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Un Mar de Colores · Sunset Cliffs, CA
Join Free Monthly Cleanups from Sunset Cliffs
Data contributes to our citizen science database tracking pollution patterns across San Diego.
Un Mar de Colores hosts ongoing Ocean Stewardship cleanup and conservation programming across the Sunset Cliffs area and surrounding coast. Monthly events combine hands-on beach cleanup with environmental justice education, citizen science data collection, and policy literacy. Our Sunset Cliffs programming partners with Sunset Cliffs Natural Park Council, Point Loma Surfers Association, San Diego Park & Recreation Department, and all events are free and family-friendly.
Schedule — Sunset Cliffs Program Days
Monthly cleanups, quarterly workshops · Completely free
You Might Be Feeling This
- —Bilingual safety briefings matter — most cleanup flyers in San Diego default to English-only instructions.
- —Citizen science sounds exclusive — you didn't know Sunset Cliffs families could contribute to real pollution databases.
- —Your teen needs community service hours for San Diego Unified School District — but generic volunteer slots are far and poorly documented.
What Changes When Youth Get in the Water
- Monthly beach cleanups across San Diego County — consistent action, not one Earth Day photo op.
- Certificate of community service for students — documented hours for San Diego Unified School District requirements.
- Environmental justice education woven into every event — why beaches close, who bears pollution burden.
Why We Run This Program in Sunset Cliffs
Sunset Cliffs is an advanced-only surf zone — we do not teach beginners here. Instead, our Sunset Cliffs programming focuses on our Surf Athletic Scholarship athletes and shoreline environmental stewardship at Sunset Cliffs Natural Park, partnering with the San Diego Park & Recreation Department on tide-pool conservation days.
- Population
- 14,000
- BIPOC residents
- 34%
- Spanish-speaking households
- 15%
- Distance to beach
- Coastal
Ocean Stewardship in Sunset Cliffs — What You Should Know
Free beach cleanups in Sunset Cliffs are Ocean Stewardship at Un Mar de Colores — monthly events combining hands-on debris removal with environmental justice education. Unlike paid eco-volunteer tourism, we provide supplies, bilingual briefings, citizen science training, and community service documentation at zero cost.
Safe cleanup protocols trained every event — sharp debris, hazardous waste, and proper handling for nervous first-time volunteers from Sunset Cliffs.
Why Sunset Cliffs Matters to Our Mission
Sunset Cliffs sits inside San Diego County's coastal equity gap — 34% 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.
Serving Sunset Cliffs means meeting families where they are: San Diego schools, community centers, and partner orgs that already hold trust. We don't wait for families to find the beach — we bring youth to the water.
Local Sunset Cliffs Partners & Referral Sources
In partnership with San Diego Unified School District and local community organizations, we recruit youth from 1+ Title I schools.
School district & Title I partners
- San Diego Unified School District
- •Point Loma High
Community partners
- ◆Sunset Cliffs Natural Park Council
- ◆Point Loma Surfers Association
- ◆San Diego Park & Recreation Department
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 Sunset Cliffs 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 Sunset Cliffs
Can adults volunteer beyond cleanups?+
Yes — the Un Mar volunteer program welcomes adults 18+ from Sunset Cliffs for ongoing cleanup leadership, event support, and mentorship. Cleanups are the entry point to deeper movement participation.
Are beach cleanups in Sunset Cliffs free?+
Yes — 100% free. We provide cleanup supplies (buckets, grabbers, gloves), bilingual safety briefings, citizen science training, and community service documentation. No registration fees or gear purchases for Sunset Cliffs families.
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 Sunset Cliffs. Stewardship isn't just litter; it's justice framing for BIPOC communities gated from coastal spaces.
Are ocean stewardship in Sunset Cliffs really free?+
Yes. All Un Mar de Colores programs in Sunset Cliffs are 100% free — including 3/2mm wetsuits, soft-top surfboards, transportation from partner schools like Point Loma High, and certified bilingual instruction. Funding comes from the San Diego Foundation, community grants, and individual donors. No Sunset Cliffs family has ever paid for our programming.
Where exactly do ocean stewardship happen in Sunset Cliffs?+
Primary water sessions run at Sunset Cliffs. Classroom components happen at Sunset Cliffs Natural Park Council and other partner sites. All water activities happen within lifeguard-flag zones.
What ages can enroll in Sunset Cliffs?+
We serve youth ages All ages. In Sunset Cliffs specifically, our recruitment runs through San Diego Unified School District — with priority enrollment for students from Point Loma High. 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 Sunset Cliffs, supervised by instructors certified by the San Diego Fire-Rescue Lifeguard Division. Water comfort is built progressively. In Sunset Cliffs, we also run pre-cohort pool-familiarization sessions at local community pools for students who request extra comfort-building.
Are lessons taught in Spanish in Sunset Cliffs?+
Yes. All Un Mar de Colores programs are bilingual — and in Sunset Cliffs, where 15% 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 Sunset Cliffs?+
Three ways: (1) everything is free, while most Sunset Cliffs surf programs charge $50–$150 per lesson; (2) we are BIPOC-led and our coaches reflect the 34%-BIPOC Sunset Cliffs 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 Sunset Cliffs, not just those who can afford access.
How do I sign my Sunset Cliffs child up?+
Visit our sign-up page or contact us directly. Priority enrollment goes to students of Point Loma High and referrals from Sunset Cliffs Natural Park Council and Point Loma Surfers Association. 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 Sunset Cliffs Title I school students.
All Un Mar de Colores programs are free for Sunset Cliffs 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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