Un Mar de Colores · Spring Valley, CA
Ocean Stewards After-School in Spring Valley — 100% Free
Pathways to surf therapy, ocean stewardship, and scholarships — after-school is the long arc, not a semester fad.
Un Mar de Colores runs its flagship Ocean Stewards After-School Program for Spring Valley teens ages 13–17, in partnership with La Mesa-Spring Valley Schools. 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 (13 miles)). Our Spring Valley cohort draws primarily from La Presa Elementary, Loma Elementary, Kempton Street Literacy Academy. Transportation, meals, tutoring, and surf instruction are entirely free.
Schedule — Spring Valley Program Days
Tuesday–Thursday, year-round · Completely free
You Might Be Feeling This
- —Scholarship and contest pathways feel reserved for kids whose parents already know the surf circuit. After-school should bridge that gap.
- —School ends at 3pm and you're at work — unstructured hours in Spring Valley feel risky when options are thin.
- —Your teen is curious about environmental justice but school curriculum skips why Spring Valley beaches close after storms.
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.
- Career exploration opens doors to marine science, coastal conservation, and environmental justice careers.
- Alumni coaches and scholarship recipients mentor Thursday surf sessions — representation changes belonging.
Why We Run This Program in Spring Valley
Spring Valley is 53% Hispanic/Latino and 13% Black — serving one of the most culturally diverse communities in East County. Our cohorts travel from La Presa Elementary and Kempton Street Literacy Academy to OB Pier, with classroom programming anchored at Spring Valley Library. We prioritize this partnership because of the city's distance from the coast and demographic alignment with our mission.
- Population
- 29,209
- BIPOC residents
- 79%
- Spanish-speaking households
- 45%
- Distance to beach
- 12 mi
After-School Program in Spring Valley — What You Should Know
Thursday surf sessions aren't a reward for finishing homework — they're curriculum. Wave energy, tide cycles, and lineup ecology reinforce the week's watershed science for Spring Valley teens.
Annual leadership retreat connects Ocean Stewards cohorts across San Diego County — Spring Valley teens build networks beyond their neighborhood.
Why Spring Valley Matters to Our Mission
When we say free for Spring Valley youth, we mean wetsuits, soft-tops, rashguards, sunscreen, transportation, and instruction — the full stack commercial programs charge $50–$150 per session for.
From Spring Valley'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.
Local Spring Valley Partners & Referral Sources
In partnership with La Mesa-Spring Valley Schools and local community organizations, we recruit youth from 3+ Title I schools.
School district & Title I partners
- La Mesa-Spring Valley Schools
- •La Presa Elementary
- •Loma Elementary
- •Kempton Street Literacy Academy
Community partners
- ◆La Mesa-Spring Valley School District
- ◆Spring Valley 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 Spring Valley 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
Federal EIN 85-2947340. Mailing: PO BOX 232471, Encinitas, CA 92024. We operate on the ancestral lands of the Kumeyaay Nation with respect and community accountability.
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 Spring Valley
How is Un Mar after-school different from other programs in Spring Valley?+
Commercial after-school optimizes for fees or shallow enrichment. Un Mar is a BIPOC-led nonprofit: free tutoring, NGSS environmental science, weekly surf, Title I partnerships, Kumeyaay curriculum integration, and mentors who reflect Spring Valley's communities.
What is the Ocean Stewards after-school program in Spring Valley?+
Ocean Stewards is Un Mar de Colores's free year-round after-school program for BIPOC teens ages 13–17 in Spring Valley. 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.
How much does after-school cost in Spring Valley?+
Ocean Stewards in Spring Valley is 100% free — tutoring, environmental science, Thursday surf sessions, healthy snacks, and transportation from partner schools. Commercial tutoring in San Diego County often costs $40–$80 per hour. We fund access through grants and donors so Spring Valley families never pay.
Are after-school program in Spring Valley really free?+
Yes. All Un Mar de Colores programs in Spring Valley are 100% free — including 3/2mm wetsuits, soft-top surfboards, transportation from partner schools like La Presa Elementary, Loma Elementary, Kempton Street Literacy Academy, and certified bilingual instruction. Funding comes from the San Diego Foundation, community grants, and individual donors. No Spring Valley family has ever paid for our programming.
Where exactly do after-school program happen in Spring Valley?+
Spring Valley is 12 miles inland from the coast, so our cohorts are shuttled to OB Pier (13 miles) — our nearest Un Mar teaching beach. Classroom components including curriculum, cultural arts, and tutoring happen at La Mesa-Spring Valley School District and partner schools inside Spring Valley.
What ages can enroll in Spring Valley?+
We serve youth ages 13–17. In Spring Valley specifically, our recruitment runs through La Mesa-Spring Valley Schools — with priority enrollment for students from La Presa Elementary, Loma Elementary, Kempton Street Literacy Academy. 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 (13 miles), supervised by instructors certified by the San Diego Fire-Rescue Lifeguard Division. Water comfort is built progressively. In Spring Valley, we also run pre-cohort pool-familiarization sessions at inland pools via our La Mesa-Spring Valley School District partnership for students who request extra comfort-building.
Are lessons taught in Spanish in Spring Valley?+
Yes. All Un Mar de Colores programs are bilingual — and in Spring Valley, where 45% 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 Spring Valley?+
Three ways: (1) everything is free, while most Spring Valley surf programs charge $50–$150 per lesson; (2) we are BIPOC-led and our coaches reflect the 79%-BIPOC Spring Valley 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 Spring Valley, not just those who can afford access.
How do I sign my Spring Valley child up?+
Visit our sign-up page or contact us directly. Priority enrollment goes to students of La Presa Elementary, Loma Elementary, Kempton Street Literacy Academy and referrals from La Mesa-Spring Valley School District and Spring Valley Library. Summer cohorts fill 3–4 weeks before start, so early contact is recommended.
Ready to Get in the Water?
Sign your Spring Valley youth up today — every program is 100% free, with wetsuits, boards, and transportation included.
All Un Mar de Colores programs are free for Spring Valley 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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