Un Mar de Colores · San Diego, CA
BIPOC-Led Volunteer Program in San Diego, CA
Annual Surf Fiesta and community events rely on San Diego volunteers for setup, logistics, and guest welcome.
Un Mar de Colores ofrece volunteer programs gratuitas para jóvenes de San Diego de 18+ años, directamente en la costa de San Diego. Sirviendo a una comunidad del 55% BIPOC (1,386,932 residentes), nuestra instrucción se lleva a cabo en La Jolla Shores y Tourmaline, con entrenadores bilingües certificados y todo el equipo proporcionado. La inscripción prioritaria es para estudiantes de Kate Sessions Elementary, Mission Beach Elementary, Pacific Beach Middle.
Horario — programa en San Diego
Ongoing (monthly events + weekly program support) · Completamente gratis
Quizás sientes esto
- —Bilingual volunteer briefings matter — most cleanup instructions in San Diego default to English-only.
- —You want to support BIPOC youth without savior narratives — training on how to mentor respectfully is rare.
- —You want to give back in San Diego but don't know which ocean nonprofits are trustworthy and BIPOC-led.
Lo que cambia cuando los jóvenes entran al agua
- Network across 15+ Title I partner schools — San Diego volunteers connect county-wide.
- Background check paid by Un Mar — San Diego adults aren't charged to volunteer with youth.
- Free means free — no participation fees, no gear purchases, no volunteer tourism upsells.
Por qué operamos este programa en San Diego
San Diego is the second-largest city in California with a 30% Hispanic/Latino population and the 2nd-largest school district in the state. Our San Diego programming spans La Jolla Shores, Tourmaline Surfing Park, Mission Beach, and OB Pier, serving San Diego Unified's 98,000 students — with particular focus on Title I middle and high schools in PB, Mission Bay, and Point Loma.
- Población
- 1,386,932
- Residentes BIPOC
- 55%
- Hogares hispanohablantes
- 30%
- Distancia a la playa
- En la costa
Volunteer Programs en San Diego — Lo que debes saber
Volunteer with Un Mar from San Diego is part of BIPOC-led Cali-Baja ocean equity movement — mentorship and stewardship as community infrastructure, not charity tourism.
Community organizing training for San Diego volunteers ready to move from debris removal to advocacy — quarterly workshops deepen movement skills.
Por qué San Diego importa para nuestra misión
With 1,386,932 residents, San Diego is one of the communities where a single free surf cohort can change dozens of lives per season. Our shuttles and school partnerships make distance (on the coast) a logistics problem we solve, not a barrier families carry alone.
The ocean off San Diego belongs to everyone. Un Mar de Colores exists because San Diego has spent decades telling BIPOC youth otherwise — and we're changing that story one cohort at a time.
Socios comunitarios locales en San Diego
En asociación con el San Diego Unified School District y organizaciones comunitarias locales, reclutamos jóvenes de 5+ escuelas Título I.
Distrito escolar y escuelas Título I
- San Diego Unified School District
- •Kate Sessions Elementary
- •Mission Beach Elementary
- •Pacific Beach Middle
- •Mission Bay High
- •Point Loma High
Socios comunitarios
- ◆San Diego Unified School District
- ◆San Diego Junior Lifeguards
- ◆Scripps Institution of Oceanography
- ◆San Diego Public Library
- ◆Mission Bay Aquatic Center
Currículo del programa
Volunteers are the backbone of Un Mar de Colores. Monthly beach cleanups, weekly after-school program support, annual Surf Fiesta events, and ongoing community organizing all rely on volunteers from across San Diego County. We welcome adult volunteers (18+) with a range of skill sets and time commitments — from single-event cleanup volunteers to weekly mentors supporting Ocean Stewards. All volunteers complete a free orientation and a paid background check, and we provide cultural competency training to every direct-youth volunteer.
- →Volunteer orientation and safety
- →Background check and youth-safety training
- →Cultural competency training
- →Program-specific coaching (if direct-youth volunteer)
- →Event logistics and setup
- →Community organizing and advocacy
Qué se incluye — Gratis para cada joven de San Diego
- ✓Free volunteer training
- ✓Background check paid by Un Mar
- ✓Volunteer appreciation events
- ✓Professional development hours
- ✓Branded volunteer gear
- ✓Certificate of service for school/work
Por qué Un Mar de Colores
Program safety is documented: lifeguard coordination, 4:1 ratios on youth water days, trauma-informed staff training, and parent communication protocols in English and Spanish.
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 — Volunteer Programs en San Diego
How do I sign up to volunteer from San Diego?+
Contact Un Mar de Colores or complete our volunteer interest form. Attend free orientation, complete training matched to your role, and background check if mentoring youth. We'll match San Diego adults to cleanup, event, or mentorship tracks.
What is cultural competency training?+
Training prepares volunteers to mentor BIPOC youth respectfully — avoiding savior dynamics, honoring cultural context, and supporting trauma-informed environments. Required before direct-youth pairing for San Diego mentors.
Do I need a background check to volunteer?+
Direct-youth volunteers (after-school mentorship, program support) complete a background check paid by Un Mar. Cleanup-only volunteers from San Diego may not need full youth clearance — roles are matched to requirements at orientation.
¿Los programas de Volunteer Programs en San Diego son realmente gratuitos?+
Sí. Todos los programas de Un Mar de Colores en San Diego son 100% gratuitos. Proporcionamos trajes de neopreno 3/2mm, tablas de surf, transporte desde escuelas asociadas como Kate Sessions Elementary, Mission Beach Elementary, Pacific Beach Middle, e instrucción bilingüe certificada. El financiamiento proviene de la San Diego Foundation, subvenciones comunitarias y donantes individuales.
¿Dónde se realizan exactamente las lecciones en San Diego?+
Las lecciones principales se realizan en La Jolla Shores. Todas las sesiones de agua ocurren dentro de las zonas salvavidas de la bandera.
¿Qué edades son elegibles en San Diego?+
Servimos a jóvenes de 18+ 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 San Diego 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 Kate Sessions Elementary, Mission Beach Elementary, Pacific Beach Middle y otras escuelas de Título I en San Diego Unified School District. Los grupos de verano suelen llenarse con 3-4 semanas de anticipación.
¿Listo para entrar al agua?
Parents in San Diego: bilingual staff, certified lifeguard-trained coaches, and zero cost. Sign up now.
Todos los programas de Un Mar de Colores son gratuitos para jóvenes de San Diego. 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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