Un Mar de Colores · Lemon Grove, CA
Tuesday–Thursday Free After-School for Lemon Grove Youth
Shuttle from partner Title I schools removes the barrier for inland Lemon Grove families (10 miles inland from the coast).
Un Mar de Colores runs its flagship Ocean Stewards After-School Program for Lemon Grove teens ages 13–17, in partnership with Lemon Grove 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 (OB Pier (11 miles)). Our Lemon Grove cohort draws primarily from San Altos Elementary, San Miguel Elementary, Mt. Vernon Elementary. Transportation, meals, tutoring, and surf instruction are entirely free.
Schedule — Lemon Grove Program Days
Tuesday–Thursday, year-round · Completely free
You Might Be Feeling This
- —You want your teen learning about Tijuana River pollution and coastal policy — not just recycling slogans.
- —Your teen is curious about environmental justice but school curriculum skips why Lemon Grove beaches close after storms.
- —Thursday beach days sound great, but you can't drive from Lemon Grove every week — transportation is the hidden cost.
What Changes When Youth Get in the Water
- Kumeyaay water and coastal perspectives integrated into science modules — not erased from environmental curriculum.
- Trauma-informed culture welcomes teens navigating anxiety, grief, immigration stress, and family instability.
- NGSS-aligned environmental literacy modules connect classroom science to Lemon Grove's watershed and coastline realities.
Why We Run This Program in Lemon Grove
Lemon Grove is 45% Hispanic/Latino and 18% Black — one of the most racially diverse small cities in San Diego County. Our Lemon Grove program partners with Lemon Grove School District (3 Title I schools) for shuttle-based transportation to OB Pier and Coronado Central Beach. Classroom components run at Lemon Grove Public Library.
- Population
- 27,598
- BIPOC residents
- 78%
- Spanish-speaking households
- 40%
- Distance to beach
- 10 mi
After-School Program in Lemon Grove — What You Should Know
Environmental after-school in Lemon Grove 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.
Annual leadership retreat connects Ocean Stewards cohorts across San Diego County — Lemon Grove teens build networks beyond their neighborhood.
Why Lemon Grove Matters to Our Mission
Environmental justice in Lemon Grove isn't abstract: watershed health, beach closures, and plastic pollution affect the same communities we serve. Our programs connect surf skills to stewardship of San Diego's coastline.
Cross-border watershed work matters to Lemon Grove because Tijuana River pollution and coastal health don't stop at a border fence. Our education modules name that reality honestly.
Local Lemon Grove Partners & Referral Sources
In partnership with Lemon Grove School District and local community organizations, we recruit youth from 3+ Title I schools.
School district & Title I partners
- Lemon Grove School District
- •San Altos Elementary
- •San Miguel Elementary
- •Mt. Vernon Elementary
Community partners
- ◆Lemon Grove School District
- ◆Lemon Grove Public Library
- ◆Grossmont Union High School District
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 Lemon Grove 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
Our coaches include graduates of the Surf Athletic Scholarship program and bilingual educators who reflect the BIPOC communities we serve. We partner with 15+ Title I schools across North County and San Diego.
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 Lemon Grove
What is the Ocean Stewards after-school program in Lemon Grove?+
Ocean Stewards is Un Mar de Colores's free year-round after-school program for BIPOC teens ages 13–17 in Lemon Grove. Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons include academic tutoring, environmental literacy, and college prep. Every Thursday is a beach day with surf instruction reinforcing the week's science curriculum.
What pathways open after Ocean Stewards?+
Teens connect to surf therapy, ocean stewardship cleanups, year-round surf lessons, and the Surf Athletic Scholarship program. After-school is a long-term arc for Lemon Grove youth — not a single-semester program.
Are meals provided during after-school?+
Healthy snacks and meals are provided every session. Lemon Grove working families don't need to pack food or pay hidden snack fees.
Are after-school program in Lemon Grove really free?+
Yes. All Un Mar de Colores programs in Lemon Grove are 100% free — including 3/2mm wetsuits, soft-top surfboards, transportation from partner schools like San Altos Elementary, San Miguel Elementary, Mt. Vernon Elementary, and certified bilingual instruction. Funding comes from the San Diego Foundation, community grants, and individual donors. No Lemon Grove family has ever paid for our programming.
Where exactly do after-school program happen in Lemon Grove?+
Lemon Grove is 10 miles inland from the coast, so our cohorts are shuttled to OB Pier (11 miles) — our nearest Un Mar teaching beach. Classroom components including curriculum, cultural arts, and tutoring happen at Lemon Grove School District and partner schools inside Lemon Grove.
What ages can enroll in Lemon Grove?+
We serve youth ages 13–17. In Lemon Grove specifically, our recruitment runs through Lemon Grove School District — with priority enrollment for students from San Altos Elementary, San Miguel Elementary, Mt. Vernon Elementary. 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 OB Pier (11 miles), supervised by instructors certified by the San Diego Fire-Rescue Lifeguard Division. Water comfort is built progressively. In Lemon Grove, we also run pre-cohort pool-familiarization sessions at inland pools via our Lemon Grove School District partnership for students who request extra comfort-building.
Are lessons taught in Spanish in Lemon Grove?+
Yes. All Un Mar de Colores programs are bilingual — and in Lemon Grove, where 40% 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 Lemon Grove?+
Three ways: (1) everything is free, while most Lemon Grove surf programs charge $50–$150 per lesson; (2) we are BIPOC-led and our coaches reflect the 78%-BIPOC Lemon Grove 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 Lemon Grove, not just those who can afford access.
How do I sign my Lemon Grove child up?+
Visit our sign-up page or contact us directly. Priority enrollment goes to students of San Altos Elementary, San Miguel Elementary, Mt. Vernon Elementary and referrals from Lemon Grove School District and Lemon Grove Public Library. Summer cohorts fill 3–4 weeks before start, so early contact is recommended.
Ready to Get in the Water?
Spots in our Lemon Grove cohorts are limited to keep instructor ratios safe. Contact us to reserve a place.
All Un Mar de Colores programs are free for Lemon Grove 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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