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Un Mar de Colores · San Marcos, CA
Environmental Justice on the Coast — Free in San Marcos
Commercial eco-tourism charges for 'volunteer' beach days. Un Mar charges nothing — ever.
Un Mar de Colores hosts ongoing Ocean Stewardship cleanup and conservation programming across the San Marcos area and surrounding coast. Monthly events combine hands-on beach cleanup with environmental justice education, citizen science data collection, and policy literacy. Our San Marcos programming partners with California State University San Marcos (student volunteers), San Marcos Unified School District, Boys & Girls Club of San Marcos, and all events are free and family-friendly.
Schedule — San Marcos Program Days
Monthly cleanups, quarterly workshops · Completely free
You Might Be Feeling This
- —Eco-volunteer events near the coast feel white-dominated — your family doesn't see themselves in the lineup of volunteers.
- —Your family has been in San Marcos for generations yet coastal stewardship still feels tourist-first, local-last.
- —Your teen needs community service hours for San Marcos Unified School District — but generic volunteer slots are far and poorly documented.
What Changes When Youth Get in the Water
- California coastal commission policy basics — San Marcos participants learn how coastal rules affect their beaches.
- Family-friendly participation — multi-generational San Marcos households welcome.
- Local site selection near Carlsbad Tamarack (11 miles) and Oceanside Pier (13 miles) — action on shores your family actually uses.
Why We Run This Program in San Marcos
San Marcos is the most diverse inland city in North County, with 37% Hispanic/Latino population and home to California State University San Marcos. Our cohorts travel from Alvin Dunn Elementary and San Marcos Middle to Carlsbad's Tamarack for water programming. CSUSM student volunteers support our program delivery, making this one of our strongest university-nonprofit partnerships.
- Population
- 96,664
- BIPOC residents
- 51%
- Spanish-speaking households
- 37%
- Distance to beach
- 11 mi
Ocean Stewardship in San Marcos — What You Should Know
Safe cleanup protocols trained every event — sharp debris, hazardous waste, and proper handling for nervous first-time volunteers from San Marcos.
Community service hours for San Marcos Unified School District students are documented at every Un Mar cleanup — San Marcos teens get verified hours with environmental depth, not parking-lot volunteer slots.
Why San Marcos Matters to Our Mission
San Marcos's Spanish-speaking households (37%) get parent communications in both languages, every time. Coastal access fails when language is treated as an afterthought.
The ocean off San Marcos belongs to everyone. Un Mar de Colores exists because North County has spent decades telling BIPOC youth otherwise — and we're changing that story one cohort at a time.
Local San Marcos Partners & Referral Sources
In partnership with San Marcos Unified School District and local community organizations, we recruit youth from 5+ Title I schools.
School district & Title I partners
- San Marcos Unified School District
- •Alvin Dunn Elementary
- •Paloma Elementary
- •San Marcos Elementary
- •San Marcos Middle School
- •San Marcos High School
Community partners
- ◆California State University San Marcos (student volunteers)
- ◆San Marcos Unified School District
- ◆Boys & Girls Club of San Marcos
- ◆San Marcos Library
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 San Marcos 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
Our coaches include graduates of the Surf Athletic Scholarship program and bilingual educators who reflect the BIPOC communities we serve. We partner with 15+ Title I schools across North County and San Diego.
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 San Marcos
Where do cleanups happen near San Marcos?+
Sites rotate across North County and San Diego coastlines — including areas near Carlsbad Tamarack (11 miles) and Oceanside Pier (13 miles). We select locations based on need, safety, and accessibility from San Marcos. Event pages list specific meet points.
When are beach cleanups near San Marcos?+
Un Mar de Colores runs monthly beach cleanups across San Diego County — Oceanside, Imperial Beach, Cardiff, and partner sites accessible from San Marcos. Quarterly workshops add deeper advocacy training. Check our calendar for the next event near Carlsbad Tamarack (11 miles) and Oceanside Pier (13 miles).
Is citizen science part of ocean stewardship cleanups?+
Yes — every cleanup includes data collection training. Participants document debris types and locations, contributing to Un Mar's database tracking pollution patterns across North County. San Marcos volunteers contribute real science.
Are ocean stewardship in San Marcos really free?+
Yes. All Un Mar de Colores programs in San Marcos are 100% free — including 3/2mm wetsuits, soft-top surfboards, transportation from partner schools like Alvin Dunn Elementary, Paloma Elementary, San Marcos Elementary, and certified bilingual instruction. Funding comes from the San Diego Foundation, community grants, and individual donors. No San Marcos family has ever paid for our programming.
Where exactly do ocean stewardship happen in San Marcos?+
San Marcos is 11 miles inland from the coast, so our cohorts are shuttled to Carlsbad Tamarack (11 miles) — our nearest Un Mar teaching beach. Classroom components including curriculum, cultural arts, and tutoring happen at California State University San Marcos (student volunteers) and partner schools inside San Marcos.
What ages can enroll in San Marcos?+
We serve youth ages All ages. In San Marcos specifically, our recruitment runs through San Marcos Unified School District — with priority enrollment for students from Alvin Dunn Elementary, Paloma Elementary, San Marcos 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 Carlsbad Tamarack (11 miles), supervised by instructors certified by the San Diego Fire-Rescue Lifeguard Division. Water comfort is built progressively. In San Marcos, we also run pre-cohort pool-familiarization sessions at inland pools via our California State University San Marcos (student volunteers) partnership for students who request extra comfort-building.
Are lessons taught in Spanish in San Marcos?+
Yes. All Un Mar de Colores programs are bilingual — and in San Marcos, where 37% 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 San Marcos?+
Three ways: (1) everything is free, while most San Marcos surf programs charge $50–$150 per lesson; (2) we are BIPOC-led and our coaches reflect the 51%-BIPOC San Marcos 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 San Marcos, not just those who can afford access.
How do I sign my San Marcos child up?+
Visit our sign-up page or contact us directly. Priority enrollment goes to students of Alvin Dunn Elementary, Paloma Elementary, San Marcos Elementary and referrals from California State University San Marcos (student volunteers) and San Marcos Unified 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 San Marcos families.
All Un Mar de Colores programs are free for San Marcos 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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