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Un Mar de Colores · National City, CA
Free Citizen Science Beach Cleanups in San Diego
Family-friendly participation — kids, grandparents, and neighbors from National City welcome on the sand.
Un Mar de Colores hosts ongoing Ocean Stewardship cleanup and conservation programming across the National City area and surrounding coast. Monthly events combine hands-on beach cleanup with environmental justice education, citizen science data collection, and policy literacy. Our National City programming partners with National School District, National City Public Library, Kimball Park (City of National City), and all events are free and family-friendly.
Schedule — National City Program Days
Monthly cleanups, quarterly workshops · Completely free
You Might Be Feeling This
- —You want your kids learning California coastal commission basics — not just 'reduce, reuse, recycle' slogans.
- —Your family has been in National City for generations yet coastal stewardship still feels tourist-first, local-last.
- —Beach closure headlines after storms confuse you — nobody connects Tijuana River pollution to why National City families can't swim.
What Changes When Youth Get in the Water
- Trauma-informed, welcoming culture — first-time volunteers from National City aren't lectured or judged.
- Monthly beach cleanups across San Diego County — consistent action, not one Earth Day photo op.
- Quarterly workshops deepen advocacy and community organizing beyond monthly cleanups.
Why We Run This Program in National City
National City is 63% Hispanic/Latino and among the most economically impacted cities in San Diego County. Our programs here are built around transportation — youth from Central, Kimball, and Olivewood Elementary travel to Imperial Beach and Coronado for water programming, with classroom components at National City Public Library and the MLK Community Center. National City is a priority Title I partnership for our Ocean Stewards recruitment.
- Population
- 56,173
- BIPOC residents
- 91%
- Spanish-speaking households
- 61%
- Distance to beach
- 8 mi
Ocean Stewardship in National City — What You Should Know
Environmental justice beach cleanups in National City address who bears pollution burden when Tijuana River flows close beaches — cross-border watershed reality integrated into every Un Mar event in San Diego.
Community service hours for National School District / Sweetwater Union High students are documented at every Un Mar cleanup — National City teens get verified hours with environmental depth, not parking-lot volunteer slots.
Why National City Matters to Our Mission
National City sits inside San Diego County's coastal equity gap — 91% 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.
Recruitment in National City 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 National City Partners & Referral Sources
In partnership with National School District / Sweetwater Union High and local community organizations, we recruit youth from 4+ Title I schools.
School district & Title I partners
- National School District / Sweetwater Union High
- •Central Elementary (National City)
- •Kimball Elementary
- •Olivewood Elementary
- •Sweetwater High School
Community partners
- ◆National School District
- ◆National City Public Library
- ◆Kimball Park (City of National City)
- ◆Casa Familiar (nearby in San Ysidro)
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 National City 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 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 — Ocean Stewardship in National City
Are beach cleanups family-friendly in National City?+
Absolutely — grandparents, parents, teens, and young children from National City are welcome. We design events for multi-generational participation with safety briefings before anyone touches debris.
Do cleanups provide community service hours?+
Yes — students receive certificates of community service with documented hours suitable for National School District / Sweetwater Union High requirements. National City teens get verified environmental service, not generic parking-lot volunteer slots.
Are cleanups bilingual in National City?+
Yes — bilingual safety briefings and materials are standard. In National City, where 61% of households are Spanish-speaking, English and Spanish instructions precede every event.
Are ocean stewardship in National City really free?+
Yes. All Un Mar de Colores programs in National City are 100% free — including 3/2mm wetsuits, soft-top surfboards, transportation from partner schools like Central Elementary (National City), Kimball Elementary, Olivewood Elementary, and certified bilingual instruction. Funding comes from the San Diego Foundation, community grants, and individual donors. No National City family has ever paid for our programming.
Where exactly do ocean stewardship happen in National City?+
National City is 8 miles inland from the coast, so our cohorts are shuttled to Imperial Beach (8 miles) — our nearest Un Mar teaching beach. Classroom components including curriculum, cultural arts, and tutoring happen at National School District and partner schools inside National City.
What ages can enroll in National City?+
We serve youth ages All ages. In National City specifically, our recruitment runs through National School District / Sweetwater Union High — with priority enrollment for students from Central Elementary (National City), Kimball Elementary, Olivewood Elementary and 1 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 (8 miles), supervised by instructors certified by the San Diego Fire-Rescue Lifeguard Division. Water comfort is built progressively. In National City, we also run pre-cohort pool-familiarization sessions at inland pools via our National School District partnership for students who request extra comfort-building.
Are lessons taught in Spanish in National City?+
Yes. All Un Mar de Colores programs are bilingual — and in National City, where 61% 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 National City?+
Three ways: (1) everything is free, while most National City surf programs charge $50–$150 per lesson; (2) we are BIPOC-led and our coaches reflect the 91%-BIPOC National City 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 National City, not just those who can afford access.
How do I sign my National City child up?+
Visit our sign-up page or contact us directly. Priority enrollment goes to students of Central Elementary (National City), Kimball Elementary, Olivewood Elementary and referrals from National School District and National City Public Library. Summer cohorts fill 3–4 weeks before start, so early contact is recommended.
Ready to Get in the Water?
Ready to get your child in the water? Contact Un Mar de Colores — priority enrollment for National City Title I school students.
All Un Mar de Colores programs are free for National City 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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