Un Mar de Colores · Bonita, CA
Free Watershed Education for Bonita Youth & Families
NGSS-aligned curriculum for Chula Vista Elementary / Sweetwater Union teachers seeking real field science, not textbook supplements.
Un Mar de Colores's Watershed Explorers program brings Bonita youth into the full watershed-to-ocean story of San Diego County. Day trips and overnight summer cohorts trace mountain streams from Cuyamaca State Park to the coast, returning to Imperial Beach (10 miles) and Coronado Central (11 miles) (closest breaks to Bonita) for ocean-based lessons. We partner with Chula Vista Elementary / Sweetwater Union and community organizations including Bonita-Sunnyside Library and Sweetwater Union High School District to recruit from Sunnyside Elementary, Bonita Vista Middle. Every program integrates the Tijuana River watershed case study — the only cross-border river in Southern California.
Schedule — Bonita Program Days
Summer cohorts + year-round school field trips · Completely free
You Might Be Feeling This
- —Tijuana River pollution closes beaches and nobody at Chula Vista Elementary / Sweetwater Union explains the cross-border watershed to your family.
- —Your teen asks why the ocean smells after rain — school never mapped the pipeline from Bonita storm drains to Imperial Beach (10 miles) and Coronado Central (11 miles).
- —Environmental justice isn't in the watershed conversation — 68% of Bonita residents bear pollution burdens.
What Changes When Youth Get in the Water
- Water stewardship as movement — Bonita families join a county-wide network protecting shared watersheds.
- Tijuana River cross-border case study — honest teaching about pollution, policy, and environmental justice.
- Citizen science data collection on field trips — student work contributes to real watershed databases.
Why We Run This Program in Bonita
Bonita is a South Bay community adjacent to Chula Vista and National City, with a 58% Hispanic/Latino population. Our Bonita cohorts shuttle to Imperial Beach and Coronado, with classroom components at Bonita-Sunnyside Library. Students primarily come from Sunnyside Elementary and Bonita Vista Middle as part of our South Bay Title I partnership network.
- Population
- 12,795
- BIPOC residents
- 68%
- Spanish-speaking households
- 41%
- Distance to beach
- 10 mi
Watershed Education in Bonita — What You Should Know
Free watershed education for Bonita communities is part of Un Mar's BIPOC-led Cali-Baja movement — water as shared right across border and county.
School field trips from inland Bonita (10 miles inland from coast) reach mountain and coastal sites because Un Mar provides transportation — teachers aren't fundraising for buses.
Why Bonita Matters to Our Mission
Safe, lifeguard-coordinated instruction is non-negotiable for Bonita youth. Every water session runs inside flagged zones with certified coaches — parents shouldn't have to choose between access and safety.
With 12,795 residents, Bonita is one of the communities where a single free surf cohort can change dozens of lives per season. Our shuttles and school partnerships make distance (10 miles inland) a logistics problem we solve, not a barrier families carry alone.
Local Bonita Partners & Referral Sources
In partnership with Chula Vista Elementary / Sweetwater Union and local community organizations, we recruit youth from 2+ Title I schools.
School district & Title I partners
- Chula Vista Elementary / Sweetwater Union
- •Sunnyside Elementary
- •Bonita Vista Middle
Community partners
- ◆Bonita-Sunnyside Library
- ◆Sweetwater Union High School District
- ◆Chula Vista Elementary School District
Program Curriculum
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.
- →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 Bonita 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
Federal EIN 85-2947340. Mailing: PO BOX 232471, Encinitas, CA 92024. We operate on the ancestral lands of the Kumeyaay Nation with respect and community accountability.
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 — Watershed Education in Bonita
What pathways open after watershed education?+
Youth connect to ocean stewardship cleanups, Ocean Stewards after-school, and marine science career exposure. Watershed education is an entry point for Bonita environmental leadership.
Where do field trips go from Bonita?+
Sites progress from Cuyamaca mountain streams through river and estuary systems to coastal locations near Imperial Beach (10 miles) and Coronado Central (11 miles). Multi-site tracing shows the full watershed pipeline relevant to San Diego.
Is watershed education bilingual in Bonita?+
Yes — bilingual curriculum materials and field instruction are standard. In Bonita, where 41% of households are Spanish-speaking, educators deliver watershed science in English and Spanish.
Are watershed education in Bonita really free?+
Yes. All Un Mar de Colores programs in Bonita are 100% free — including 3/2mm wetsuits, soft-top surfboards, transportation from partner schools like Sunnyside Elementary, Bonita Vista Middle, and certified bilingual instruction. Funding comes from the San Diego Foundation, community grants, and individual donors. No Bonita family has ever paid for our programming.
Where exactly do watershed education happen in Bonita?+
Bonita 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 Bonita-Sunnyside Library and partner schools inside Bonita.
What ages can enroll in Bonita?+
We serve youth ages All ages. In Bonita specifically, our recruitment runs through Chula Vista Elementary / Sweetwater Union — with priority enrollment for students from Sunnyside Elementary, Bonita Vista Middle. 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 Bonita, we also run pre-cohort pool-familiarization sessions at inland pools via our Bonita-Sunnyside Library partnership for students who request extra comfort-building.
Are lessons taught in Spanish in Bonita?+
Yes. All Un Mar de Colores programs are bilingual — and in Bonita, where 41% 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 watershed education in Bonita?+
Three ways: (1) everything is free, while most Bonita surf programs charge $50–$150 per lesson; (2) we are BIPOC-led and our coaches reflect the 68%-BIPOC Bonita 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 Bonita, not just those who can afford access.
How do I sign my Bonita child up?+
Visit our sign-up page or contact us directly. Priority enrollment goes to students of Sunnyside Elementary, Bonita Vista Middle and referrals from Bonita-Sunnyside Library 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?
Support the movement or enroll your youth — Un Mar de Colores is building coastal access for Bonita families.
All Un Mar de Colores programs are free for Bonita 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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