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
- —Working families in Poway need predictable Tue–Thu schedules, not another program that cancels without notice.
- —After-school slots in Poway fill fast and 'free' programs always seem to have equipment fees or deposits.
- —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
- Free means free: no deposits, no tutoring upsells, no 'scholarship' that still bills you.
- Mentorship pairings with Un Mar staff and alumni provide consistent adults who reflect Poway communities.
- Pathways to surf therapy, ocean stewardship cleanups, and Surf Athletic Scholarships open from Ocean Stewards.
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
Latino and Indigenous teens in Poway inherit coastal histories commercial culture erases. Kumeyaay water perspectives and environmental justice framing are woven into every science module — not token inclusion.
BIPOC after-school programs in Poway address a real gap: 46% of local residents are BIPOC, yet enrichment marketing still centers narrow demographics. Our staff and alumni mentors reflect the communities we serve.
Why Poway Matters to Our Mission
Serving Poway means meeting families where they are: San Diego schools, community centers, and partner orgs that already hold trust. We don't wait for families to find the beach — we bring youth to the water.
Parents in Poway often ask how a nonprofit can offer everything free. Answer: San Diego Foundation grants, community donors, and partners who believe Poway youth belong in the lineup — same as any other kid in San Diego.
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
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.
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 Poway youth — not a single-semester program.
What days does after-school run in Poway?+
Ocean Stewards runs Tuesday through Thursday during the school year, 3pm–6pm. Tuesday and Wednesday are at partner school sites. Thursday is a beach day at local breaks near La Jolla Shores (18 miles) and Del Mar 15th Street (14 miles). We publish cohort calendars early for Poway families.
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?
Volunteer, donate, or enroll — however you join, you're helping Poway youth access the coast.
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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