Un Mar de Colores · Vista, CA
Environmental Literacy Meets Surf — Free for Vista
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 Vista teens ages 13–17, in partnership with Vista 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 (Oceanside Pier (7 miles)). Our Vista cohort draws primarily from Alamosa Park Elementary, Breeze Hill Elementary, Monte Vista Elementary, and 2 other Title I schools. Transportation, meals, tutoring, and surf instruction are entirely free.
Schedule — Vista Program Days
Tuesday–Thursday, year-round · Completely free
You Might Be Feeling This
- —Your teen is curious about environmental justice but school curriculum skips why Vista beaches close after storms.
- —Environmental clubs at school are underfunded — your teen wants hands-on watershed science, not a poster contest.
- —Bilingual support matters at home, but most Vista-area after-school programs default to English-only staff.
What Changes When Youth Get in the Water
- Trauma-informed culture welcomes teens navigating anxiety, grief, immigration stress, and family instability.
- Career exploration opens doors to marine science, coastal conservation, and environmental justice careers.
- Small cohort sizes keep mentorship personal — not 50 teens in a gym with one supervisor.
Why We Run This Program in Vista
Vista is the second-largest inland city in North County San Diego with a 44% Hispanic/Latino population. Our Vista cohorts travel by shuttle from Alamosa Park Elementary and Rancho Minerva Middle to The Strand in Oceanside — a 15-minute drive. Vista Unified's Title I schools are one of our largest feeder populations for both the Ocean Stewards After-School Program and our One Ocean summer cohorts.
- Population
- 101,638
- BIPOC residents
- 59%
- Spanish-speaking households
- 44%
- Distance to beach
- 7 mi
After-School Program in Vista — What You Should Know
BIPOC after-school programs in Vista address a real gap: 59% of local residents are BIPOC, yet enrichment marketing still centers narrow demographics. Our staff and alumni mentors reflect the communities we serve.
Parents searching after-school programs near Vista, CA often find paid tutoring centers first. Ocean Stewards is different: a 501(c)(3) BIPOC-led nonprofit prioritizing Title I referrals from Vista Unified School District with bilingual staff, transportation, and coastal programming built in.
Why Vista Matters to Our Mission
Vista families deserve instructors who look like their kids and speak their language. With 59% BIPOC residents, bilingual coaching isn't a nice-to-have — it's how we earn trust on day one.
Parents in Vista often ask how a nonprofit can offer everything free. Answer: San Diego Foundation grants, community donors, and partners who believe Vista youth belong in the lineup — same as any other kid in North County.
Local Vista Partners & Referral Sources
In partnership with Vista Unified School District and local community organizations, we recruit youth from 5+ Title I schools.
School district & Title I partners
- Vista Unified School District
- •Alamosa Park Elementary
- •Breeze Hill Elementary
- •Monte Vista Elementary
- •Rancho Minerva Middle
- •Rancho Buena Vista High
Community partners
- ◆Vista Unified School District
- ◆Vista Library
- ◆Boys & Girls Club of Vista
- ◆MiraCosta College Vista Campus
- ◆North County Lifeline
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 Vista 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 is a member of the surf equity ecosystem across California — connected to Surf Justice Collective, Native Like Water, and cross-border watershed coalitions.
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 Vista
Are meals provided during after-school?+
Healthy snacks and meals are provided every session. Vista working families don't need to pack food or pay hidden snack fees.
What is the Ocean Stewards after-school program in Vista?+
Ocean Stewards is Un Mar de Colores's free year-round after-school program for BIPOC teens ages 13–17 in Vista. 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.
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.
Are after-school program in Vista really free?+
Yes. All Un Mar de Colores programs in Vista are 100% free — including 3/2mm wetsuits, soft-top surfboards, transportation from partner schools like Alamosa Park Elementary, Breeze Hill Elementary, Monte Vista Elementary, and certified bilingual instruction. Funding comes from the San Diego Foundation, community grants, and individual donors. No Vista family has ever paid for our programming.
Where exactly do after-school program happen in Vista?+
Vista is 7 miles inland from the coast, so our cohorts are shuttled to Oceanside Pier (7 miles) — our nearest Un Mar teaching beach. Classroom components including curriculum, cultural arts, and tutoring happen at Vista Unified School District and partner schools inside Vista.
What ages can enroll in Vista?+
We serve youth ages 13–17. In Vista specifically, our recruitment runs through Vista Unified School District — with priority enrollment for students from Alamosa Park Elementary, Breeze Hill Elementary, Monte Vista Elementary and 2 other Title I schools. 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 Oceanside Pier (7 miles), supervised by instructors certified by the San Diego Fire-Rescue Lifeguard Division. Water comfort is built progressively. In Vista, we also run pre-cohort pool-familiarization sessions at inland pools via our Vista Unified School District partnership for students who request extra comfort-building.
Are lessons taught in Spanish in Vista?+
Yes. All Un Mar de Colores programs are bilingual — and in Vista, where 44% 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 Vista?+
Three ways: (1) everything is free, while most Vista surf programs charge $50–$150 per lesson; (2) we are BIPOC-led and our coaches reflect the 59%-BIPOC Vista 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 Vista, not just those who can afford access.
How do I sign my Vista child up?+
Visit our sign-up page or contact us directly. Priority enrollment goes to students of Alamosa Park Elementary, Breeze Hill Elementary, Monte Vista Elementary and referrals from Vista Unified School District and Vista Library. Summer cohorts fill 3–4 weeks before start, so early contact is recommended.
Ready to Get in the Water?
Support the movement or enroll your youth — Un Mar de Colores is building coastal access for Vista families.
All Un Mar de Colores programs are free for Vista 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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