Un Mar de Colores · San Diego County
San Diego County Watershed Education — From Mountains to Ocean, Free
Pathways from watershed education to ocean stewardship cleanups and Ocean Stewards after-school.
- Ages
- All ages
- Schedule
- Summer cohorts + year-round school field trips
- Cost
- Free
The Watershed Explorers program is Un Mar de Colores's flagship environmental education offering. Summer overnight cohorts trace the journey from Cuyamaca Rancho State Park's mountain streams to the San Diego coast, with special focus on the Tijuana River watershed — California's most cross-border and pollution-impacted river system. Curriculum integrates hydrology fundamentals, Indigenous Kumeyaay perspectives on water, and California coastal policy. Year-round day trips serve school field-trip groups across our 15+ Title I partner schools, and all programming is free with transportation included.
This hub connects San Diego County families to watershed education across 27 cities. Every city link below is a full local page with beaches, school partners, and enrollment paths — not an empty gateway.
You might be feeling this
- —Environmental justice isn't in the watershed conversation — over 55% of San Diego County residents bear pollution burdens.
- —Tijuana River pollution closes beaches and nobody at partner Title I school districts across San Diego County explains the cross-border watershed to your family.
- —Overnight environmental camps cost $400+ per student — watershed immersion feels impossible for San Diego County working families.
- —One-day aquarium trips don't teach hydrology — your child needs multi-day tracing from source to sea.
What changes when youth get in the water
- NGSS-aligned curriculum supports partner Title I school districts across San Diego County teachers with real field science alignment.
- Certified naturalist educators lead every trip — not volunteers guessing at field safety.
- Climate change and coastal resilience modules connect science to San Diego County beaches your family uses.
- Tijuana River cross-border case study — honest teaching about pollution, policy, and environmental justice.
Watershed Education across San Diego County — what families should know
Climate change and coastal resilience modules in San Diego County watershed education teach advocacy alongside science — students learn policy tools for clean water, not hopeless climate anxiety.
Pathways from watershed education to ocean stewardship and Ocean Stewards after-school give San Diego County teens year-round environmental arcs.
Watershed-to-ocean tracing answers why San Diego County storm drains matter — runoff pipelines taught from street to The Strand, Tamarack, Moonlight Beach, La Jolla Shores, Mission Beach, and Imperial Beach.
Free watershed education for San Diego County communities is part of Un Mar's BIPOC-led Cali-Baja movement — water as shared right across border and county.
Why San Diego County is our service area
San Diego County families deserve instructors who look like their kids and speak their language. With over 55% BIPOC residents, bilingual coaching isn't a nice-to-have — it's how we earn trust on day one.
Safe, lifeguard-coordinated instruction is non-negotiable for San Diego County youth. Every water session runs inside flagged zones with certified coaches — parents shouldn't have to choose between access and safety.
Program curriculum & how it works
- →Hydrology fundamentals
- →Cuyamaca to coast watershed tracing
- →Tijuana River cross-border watershed case study
- →Indigenous Kumeyaay relationship with water
- →Climate change and coastal resilience
- →Policy and advocacy for clean water
What's included — free for every youth
- ✓Overnight summer program option (Watershed Explorers)
- ✓Day-trip school field trips throughout the year
- ✓Bilingual curriculum materials
- ✓Transportation from partner schools
- ✓Certified naturalist educators
- ✓Family engagement opportunities
Why Un Mar de Colores (E-E-A-T)
Un Mar de Colores is recognized by partners including the San Diego Foundation, Surfrider San Diego, WILDCOAST, and school districts across San Diego County — not a pop-up program, a sustained movement.
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."”
Cities we serve — pick your community
Un Mar de Colores runs watershed education across 27 San Diego County cities. Each city page covers local beaches, school partners, and how to enroll — start with the community closest to your family.
- OceansideCoastal city
- CarlsbadCoastal city
- EncinitasCoastal city
- Cardiff by the SeaCoastal city
- Solana BeachCoastal city
- Del MarCoastal city
- La JollaCoastal city
- Pacific BeachCoastal city
- Mission BeachCoastal city
- Ocean BeachCoastal city
- Point LomaCoastal city
- Sunset CliffsCoastal city
- CoronadoCoastal city
- Imperial BeachCoastal city
- Chula Vista10 mi to beach
- National City8 mi to beach
- Vista7 mi to beach
- San Marcos11 mi to beach
- Escondido17 mi to beach
- San DiegoCoastal city
- Poway14 mi to beach
- Fallbrook22 mi to beach
- Bonita10 mi to beach
- Lemon Grove10 mi to beach
- El Cajon14 mi to beach
- Santee17 mi to beach
- Spring Valley12 mi to beach
Frequently asked questions — Watershed Education
Is watershed education free for San Diego County schools?+
Yes — 100% free. Year-round day-trip field trips for partner Title I school districts across San Diego County classrooms include bilingual materials, certified naturalist educators, and transportation. Overnight Watershed Explorers summer cohorts are also free for San Diego County youth — no tuition or material fees.
What is the Tijuana River watershed case study?+
The Tijuana River is California's most cross-border and pollution-impacted river system — closing beaches near Imperial Beach and affecting South County shores accessible from San Diego County. Our curriculum teaches hydrology, environmental justice, and policy with honesty, preparing San Diego County youth to understand cross-border water reality.
Where do field trips go from San Diego County?+
Sites progress from Cuyamaca mountain streams through river and estuary systems to coastal locations near The Strand, Tamarack, Moonlight Beach, La Jolla Shores, Mission Beach, and Imperial Beach. Multi-site tracing shows the full watershed pipeline relevant to San Diego County.
Are there overnight watershed programs for San Diego County youth?+
Yes — summer Watershed Explorers overnight cohorts provide multi-day mountain-to-coast tracing. Commercial environmental overnight camps often charge $400–$600. Un Mar provides food, lodging, curriculum, and transport at zero cost for San Diego County families.
Is watershed education bilingual in San Diego County?+
Yes — bilingual curriculum materials and field instruction are standard. In San Diego County, where about one-third of households are Spanish-speaking, educators deliver watershed science in English and Spanish.
Ready to get your child in the water?
Join hundreds of San Diego County families who trust Un Mar de Colores for free ocean programming. Enroll today.
All Un Mar de Colores programs are free for BIPOC youth across San Diego County. Reach out to enroll, volunteer, or support the movement.
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