beach Elementary
  • •Oneonta Elementary
  • •Mar Vista Middle School

Socios comunitarios

  • ◆Imperial Beach Sports Park
  • ◆South Bay Alliance
  • ◆WILDCOAST (Tijuana River watershed partner)
  • ◆Imperial Beach Library

Currículo del programa

Ocean Stewardship at Un Mar de Colores connects coastal cleanup action with deeper environmental justice education. Monthly cleanups run across Oceanside, Imperial Beach, Cardiff, and partner sites, with each event combining hands-on debris removal with short teaching moments about the watershed-to-ocean pipeline, the plastic pollution crisis, and California coastal policy. Our Ocean Stewardship program is free and family-friendly, and we specifically prioritize recruitment from BIPOC communities whose relationships with the coast have historically been gated by cost or culture. Every participant contributes to our citizen science database tracking pollution patterns across San Diego County.

  • →Beach cleanup fundamentals and safe practices
  • →Plastic pollution and marine debris science
  • →California coastal commission policy basics
  • →Watershed-to-ocean connection
  • →Citizen science data collection protocols
  • →Advocacy and community organizing skills

Qué se incluye — Gratis para cada joven de Imperial Beach

  • ✓Cleanup supplies (buckets, grabbers, gloves)
  • ✓Bilingual safety briefings
  • ✓Data collection training
  • ✓Post-cleanup debrief and reflection
  • ✓Certificate of community service
  • ✓Family-friendly participation

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."”

— Middle school student— Parent, One Ocean

Preguntas frecuentes — Ocean Stewardship en Imperial Beach

Is citizen science part of ocean stewardship cleanups?+

Yes — every cleanup includes data collection training. Participants document debris types and locations, contributing to Un Mar's database tracking pollution patterns across San Diego. Imperial Beach volunteers contribute real science.

What supplies do I need for a beach cleanup?+

Nothing — we provide buckets, grabbers, gloves, and data collection materials. Show up in closed-toe shoes and sun protection. Imperial Beach families don't need to buy cleanup gear.

When are beach cleanups near Imperial Beach?+

Un Mar de Colores runs monthly beach cleanups across San Diego County — Oceanside, Imperial Beach, Cardiff, and partner sites accessible from Imperial Beach. Quarterly workshops add deeper advocacy training. Check our calendar for the next event near IB Pier.

¿Los programas de Ocean Stewardship en Imperial Beach son realmente gratuitos?+

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.

¿Dónde se realizan exactamente las lecciones en Imperial Beach?+

Las lecciones principales se realizan en IB Pier. Todas las sesiones de agua ocurren dentro de las zonas salvavidas de la bandera.

¿Qué edades son elegibles en Imperial Beach?+

Servimos a jóvenes de All ages 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.

¿Cómo inscribo a mi hijo/a?+

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.

¿Listo para entrar al agua?

Free means free. No hidden fees, no gear costs, no transportation charges for Imperial Beach participants.

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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