Un Mar de Colores · Poway, CA
Free After-School Ocean Program for BIPOC Teens in Poway
Thursday surf sessions tie directly to watershed curriculum — science isn't abstract, it's the water they paddle in.
Un Mar de Colores runs its flagship Ocean Stewards After-School Program for Poway teens ages 13–17, in partnership with Poway Unified 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 (La Jolla Shores (18 miles)). Our Poway cohort draws primarily from Meadowbrook Middle, Valley Elementary (Poway). Transportation, meals, tutoring, and surf instruction are entirely free.
Schedule — Poway Program Days
Tuesday–Thursday, year-round · Completely free
You Might Be Feeling This
- —Mental health stress is real for Poway teens — but therapy waitlists are long and surf-as-healing sounds inaccessible.
- —Surf culture in Poway still looks like a club with unwritten rules — your teen doesn't see themselves in the lineup.
- —After-school slots in Poway fill fast and 'free' programs always seem to have equipment fees or deposits.
What Changes When Youth Get in the Water
- NGSS-aligned environmental literacy modules connect classroom science to Poway's watershed and coastline realities.
- Pathways to surf therapy, ocean stewardship cleanups, and Surf Athletic Scholarships open from Ocean Stewards.
- College preparation and counseling help Poway teens navigate applications, financial aid, and pathway decisions.
Why We Run This Program in Poway
Poway is an inland North County city home to Poway Unified School District, one of the largest K-12 districts in California. Our Poway cohorts travel to Del Mar's 15th Street Beach and La Jolla Shores for water programming, with classroom partnership at Poway Library and the Poway Center for the Performing Arts for cultural programming.
- Population
- 48,841
- BIPOC residents
- 46%
- Spanish-speaking households
- 17%
- Distance to beach
- 14 mi
After-School Program in Poway — What You Should Know
Free after-school for Poway teens is part of Un Mar's broader Cali-Baja movement — ocean access, academic equity, and environmental justice across San Diego County.
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 Poway teens.
Why Poway Matters to Our Mission
From Poway's Title I schools to the sand, our pipeline is built on real partnerships — not generic 'serving the area' language. Every cohort names the schools, beaches, and community orgs involved.
Recruitment in Poway runs through counselors, teachers, and community partners who know which students need this most. We don't run open enrollment chaos — we build intentional cohorts.
Local Poway Partners & Referral Sources
In partnership with Poway Unified School District and local community organizations, we recruit youth from 2+ Title I schools.
School district & Title I partners
- Poway Unified School District
- •Meadowbrook Middle
- •Valley Elementary (Poway)
Community partners
- ◆Poway Unified School District
- ◆Poway Library
- ◆Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater San Diego (Poway branch)
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 Poway 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 impact is measured in youth served, school partnerships, and watershed stewardship hours — published annually in our impact reports at mar-de-colores.org.
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 Poway
Is there an annual retreat for Ocean Stewards?+
Yes — an annual leadership retreat connects Poway teens with cohorts across San Diego. It's an opportunity to build county-wide community, deepen environmental leadership skills, and connect with alumni mentors.
How do parent engagement sessions work?+
We host parent and guardian engagement sessions throughout the year — bilingual updates on curriculum, safety protocols, college prep timelines, and opportunities for family participation. Poway families stay informed, not sidelined.
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. Poway teens get support beyond homework help.
Are after-school program in Poway really free?+
Yes. All Un Mar de Colores programs in Poway are 100% free — including 3/2mm wetsuits, soft-top surfboards, transportation from partner schools like Meadowbrook Middle, Valley Elementary (Poway), and certified bilingual instruction. Funding comes from the San Diego Foundation, community grants, and individual donors. No Poway family has ever paid for our programming.
Where exactly do after-school program happen in Poway?+
Poway is 14 miles inland from the coast, so our cohorts are shuttled to La Jolla Shores (18 miles) — our nearest Un Mar teaching beach. Classroom components including curriculum, cultural arts, and tutoring happen at Poway Unified School District and partner schools inside Poway.
What ages can enroll in Poway?+
We serve youth ages 13–17. In Poway specifically, our recruitment runs through Poway Unified School District — with priority enrollment for students from Meadowbrook Middle, Valley Elementary (Poway). 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 La Jolla Shores (18 miles), supervised by instructors certified by the San Diego Fire-Rescue Lifeguard Division. Water comfort is built progressively. In Poway, we also run pre-cohort pool-familiarization sessions at inland pools via our Poway Unified School District partnership for students who request extra comfort-building.
Are lessons taught in Spanish in Poway?+
Yes. All Un Mar de Colores programs are bilingual — and in Poway, where 17% 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 Poway?+
Three ways: (1) everything is free, while most Poway surf programs charge $50–$150 per lesson; (2) we are BIPOC-led and our coaches reflect the 46%-BIPOC Poway 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 Poway, not just those who can afford access.
How do I sign my Poway child up?+
Visit our sign-up page or contact us directly. Priority enrollment goes to students of Meadowbrook Middle, Valley Elementary (Poway) and referrals from Poway Unified School District and Poway Library. Summer cohorts fill 3–4 weeks before start, so early contact is recommended.
Ready to Get in the Water?
Spots in our Poway cohorts are limited to keep instructor ratios safe. Contact us to reserve a place.
All Un Mar de Colores programs are free for Poway 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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