Un Mar de Colores · Chula Vista, CA
Chula Vista Volunteers — Beach Cleanups, Mentorship & Events
Direct-youth volunteers complete youth-safety training coordinated with nonprofit standards.
Un Mar de Colores welcomes adult volunteers (18+) from Chula Vista to support beach cleanups, youth mentorship, event logistics, and community organizing across San Diego County. Chula Vista volunteers regularly support our programming at Imperial Beach (10 miles) and Coronado Central (12 miles) (closest breaks to Chula Vista) and partner community sites including Chula Vista Elementary School District and Sweetwater Union High School District. We provide free orientation, cultural competency training, and pay for your background check.
Schedule — Chula Vista Program Days
Ongoing (monthly events + weekly program support) · Completely free
You Might Be Feeling This
- —Transportation to cleanup sites from inland Chula Vista (10 miles inland) feels like unpaid logistics on top of volunteering.
- —You want to support BIPOC youth without savior narratives — training on how to mentor respectfully is rare.
- —You want intergenerational community — volunteering that connects Chula Vista neighbors across age and background.
What Changes When Youth Get in the Water
- Skills-based roles available — logistics, marketing, tutoring, photography, translation for Chula Vista professionals.
- Free means free — no participation fees, no gear purchases, no volunteer tourism upsells.
- Community organizing and advocacy training for volunteers ready to deepen beyond cleanups.
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
Volunteer Programs in Chula Vista — What You Should Know
Volunteer with Un Mar de Colores from Chula Vista — adults 18+ support beach cleanups, Ocean Stewards after-school mentorship, Surf Fiesta events, and community organizing across San Diego County. Free orientation, paid background check, and cultural competency training included.
Event volunteer roles for Surf Fiesta and community celebrations need Chula Vista adults for logistics, setup, and guest welcome — movement building, not unpaid grunt work without context.
Why Chula Vista Matters to Our Mission
Environmental justice in Chula Vista isn't abstract: watershed health, beach closures, and plastic pollution affect the same communities we serve. Our programs connect surf skills to stewardship of San Diego's coastline.
The ocean off Chula Vista belongs to everyone. Un Mar de Colores exists because San Diego has spent decades telling BIPOC youth otherwise — and we're changing that story one cohort at a time.
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
Volunteers are the backbone of Un Mar de Colores. Monthly beach cleanups, weekly after-school program support, annual Surf Fiesta events, and ongoing community organizing all rely on volunteers from across San Diego County. We welcome adult volunteers (18+) with a range of skill sets and time commitments — from single-event cleanup volunteers to weekly mentors supporting Ocean Stewards. All volunteers complete a free orientation and a paid background check, and we provide cultural competency training to every direct-youth volunteer.
- →Volunteer orientation and safety
- →Background check and youth-safety training
- →Cultural competency training
- →Program-specific coaching (if direct-youth volunteer)
- →Event logistics and setup
- →Community organizing and advocacy
What's Included — Free for Every Chula Vista Youth
- ✓Free volunteer training
- ✓Background check paid by Un Mar
- ✓Volunteer appreciation events
- ✓Professional development hours
- ✓Branded volunteer gear
- ✓Certificate of service for school/work
Why Un Mar de Colores
Program safety is documented: lifeguard coordination, 4:1 ratios on youth water days, trauma-informed staff training, and parent communication protocols in English and Spanish.
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 — Volunteer Programs in Chula Vista
What is cultural competency training?+
Training prepares volunteers to mentor BIPOC youth respectfully — avoiding savior dynamics, honoring cultural context, and supporting trauma-informed environments. Required before direct-youth pairing for Chula Vista mentors.
Who can volunteer with Un Mar from Chula Vista?+
Adults 18+ with a range of skill sets and time commitments. Roles include monthly beach cleanups, weekly Ocean Stewards after-school support, Surf Fiesta event logistics, and community organizing. Single-event and ongoing volunteers from Chula Vista both welcome.
Is there volunteer appreciation for Chula Vista adults?+
Yes — branded volunteer gear and annual appreciation events recognize labor publicly. Chula Vista volunteers are movement builders, not invisible nonprofit infrastructure.
Are volunteer programs 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 volunteer programs 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 18+. 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 volunteer programs 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?
Volunteer, donate, or enroll — however you join, you're helping Chula Vista youth access the coast.
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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