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Un Mar de Colores · Fallbrook, CA
Plastic Pollution Action for Fallbrook Communities
Family-friendly participation — kids, grandparents, and neighbors from Fallbrook welcome on the sand.
Un Mar de Colores hosts ongoing Ocean Stewardship cleanup and conservation programming across the Fallbrook area and surrounding coast. Monthly events combine hands-on beach cleanup with environmental justice education, citizen science data collection, and policy literacy. Our Fallbrook programming partners with Fallbrook Union Elementary School District, Fallbrook Library, Fallbrook Community Center, and all events are free and family-friendly.
Schedule — Fallbrook Program Days
Monthly cleanups, quarterly workshops · Completely free
You Might Be Feeling This
- —The coast near Fallbrook feels like a backdrop for photos, not a place your community is responsible for stewarding.
- —Eco-volunteer events near the coast feel white-dominated — your family doesn't see themselves in the lineup of volunteers.
- —You want grandparents and young kids involved — many events aren't truly family-friendly.
What Changes When Youth Get in the Water
- Partnership pathways to Watershed Explorers and Ocean Stewards after-school for Fallbrook youth.
- Local site selection near Oceanside Pier (22 miles) — action on shores your family actually uses.
- Data visibility — participants see how their Fallbrook cleanup fits county-wide pollution patterns.
Why We Run This Program in Fallbrook
Fallbrook — known as 'The Friendly Village' — is 48% Hispanic/Latino with strong ties to Camp Pendleton. Our Fallbrook cohort is one of our longest-distance programs (22 miles to the beach), requiring full-day Saturday sessions. We partner with Fallbrook Union for recruitment and with the Fallbrook Library as our inland classroom partner.
- Population
- 32,321
- BIPOC residents
- 55%
- Spanish-speaking households
- 48%
- Distance to beach
- 22 mi
Ocean Stewardship in Fallbrook — What You Should Know
Watershed education integration connects cleanup action to Cuyamaca-to-coast hydrology and Tijuana River case studies — Fallbrook participants see the full pipeline.
Free ocean stewardship for Fallbrook communities is part of Un Mar's BIPOC-led Cali-Baja movement — coastal access as stewardship right, not eco-tourism product.
Why Fallbrook Matters to Our Mission
Parents in Fallbrook often ask how a nonprofit can offer everything free. Answer: San Diego Foundation grants, community donors, and partners who believe Fallbrook youth belong in the lineup — same as any other kid in North County.
Fallbrook sits inside San Diego County's coastal equity gap — 55% 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.
Local Fallbrook Partners & Referral Sources
In partnership with Fallbrook Union Elementary School District and local community organizations, we recruit youth from 2+ Title I schools.
School district & Title I partners
- Fallbrook Union Elementary School District
- •La Paloma Elementary
- •Fallbrook Street School
Community partners
- ◆Fallbrook Union Elementary School District
- ◆Fallbrook Library
- ◆Fallbrook Community Center
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 Fallbrook 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 Fallbrook
Are quarterly workshops separate from monthly cleanups?+
Quarterly workshops deepen advocacy and community organizing beyond debris removal — recommended for Fallbrook participants who want to move from volunteer to organizer. Cleanups remain monthly entry points.
What is environmental justice in ocean stewardship?+
We connect cleanup action to who bears pollution burden — especially cross-border Tijuana River watershed impacts that close beaches near Fallbrook. Stewardship isn't just litter; it's justice framing for BIPOC communities gated from coastal spaces.
Can adults volunteer beyond cleanups?+
Yes — the Un Mar volunteer program welcomes adults 18+ from Fallbrook for ongoing cleanup leadership, event support, and mentorship. Cleanups are the entry point to deeper movement participation.
Are ocean stewardship in Fallbrook really free?+
Yes. All Un Mar de Colores programs in Fallbrook are 100% free — including 3/2mm wetsuits, soft-top surfboards, transportation from partner schools like La Paloma Elementary, Fallbrook Street School, and certified bilingual instruction. Funding comes from the San Diego Foundation, community grants, and individual donors. No Fallbrook family has ever paid for our programming.
Where exactly do ocean stewardship happen in Fallbrook?+
Fallbrook is 22 miles inland from the coast, so our cohorts are shuttled to Oceanside Pier (22 miles) — our nearest Un Mar teaching beach. Classroom components including curriculum, cultural arts, and tutoring happen at Fallbrook Union Elementary School District and partner schools inside Fallbrook.
What ages can enroll in Fallbrook?+
We serve youth ages All ages. In Fallbrook specifically, our recruitment runs through Fallbrook Union Elementary School District — with priority enrollment for students from La Paloma Elementary, Fallbrook Street School. 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 (22 miles), supervised by instructors certified by the San Diego Fire-Rescue Lifeguard Division. Water comfort is built progressively. In Fallbrook, we also run pre-cohort pool-familiarization sessions at inland pools via our Fallbrook Union Elementary School District partnership for students who request extra comfort-building.
Are lessons taught in Spanish in Fallbrook?+
Yes. All Un Mar de Colores programs are bilingual — and in Fallbrook, where 48% 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 Fallbrook?+
Three ways: (1) everything is free, while most Fallbrook surf programs charge $50–$150 per lesson; (2) we are BIPOC-led and our coaches reflect the 55%-BIPOC Fallbrook 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 Fallbrook, not just those who can afford access.
How do I sign my Fallbrook child up?+
Visit our sign-up page or contact us directly. Priority enrollment goes to students of La Paloma Elementary, Fallbrook Street School and referrals from Fallbrook Union Elementary School District and Fallbrook Library. Summer cohorts fill 3–4 weeks before start, so early contact is recommended.
Ready to Get in the Water?
Join hundreds of Fallbrook families who trust Un Mar de Colores for free ocean programming. Enroll today.
All Un Mar de Colores programs are free for Fallbrook 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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