Un Mar de Colores · San Diego County
Free After-School Tutoring Near The Strand, Tamarack, Moonlight Beach, La Jolla Shores, Mission Beach, and Imperial Beach for San Diego County Teens
Three afternoons a week — tutoring, environmental science, and Thursday beach days — zero cost for San Diego County families.
- Ages
- 13–17
- Schedule
- Tuesday–Thursday, year-round
- Cost
- Free
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.
This hub connects San Diego County families to after-school program across 27 cities. Every city link below is a full local page with beaches, school partners, and enrollment paths — not an empty gateway.
You might be feeling this
- —Bilingual support matters at home, but most San Diego County-area after-school programs default to English-only staff.
- —Thursday beach days sound great, but you can't drive from San Diego County every week — transportation is the hidden cost.
- —School ends at 3pm and you're at work — unstructured hours in San Diego County feel risky when options are thin.
- —Your student is bright but falling behind in math — and nobody connects academic help to something they actually care about.
What changes when youth get in the water
- Three afternoons weekly (3pm–6pm) provide structure, tutoring, and enrichment — free for the full school year.
- Round-trip transportation from partner Title I schools — inland teens aren't left behind (across coastal and inland communities solved).
- Trauma-informed culture welcomes teens navigating anxiety, grief, immigration stress, and family instability.
- College preparation and counseling help San Diego County teens navigate applications, financial aid, and pathway decisions.
After-School Program across San Diego County — what families should know
Thursday surf sessions aren't a reward for finishing homework — they're curriculum. Wave energy, tide cycles, and lineup ecology reinforce the week's watershed science for San Diego County teens.
Free teen programs in San Diego 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 San Diego County families.
How much does after-school tutoring cost in California? Commercial centers often charge $40–$80 per hour. Un Mar de Colores charges $0 for tutoring, environmental science, Thursday surf, meals, and transport for San Diego County teens.
Trauma-informed after-school culture welcomes teens navigating stress without requiring a clinical diagnosis to belong — the ocean as healing space integrated with licensed support referrals when needed.
Why San Diego County is our service area
Cross-border watershed work matters to San Diego County because Tijuana River pollution and coastal health don't stop at a border fence. Our education modules name that reality honestly.
With 3.3 million residents, San Diego County 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 (across coastal and inland communities) a logistics problem we solve, not a barrier families carry alone.
Program curriculum & how it works
- →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
What's included — free for every youth
- ✓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
Why Un Mar de Colores (E-E-A-T)
Since 2018, Un Mar de Colores has served thousands of youth across San Diego County and the Cali-Baja region — with funding from the San Diego Foundation, community grants, and individual donors keeping every program 100% free.
What our community says
“"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."”
Cities we serve — pick your community
Un Mar de Colores runs after-school program across 27 San Diego County cities. Each city page covers local beaches, school partners, and how to enroll — start with the community closest to your family.
- OceansideCoastal city
- CarlsbadCoastal city
- EncinitasCoastal city
- Cardiff by the SeaCoastal city
- Solana BeachCoastal city
- Del MarCoastal city
- La JollaCoastal city
- Pacific BeachCoastal city
- Mission BeachCoastal city
- Ocean BeachCoastal city
- Point LomaCoastal city
- Sunset CliffsCoastal city
- CoronadoCoastal city
- Imperial BeachCoastal city
- Chula Vista10 mi to beach
- National City8 mi to beach
- Vista7 mi to beach
- San Marcos11 mi to beach
- Escondido17 mi to beach
- San DiegoCoastal city
- Poway14 mi to beach
- Fallbrook22 mi to beach
- Bonita10 mi to beach
- Lemon Grove10 mi to beach
- El Cajon14 mi to beach
- Santee17 mi to beach
- Spring Valley12 mi to beach
Frequently asked questions — After-School Program
Is there an annual retreat for Ocean Stewards?+
Yes — an annual leadership retreat connects San Diego County teens with cohorts across San Diego County. It's an opportunity to build county-wide community, deepen environmental leadership skills, and connect with alumni mentors.
Are meals provided during after-school?+
Healthy snacks and meals are provided every session. San Diego County working families don't need to pack food or pay hidden snack fees.
Does after-school include college preparation?+
Yes — Ocean Stewards includes college prep and counseling: application guidance, financial aid navigation, and career pathway exploration in marine science and coastal conservation. San Diego County teens get support beyond homework help.
Are after-school programs in San Diego County bilingual?+
Yes — all programming is bilingual. In San Diego County, where about one-third of households are Spanish-speaking, bilingual staff lead every session and parent communications arrive in both English and Spanish.
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.
Ready to get your child in the water?
Support the movement or enroll your youth — Un Mar de Colores is building coastal access for San Diego County families.
All Un Mar de Colores programs are free for BIPOC youth across San Diego County. Reach out to enroll, volunteer, or support the movement.
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