Un Mar de Colores · Santee, CA
BIPOC Teen After-School Program in Santee, CA
Tuesday and Wednesday: homework support, NGSS-aligned environmental literacy, and college prep at partner school sites.
Un Mar de Colores runs its flagship Ocean Stewards After-School Program for Santee teens ages 13–17, in partnership with Santee School District / Grossmont Union High. 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 (17 miles)). Our Santee cohort draws primarily from Hill Creek Elementary, Cajon Park Elementary. Transportation, meals, tutoring, and surf instruction are entirely free.
Schedule — Santee Program Days
Tuesday–Thursday, year-round · Completely free
You Might Be Feeling This
- —Environmental clubs at school are underfunded — your teen wants hands-on watershed science, not a poster contest.
- —Surf culture in Santee still looks like a club with unwritten rules — your teen doesn't see themselves in the lineup.
- —College prep in Santee feels like it's reserved for families who already know the application pipeline.
What Changes When Youth Get in the Water
- Citizen science and cleanup participation connect academics to real advocacy — teens become stewards, not consumers.
- Round-trip transportation from partner Title I schools — inland teens aren't left behind (17 miles inland solved).
- College preparation and counseling help Santee teens navigate applications, financial aid, and pathway decisions.
Why We Run This Program in Santee
Santee is an East County city home to Santee School District (approximately 6,000 students). Our Santee cohort travels 17 miles to OB Pier for water programming, making Santee one of our more transportation-intensive partnerships. Hill Creek and Cajon Park Elementary are our Title I partnership schools.
- Population
- 58,895
- BIPOC residents
- 38%
- Spanish-speaking households
- 17%
- Distance to beach
- 17 mi
After-School Program in Santee — What You Should Know
After-school programs near OB Pier (17 miles) and Coronado Central (16 miles) for Santee teens run Tuesday through Thursday during the school year. Inland families rely on shuttles (17 miles inland) so weekly beach days aren't limited to coastal zip codes.
Parents ask if Thursday beach days require swimming ability. We build water comfort progressively in supervised zones — many Ocean Stewards teens start with limited ocean experience and gain confidence within weeks.
Why Santee Matters to Our Mission
Santee's relationship to the Pacific is complicated by history and economics. Our curriculum weaves Kumeyaay coastal stewardship, environmental justice, and culturally grounded instruction into every session — not as an add-on, but as the foundation.
Recruitment in Santee 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 Santee Partners & Referral Sources
In partnership with Santee School District / Grossmont Union High and local community organizations, we recruit youth from 2+ Title I schools.
School district & Title I partners
- Santee School District / Grossmont Union High
- •Hill Creek Elementary
- •Cajon Park Elementary
Community partners
- ◆Santee School District
- ◆Santee Library
- ◆Town Center Community Park
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 Santee 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
Un Mar de Colores is a BIPOC-led 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in Oceanside, California in 2018. Our instructors are certified by the San Diego Fire-Rescue Lifeguard Division and hold CPR + First Aid credentials.
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 Santee
Is there an annual retreat for Ocean Stewards?+
Yes — an annual leadership retreat connects Santee teens with cohorts across San Diego. 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. Santee working families don't need to pack food or pay hidden snack fees.
Are after-school programs in Santee bilingual?+
Yes — all programming is bilingual. In Santee, where 17% of households are Spanish-speaking, bilingual staff lead every session and parent communications arrive in both English and Spanish.
Are after-school program in Santee really free?+
Yes. All Un Mar de Colores programs in Santee are 100% free — including 3/2mm wetsuits, soft-top surfboards, transportation from partner schools like Hill Creek Elementary, Cajon Park Elementary, and certified bilingual instruction. Funding comes from the San Diego Foundation, community grants, and individual donors. No Santee family has ever paid for our programming.
Where exactly do after-school program happen in Santee?+
Santee is 17 miles inland from the coast, so our cohorts are shuttled to OB Pier (17 miles) — our nearest Un Mar teaching beach. Classroom components including curriculum, cultural arts, and tutoring happen at Santee School District and partner schools inside Santee.
What ages can enroll in Santee?+
We serve youth ages 13–17. In Santee specifically, our recruitment runs through Santee School District / Grossmont Union High — with priority enrollment for students from Hill Creek Elementary, Cajon Park 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 (17 miles), supervised by instructors certified by the San Diego Fire-Rescue Lifeguard Division. Water comfort is built progressively. In Santee, we also run pre-cohort pool-familiarization sessions at inland pools via our Santee School District partnership for students who request extra comfort-building.
Are lessons taught in Spanish in Santee?+
Yes. All Un Mar de Colores programs are bilingual — and in Santee, 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 Santee?+
Three ways: (1) everything is free, while most Santee surf programs charge $50–$150 per lesson; (2) we are BIPOC-led and our coaches reflect the 38%-BIPOC Santee 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 Santee, not just those who can afford access.
How do I sign my Santee child up?+
Visit our sign-up page or contact us directly. Priority enrollment goes to students of Hill Creek Elementary, Cajon Park Elementary and referrals from Santee School District and Santee Library. Summer cohorts fill 3–4 weeks before start, so early contact is recommended.
Ready to Get in the Water?
Spots in our Santee cohorts are limited to keep instructor ratios safe. Contact us to reserve a place.
All Un Mar de Colores programs are free for Santee 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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