Un Mar de Colores · Sunset Cliffs, CA
Watershed Field Trips Near Sunset Cliffs and Ab Seven Stairs for Sunset Cliffs Schools
Hydrology isn't abstract — Sunset Cliffs students stand in streams, measure flow, and trace pollution to the ocean.
Un Mar de Colores's Watershed Explorers program brings Sunset Cliffs 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, including your own Sunset Cliffs beaches. We partner with San Diego Unified School District and community organizations including Sunset Cliffs Natural Park Council and Point Loma Surfers Association to recruit from Point Loma High. Every program integrates the Tijuana River watershed case study — the only cross-border river in Southern California.
Schedule — Sunset Cliffs Program Days
Summer cohorts + year-round school field trips · Completely free
You Might Be Feeling This
- —Imperial Beach closures after storms confuse you — watershed education should connect rain in Sunset Cliffs to brown water at the coast.
- —Your teacher wants a real field trip but doesn't know free options exist for Sunset Cliffs Title I schools.
- —Kumeyaay water relationships are absent from school curriculum — your child hears about Indigenous history without Indigenous science.
What Changes When Youth Get in the Water
- Citizen science data collection on field trips — student work contributes to real watershed databases.
- Certified naturalist educators lead every trip — not volunteers guessing at field safety.
- Family engagement opportunities — parents join orientation and select field days from Sunset Cliffs.
Why We Run This Program in Sunset Cliffs
Sunset Cliffs is an advanced-only surf zone — we do not teach beginners here. Instead, our Sunset Cliffs programming focuses on our Surf Athletic Scholarship athletes and shoreline environmental stewardship at Sunset Cliffs Natural Park, partnering with the San Diego Park & Recreation Department on tide-pool conservation days.
- Population
- 14,000
- BIPOC residents
- 34%
- Spanish-speaking households
- 15%
- Distance to beach
- Coastal
Watershed Education in Sunset Cliffs — What You Should Know
How much does watershed camp cost in California? Paid eco-camps run hundreds per student. Un Mar de Colores provides overnight Watershed Explorers and school field trips free for Sunset Cliffs youth and classrooms.
Citizen science on watershed field trips lets Sunset Cliffs students contribute hydrology data — science with public impact, not disposable worksheets.
Why Sunset Cliffs Matters to Our Mission
Cross-border watershed work matters to Sunset Cliffs because Tijuana River pollution and coastal health don't stop at a border fence. Our education modules name that reality honestly.
Sunset Cliffs sits inside San Diego County's coastal equity gap — 34% 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.
Local Sunset Cliffs Partners & Referral Sources
In partnership with San Diego Unified School District and local community organizations, we recruit youth from 1+ Title I schools.
School district & Title I partners
- San Diego Unified School District
- •Point Loma High
Community partners
- ◆Sunset Cliffs Natural Park Council
- ◆Point Loma Surfers Association
- ◆San Diego Park & Recreation Department
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 Sunset Cliffs 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
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 — Watershed Education in Sunset Cliffs
Can families from Sunset Cliffs participate beyond school trips?+
Yes — family engagement opportunities include overnight orientation sessions and select field days. Watershed literacy extends to Sunset Cliffs households, not only classroom students.
Is watershed education bilingual in Sunset Cliffs?+
Yes — bilingual curriculum materials and field instruction are standard. In Sunset Cliffs, where 15% of households are Spanish-speaking, educators deliver watershed science in English and Spanish.
What do students learn about climate change?+
Climate change and coastal resilience modules connect global patterns to Sunset Cliffs beaches — storm intensification, sea level rise, and advocacy for clean water policy. Students learn organizing tools, not hopeless anxiety.
Are watershed education in Sunset Cliffs really free?+
Yes. All Un Mar de Colores programs in Sunset Cliffs are 100% free — including 3/2mm wetsuits, soft-top surfboards, transportation from partner schools like Point Loma High, and certified bilingual instruction. Funding comes from the San Diego Foundation, community grants, and individual donors. No Sunset Cliffs family has ever paid for our programming.
Where exactly do watershed education happen in Sunset Cliffs?+
Primary water sessions run at Sunset Cliffs. Classroom components happen at Sunset Cliffs Natural Park Council and other partner sites. All water activities happen within lifeguard-flag zones.
What ages can enroll in Sunset Cliffs?+
We serve youth ages All ages. In Sunset Cliffs specifically, our recruitment runs through San Diego Unified School District — with priority enrollment for students from Point Loma High. 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 Sunset Cliffs, 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 Sunset Cliffs?+
Yes. All Un Mar de Colores programs are bilingual — and in Sunset Cliffs, where 15% 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 Sunset Cliffs?+
Three ways: (1) everything is free, while most Sunset Cliffs surf programs charge $50–$150 per lesson; (2) we are BIPOC-led and our coaches reflect the 34%-BIPOC Sunset Cliffs 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 Sunset Cliffs, not just those who can afford access.
How do I sign my Sunset Cliffs child up?+
Visit our sign-up page or contact us directly. Priority enrollment goes to students of Point Loma High and referrals from Sunset Cliffs Natural Park Council and Point Loma Surfers Association. Summer cohorts fill 3–4 weeks before start, so early contact is recommended.
Ready to Get in the Water?
Every Sunset Cliffs child deserves the ocean. Start with a single conversation — we'll handle the rest.
All Un Mar de Colores programs are free for Sunset Cliffs 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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