Un Mar de Colores · National City, CA
National City's Free Watershed Education by Un Mar de Colores
Family engagement opportunities — parents from National City join field days and overnight orientation sessions.
Un Mar de Colores's Watershed Explorers program brings National City 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 (8 miles) and Coronado Central (7 miles) (closest breaks to National City) for ocean-based lessons. We partner with National School District / Sweetwater Union High and community organizations including National School District and National City Public Library to recruit from Central Elementary (National City), Kimball Elementary, Olivewood Elementary and other Title I schools. Every program integrates the Tijuana River watershed case study — the only cross-border river in Southern California.
Schedule — National City Program Days
Summer cohorts + year-round school field trips · Completely free
You Might Be Feeling This
- —Your teen asks why the ocean smells after rain — school never mapped the pipeline from National City storm drains to Imperial Beach (8 miles) and Coronado Central (7 miles).
- —Tijuana River pollution closes beaches and nobody at National School District / Sweetwater Union High explains the cross-border watershed to your family.
- —Bilingual watershed materials matter — most National City-area science programs default to English-only field guides.
What Changes When Youth Get in the Water
- Hydrology fundamentals taught in the field — flow measurement, runoff tracing, pollution sampling on site.
- Citizen science data collection on field trips — student work contributes to real watershed databases.
- Indigenous Kumeyaay perspectives on water integrated into hydrology fundamentals — culturally grounded science.
Why We Run This Program in National City
National City is 63% Hispanic/Latino and among the most economically impacted cities in San Diego County. Our programs here are built around transportation — youth from Central, Kimball, and Olivewood Elementary travel to Imperial Beach and Coronado for water programming, with classroom components at National City Public Library and the MLK Community Center. National City is a priority Title I partnership for our Ocean Stewards recruitment.
- Population
- 56,173
- BIPOC residents
- 91%
- Spanish-speaking households
- 61%
- Distance to beach
- 8 mi
Watershed Education in National City — What You Should Know
Family engagement in watershed programming welcomes National City parents on orientation and select field days — environmental education as household literacy.
Policy advocacy training in watershed curriculum teaches National City youth how California coastal and water commissions affect their beaches.
Why National City Matters to Our Mission
National City sits inside San Diego County's coastal equity gap — 91% of residents identify as BIPOC, yet beach access has historically been gated by cost, transportation, and culture. Un Mar de Colores closes that gap with free programming and school-based recruitment.
Whether National City is on the coast or 8 miles inland inland, we treat transportation as part of the program — not an extra parents must figure out. That's how you build real access, not marketing copy.
Local National City Partners & Referral Sources
In partnership with National School District / Sweetwater Union High and local community organizations, we recruit youth from 4+ Title I schools.
School district & Title I partners
- National School District / Sweetwater Union High
- •Central Elementary (National City)
- •Kimball Elementary
- •Olivewood Elementary
- •Sweetwater High School
Community partners
- ◆National School District
- ◆National City Public Library
- ◆Kimball Park (City of National City)
- ◆Casa Familiar (nearby in San Ysidro)
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 National City 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
Un Mar is a member of the surf equity ecosystem across California — connected to Surf Justice Collective, Native Like Water, and cross-border watershed coalitions.
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 National City
How does Kumeyaay culture appear in watershed education?+
Indigenous Kumeyaay relationship with water is integrated into hydrology fundamentals — not a token acknowledgment. National City Indigenous and Latino youth learn coastal stewardship narratives alongside flow measurement and pollution tracing.
How do we enroll in Watershed Explorers from National City?+
Contact Un Mar de Colores for summer overnight cohort enrollment or ask your National School District / Sweetwater Union High teacher to book a year-round field trip. Priority for Title I schools and partner referrals in National City.
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 National City. Our curriculum teaches hydrology, environmental justice, and policy with honesty, preparing San Diego youth to understand cross-border water reality.
Are watershed education in National City really free?+
Yes. All Un Mar de Colores programs in National City are 100% free — including 3/2mm wetsuits, soft-top surfboards, transportation from partner schools like Central Elementary (National City), Kimball Elementary, Olivewood Elementary, and certified bilingual instruction. Funding comes from the San Diego Foundation, community grants, and individual donors. No National City family has ever paid for our programming.
Where exactly do watershed education happen in National City?+
National City is 8 miles inland from the coast, so our cohorts are shuttled to Imperial Beach (8 miles) — our nearest Un Mar teaching beach. Classroom components including curriculum, cultural arts, and tutoring happen at National School District and partner schools inside National City.
What ages can enroll in National City?+
We serve youth ages All ages. In National City specifically, our recruitment runs through National School District / Sweetwater Union High — with priority enrollment for students from Central Elementary (National City), Kimball Elementary, Olivewood Elementary and 1 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 (8 miles), supervised by instructors certified by the San Diego Fire-Rescue Lifeguard Division. Water comfort is built progressively. In National City, we also run pre-cohort pool-familiarization sessions at inland pools via our National School District partnership for students who request extra comfort-building.
Are lessons taught in Spanish in National City?+
Yes. All Un Mar de Colores programs are bilingual — and in National City, where 61% 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 National City?+
Three ways: (1) everything is free, while most National City surf programs charge $50–$150 per lesson; (2) we are BIPOC-led and our coaches reflect the 91%-BIPOC National City 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 National City, not just those who can afford access.
How do I sign my National City child up?+
Visit our sign-up page or contact us directly. Priority enrollment goes to students of Central Elementary (National City), Kimball Elementary, Olivewood Elementary and referrals from National School District and National City Public Library. 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 National City cohorts fill fast. Reach out now for free enrollment.
All Un Mar de Colores programs are free for National City 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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