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Un Mar de Colores · Chula Vista, CA
Join Free Monthly Cleanups from Chula Vista
Plastic pollution science, watershed connections, and California coastal policy — not just picking up trash.
Un Mar de Colores hosts ongoing Ocean Stewardship cleanup and conservation programming across the Chula Vista area and surrounding coast. Monthly events combine hands-on beach cleanup with environmental justice education, citizen science data collection, and policy literacy. Our Chula Vista programming partners with Chula Vista Elementary School District, Sweetwater Union High School District, Chula Vista Public Library (Civic Center Branch), and all events are free and family-friendly.
Schedule — Chula Vista Program Days
Monthly cleanups, quarterly workshops · Completely free
You Might Be Feeling This
- —You've picked up trash alone on the sand and felt invisible — no data, no community, no policy connection.
- —Transportation to monthly cleanups from inland Chula Vista (10 miles inland) feels like another unpaid logistics burden.
- —Volunteer sign-up pages are confusing — you found a cleanup once and never heard back from organizers.
What Changes When Youth Get in the Water
- Family-friendly participation — multi-generational Chula Vista households welcome.
- Bilingual safety briefings before every event — 58% households in Chula Vista fully included.
- Data visibility — participants see how their Chula Vista cleanup fits county-wide pollution patterns.
Why We Run This Program in Chula Vista
Chula Vista is California's 14th-largest city and home to one of the largest Latino populations in San Diego County — 58% Hispanic/Latino per the 2020 Census. We partner with Chula Vista Elementary School District (45,000+ students) and Sweetwater Union High to transport youth from Castle Park, Harborside, and Lauderbach Elementary to Imperial Beach and Coronado for free surf and ocean programming.
- Population
- 275,487
- BIPOC residents
- 81%
- Spanish-speaking households
- 58%
- Distance to beach
- 10 mi
Ocean Stewardship in Chula Vista — What You Should Know
With 58% Spanish-speaking households in Chula Vista, bilingual cleanup briefings and materials are standard — not English-only safety instructions on the sand.
Ocean stewardship near Imperial Beach (10 miles) and Coronado Central (12 miles) partners with Ocean Stewards after-school — Chula Vista teens connect classroom science to monthly sand action.
Why Chula Vista Matters to Our Mission
Chula Vista sits inside San Diego County's coastal equity gap — 81% of residents identify as BIPOC, yet beach access has historically been gated by cost, transportation, and culture. Un Mar de Colores closes that gap with free programming and school-based recruitment.
Parents in Chula Vista often ask how a nonprofit can offer everything free. Answer: San Diego Foundation grants, community donors, and partners who believe Chula Vista youth belong in the lineup — same as any other kid in San Diego.
Local Chula Vista Partners & Referral Sources
In partnership with Chula Vista Elementary School District / Sweetwater Union High and local community organizations, we recruit youth from 5+ Title I schools.
School district & Title I partners
- Chula Vista Elementary School District / Sweetwater Union High
- •Rosebank Elementary
- •Castle Park Elementary
- •Harborside Elementary
- •Lauderbach Elementary
- •Chula Vista Middle
Community partners
- ◆Chula Vista Elementary School District
- ◆Sweetwater Union High School District
- ◆Chula Vista Public Library (Civic Center Branch)
- ◆South Bay Community Services
- ◆Casa Familiar
Program Curriculum
Ocean Stewardship at Un Mar de Colores connects coastal cleanup action with deeper environmental justice education. Monthly cleanups run across Oceanside, Imperial Beach, Cardiff, and partner sites, with each event combining hands-on debris removal with short teaching moments about the watershed-to-ocean pipeline, the plastic pollution crisis, and California coastal policy. Our Ocean Stewardship program is free and family-friendly, and we specifically prioritize recruitment from BIPOC communities whose relationships with the coast have historically been gated by cost or culture. Every participant contributes to our citizen science database tracking pollution patterns across San Diego County.
- →Beach cleanup fundamentals and safe practices
- →Plastic pollution and marine debris science
- →California coastal commission policy basics
- →Watershed-to-ocean connection
- →Citizen science data collection protocols
- →Advocacy and community organizing skills
What's Included — Free for Every Chula Vista Youth
- ✓Cleanup supplies (buckets, grabbers, gloves)
- ✓Bilingual safety briefings
- ✓Data collection training
- ✓Post-cleanup debrief and reflection
- ✓Certificate of community service
- ✓Family-friendly participation
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 — Ocean Stewardship in Chula Vista
Where do cleanups happen near Chula Vista?+
Sites rotate across North County and San Diego coastlines — including areas near Imperial Beach (10 miles) and Coronado Central (12 miles). We select locations based on need, safety, and accessibility from Chula Vista. Event pages list specific meet points.
What supplies do I need for a beach cleanup?+
Nothing — we provide buckets, grabbers, gloves, and data collection materials. Show up in closed-toe shoes and sun protection. Chula Vista families don't need to buy cleanup gear.
Are cleanups bilingual in Chula Vista?+
Yes — bilingual safety briefings and materials are standard. In Chula Vista, where 58% of households are Spanish-speaking, English and Spanish instructions precede every event.
Are ocean stewardship in Chula Vista really free?+
Yes. All Un Mar de Colores programs in Chula Vista are 100% free — including 3/2mm wetsuits, soft-top surfboards, transportation from partner schools like Rosebank Elementary, Castle Park Elementary, Harborside Elementary, and certified bilingual instruction. Funding comes from the San Diego Foundation, community grants, and individual donors. No Chula Vista family has ever paid for our programming.
Where exactly do ocean stewardship happen in Chula Vista?+
Chula Vista is 10 miles inland from the coast, so our cohorts are shuttled to Imperial Beach (10 miles) — our nearest Un Mar teaching beach. Classroom components including curriculum, cultural arts, and tutoring happen at Chula Vista Elementary School District and partner schools inside Chula Vista.
What ages can enroll in Chula Vista?+
We serve youth ages All ages. In Chula Vista specifically, our recruitment runs through Chula Vista Elementary School District / Sweetwater Union High — with priority enrollment for students from Rosebank Elementary, Castle Park Elementary, Harborside 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 Imperial Beach (10 miles), supervised by instructors certified by the San Diego Fire-Rescue Lifeguard Division. Water comfort is built progressively. In Chula Vista, we also run pre-cohort pool-familiarization sessions at inland pools via our Chula Vista Elementary School District partnership for students who request extra comfort-building.
Are lessons taught in Spanish in Chula Vista?+
Yes. All Un Mar de Colores programs are bilingual — and in Chula Vista, where 58% 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 ocean stewardship in Chula Vista?+
Three ways: (1) everything is free, while most Chula Vista surf programs charge $50–$150 per lesson; (2) we are BIPOC-led and our coaches reflect the 81%-BIPOC Chula 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 Chula Vista, not just those who can afford access.
How do I sign my Chula Vista child up?+
Visit our sign-up page or contact us directly. Priority enrollment goes to students of Rosebank Elementary, Castle Park Elementary, Harborside Elementary and referrals from Chula Vista Elementary School District and Sweetwater Union High School District. 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 Chula Vista families.
All Un Mar de Colores programs are free for Chula 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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