Un Mar de Colores · Point Loma, CA
Join Free Monthly Cleanups as a Point Loma Volunteer
Adults 18+ welcome — beach cleanups, youth mentorship, event logistics, and community organizing across San Diego.
Un Mar de Colores welcomes adult volunteers (18+) from Point Loma to support beach cleanups, youth mentorship, event logistics, and community organizing across San Diego County. Point Loma volunteers regularly support our programming at Sunset Cliffs and Garbage Beach (closest breaks to Point Loma) and partner community sites including Cabrillo National Monument (NPS) and Point Loma Nazarene University. We provide free orientation, cultural competency training, and pay for your background check.
Schedule — Point Loma Program Days
Ongoing (monthly events + weekly program support) · Completely free
You Might Be Feeling This
- —You'd mentor youth but worry about doing it wrong — nobody offered cultural competency training before pairing.
- —Your employer offers volunteer hours matching — you need documented service from a credible San Diego nonprofit.
- —You have professional skills (logistics, marketing, tutoring) but generic volunteer roles waste your Point Loma expertise.
What Changes When Youth Get in the Water
- Skills-based roles available — logistics, marketing, tutoring, photography, translation for Point Loma professionals.
- Branded volunteer gear and annual appreciation events — Point Loma volunteers recognized publicly.
- Weekly Ocean Stewards mentorship — tutor, ecology support, and Thursday beach day assistance.
Why We Run This Program in Point Loma
Point Loma's Sunset Cliffs coastline is too advanced for beginner instruction, but our Point Loma youth cohorts travel to OB Pier and Dog Beach for water sessions, with dryland instruction at Cabrillo National Monument and Point Loma Nazarene University (our educational partner). The Kumeyaay coastal history of the peninsula is woven into every Point Loma cohort curriculum.
- Population
- 32,000
- BIPOC residents
- 34%
- Spanish-speaking households
- 17%
- Distance to beach
- Coastal
Volunteer Programs in Point Loma — What You Should Know
How much does it cost to volunteer with youth programs? Background checks alone often cost $40–$75. Un Mar pays background checks and provides free orientation and cultural competency training for Point Loma direct-youth volunteers.
Volunteer with Un Mar de Colores from Point Loma — 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.
Why Point Loma Matters to Our Mission
Safe, lifeguard-coordinated instruction is non-negotiable for Point Loma youth. Every water session runs inside flagged zones with certified coaches — parents shouldn't have to choose between access and safety.
Point Loma's Spanish-speaking households (17%) get parent communications in both languages, every time. Coastal access fails when language is treated as an afterthought.
Local Point Loma Partners & Referral Sources
In partnership with San Diego Unified School District and local community organizations, we recruit youth from 2+ Title I schools.
School district & Title I partners
- San Diego Unified School District
- •Point Loma High
- •Cabrillo Elementary
Community partners
- ◆Cabrillo National Monument (NPS)
- ◆Point Loma Nazarene University
- ◆Point Loma Library
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 Point Loma 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
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 — Volunteer Programs in Point Loma
Do I need a background check to volunteer?+
Direct-youth volunteers (after-school mentorship, program support) complete a background check paid by Un Mar. Cleanup-only volunteers from Point Loma may not need full youth clearance — roles are matched to requirements at orientation.
Do volunteers get certificates of service?+
Yes — professional development hours and certificates of service documented for employers, schools, and workplace volunteer matching programs. Point Loma volunteers receive credible nonprofit documentation.
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 Point Loma mentors.
Are volunteer programs in Point Loma really free?+
Yes. All Un Mar de Colores programs in Point Loma are 100% free — including 3/2mm wetsuits, soft-top surfboards, transportation from partner schools like Point Loma High, Cabrillo Elementary, and certified bilingual instruction. Funding comes from the San Diego Foundation, community grants, and individual donors. No Point Loma family has ever paid for our programming.
Where exactly do volunteer programs happen in Point Loma?+
Primary water sessions run at Sunset Cliffs. Classroom components happen at Cabrillo National Monument (NPS) and other partner sites. All water activities happen within lifeguard-flag zones.
What ages can enroll in Point Loma?+
We serve youth ages 18+. In Point Loma specifically, our recruitment runs through San Diego Unified School District — with priority enrollment for students from Point Loma High, Cabrillo Elementary. 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 Point Loma, 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 Point Loma?+
Yes. All Un Mar de Colores programs are bilingual — and in Point Loma, where 17% 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 Point Loma?+
Three ways: (1) everything is free, while most Point Loma surf programs charge $50–$150 per lesson; (2) we are BIPOC-led and our coaches reflect the 34%-BIPOC Point Loma 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 Point Loma, not just those who can afford access.
How do I sign my Point Loma child up?+
Visit our sign-up page or contact us directly. Priority enrollment goes to students of Point Loma High, Cabrillo Elementary and referrals from Cabrillo National Monument (NPS) and Point Loma Nazarene University. Summer cohorts fill 3–4 weeks before start, so early contact is recommended.
Ready to Get in the Water?
Parents in Point Loma: bilingual staff, certified lifeguard-trained coaches, and zero cost. Sign up now.
All Un Mar de Colores programs are free for Point Loma 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.
Web platform architecture and development by Codinito.