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
- —Climate change lessons feel hopeless — your teen wants advocacy tools, not another slide deck about polar bears.
- —Imperial Beach closures after storms confuse you — watershed education should connect rain in Bonita to brown water at the coast.
- —School field trips in Bonita are underfunded — environmental science stays in the classroom while the coast is miles away.
What Changes When Youth Get in the Water
- Family engagement opportunities — parents join orientation and select field days from Bonita.
- Pathways to ocean stewardship cleanups and Ocean Stewards after-school for Bonita teens.
- Certified naturalist educators lead every trip — not volunteers guessing at field safety.
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
Hydrology field education near Imperial Beach (10 miles) and Coronado Central (11 miles) connects classroom water cycle lessons to standing in streams and measuring flow — Bonita students learn by tracing, not memorizing.
Cross-border watershed education from Bonita prepares youth to understand Cali-Baja water politics — Tijuana River as California's most pollution-impacted cross-border river system.
Why Bonita Matters to Our Mission
Bonita's relationship to the Pacific is complicated by history and economics. Our curriculum weaves Kumeyaay coastal stewardship, environmental justice, and culturally grounded instruction into every session — not as an add-on, but as the foundation.
Parents in Bonita often ask how a nonprofit can offer everything free. Answer: San Diego Foundation grants, community donors, and partners who believe Bonita youth belong in the lineup — same as any other kid in San Diego.
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
Are there overnight watershed programs for Bonita 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 Bonita families.
How do we enroll in Watershed Explorers from Bonita?+
Contact Un Mar de Colores for summer overnight cohort enrollment or ask your Chula Vista Elementary / Sweetwater Union teacher to book a year-round field trip. Priority for Title I schools and partner referrals 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.
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?
Don't wait for summer — year-round Bonita cohorts fill fast. Reach out now for free enrollment.
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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