Un Mar de Colores · Fallbrook, CA
From Homework to Wave — Free After-School in Fallbrook
Every Thursday is a beach day — surf instruction at The Strand, Tamarack, or Moonlight reinforcing the week's science.
Un Mar de Colores runs its flagship Ocean Stewards After-School Program for Fallbrook teens ages 13–17, in partnership with Fallbrook Union Elementary School District. Students meet three afternoons a week for tutoring, environmental literacy, and career exploration, with a Thursday beach day at our nearest coastal break (Oceanside Pier (22 miles)). Our Fallbrook cohort draws primarily from La Paloma Elementary, Fallbrook Street School. Transportation, meals, tutoring, and surf instruction are entirely free.
Schedule — Fallbrook Program Days
Tuesday–Thursday, year-round · Completely free
You Might Be Feeling This
- —College prep in Fallbrook feels like it's reserved for families who already know the application pipeline.
- —Mental health stress is real for Fallbrook teens — but therapy waitlists are long and surf-as-healing sounds inaccessible.
- —Scholarship and contest pathways feel reserved for kids whose parents already know the surf circuit. After-school should bridge that gap.
What Changes When Youth Get in the Water
- Every Thursday is a beach day — surf instruction at local breaks reinforcing the week's environmental curriculum.
- Parent and guardian engagement sessions keep families informed and involved — not sidelined.
- Alumni coaches and scholarship recipients mentor Thursday surf sessions — representation changes belonging.
Why We Run This Program in Fallbrook
Fallbrook — known as 'The Friendly Village' — is 48% Hispanic/Latino with strong ties to Camp Pendleton. Our Fallbrook cohort is one of our longest-distance programs (22 miles to the beach), requiring full-day Saturday sessions. We partner with Fallbrook Union for recruitment and with the Fallbrook Library as our inland classroom partner.
- Population
- 32,321
- BIPOC residents
- 55%
- Spanish-speaking households
- 48%
- Distance to beach
- 22 mi
After-School Program in Fallbrook — What You Should Know
Environmental after-school in Fallbrook should cover watershed-to-ocean science — especially Tijuana River cross-border pollution and why local beaches close after storms. Ocean Stewards curriculum integrates hydrology, policy, and coastal resilience.
Representation in mentorship changes retention. When Fallbrook teens see staff who share their language and background, engagement rises — they're not guests in someone else's program.
Why Fallbrook Matters to Our Mission
Cross-border watershed work matters to Fallbrook because Tijuana River pollution and coastal health don't stop at a border fence. Our education modules name that reality honestly.
The ocean off Fallbrook belongs to everyone. Un Mar de Colores exists because North County has spent decades telling BIPOC youth otherwise — and we're changing that story one cohort at a time.
Local Fallbrook Partners & Referral Sources
In partnership with Fallbrook Union Elementary School District and local community organizations, we recruit youth from 2+ Title I schools.
School district & Title I partners
- Fallbrook Union Elementary School District
- •La Paloma Elementary
- •Fallbrook Street School
Community partners
- ◆Fallbrook Union Elementary School District
- ◆Fallbrook Library
- ◆Fallbrook Community Center
Program Curriculum
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
What's Included — Free for Every Fallbrook 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
Board and staff leadership is BIPOC-majority. Decisions about Fallbrook programming are made with community partners, not corporate sponsors.
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."”
Frequently Asked Questions — After-School Program in Fallbrook
Are after-school programs in Fallbrook bilingual?+
Yes — all programming is bilingual. In Fallbrook, where 48% of households are Spanish-speaking, bilingual staff lead every session and parent communications arrive in both English and Spanish.
Is there an annual retreat for Ocean Stewards?+
Yes — an annual leadership retreat connects Fallbrook teens with cohorts across North County. It's an opportunity to build county-wide community, deepen environmental leadership skills, and connect with alumni mentors.
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. Fallbrook teens get support beyond homework help.
Are after-school program in Fallbrook really free?+
Yes. All Un Mar de Colores programs in Fallbrook are 100% free — including 3/2mm wetsuits, soft-top surfboards, transportation from partner schools like La Paloma Elementary, Fallbrook Street School, and certified bilingual instruction. Funding comes from the San Diego Foundation, community grants, and individual donors. No Fallbrook family has ever paid for our programming.
Where exactly do after-school program happen in Fallbrook?+
Fallbrook is 22 miles inland from the coast, so our cohorts are shuttled to Oceanside Pier (22 miles) — our nearest Un Mar teaching beach. Classroom components including curriculum, cultural arts, and tutoring happen at Fallbrook Union Elementary School District and partner schools inside Fallbrook.
What ages can enroll in Fallbrook?+
We serve youth ages 13–17. In Fallbrook specifically, our recruitment runs through Fallbrook Union Elementary School District — with priority enrollment for students from La Paloma Elementary, Fallbrook Street School. Cohorts are age-appropriate (One Ocean for 6–12, Ocean Stewards for 13–17).
Does my child need to know how to swim before starting?+
No. We begin every cohort with ocean-safety fundamentals in chest-deep whitewater at Oceanside Pier (22 miles), supervised by instructors certified by the San Diego Fire-Rescue Lifeguard Division. Water comfort is built progressively. In Fallbrook, we also run pre-cohort pool-familiarization sessions at inland pools via our Fallbrook Union Elementary School District partnership for students who request extra comfort-building.
Are lessons taught in Spanish in Fallbrook?+
Yes. All Un Mar de Colores programs are bilingual — and in Fallbrook, where 48% of households are Spanish-speaking, we intentionally pair at least one bilingual coach to every session. Cultural programming is delivered in both languages, and parent communications are always sent in Spanish and English.
How is Un Mar de Colores different from other after-school program in Fallbrook?+
Three ways: (1) everything is free, while most Fallbrook surf programs charge $50–$150 per lesson; (2) we are BIPOC-led and our coaches reflect the 55%-BIPOC Fallbrook community we serve; (3) our curriculum includes environmental justice, Kumeyaay coastal history, and cultural arts — not just surf skills. We exist because the ocean should belong to everyone in Fallbrook, not just those who can afford access.
How do I sign my Fallbrook child up?+
Visit our sign-up page or contact us directly. Priority enrollment goes to students of La Paloma Elementary, Fallbrook Street School and referrals from Fallbrook Union Elementary School District and Fallbrook Library. Summer cohorts fill 3–4 weeks before start, so early contact is recommended.
Ready to Get in the Water?
Ready to get your child in the water? Contact Un Mar de Colores — priority enrollment for Fallbrook Title I school students.
All Un Mar de Colores programs are free for Fallbrook youth. Reach out to enroll, volunteer, or support the movement.
Un Mar de Colores is a BIPOC-led 501(c)(3) nonprofit based in Oceanside, California. We provide free surf, ocean, and environmental programming for youth across San Diego and Tijuana — bridging cultures, coasts, and communities since 2018.
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