After-School Seasons
Eight weeks, one afternoon a week. The same twelve kids and mentors each session.
Sept 28 – Nov 22
Currently accepting registrations for all grade bands. Spots allocated on a first-come-first-served basis and priority rules.
Select Fall 2026Dates TBD
Get notified as soon as the lottery and general sign-up windows open for Spring 2027.
Ages
6–14 Years
Season
8 Weeks
Sessions
Weekdays
Team Size
12 Kids Max
Ratio
3:1 Kids/Mentor
Cost
Sliding Scale
What our sessions look like
Surfing, boogie boarding, stand-up paddling, snorkeling and freediving, outrigger canoeing, kayaking, tide pooling, weather forecasting, and beach cleanups. We offer a range of activities so every kid finds the one that gets them excited about the ocean.
Surfing & Boogie Boarding
Stand-up Paddling
Snorkeling & Freediving
Outrigger Canoeing
Fall 2026 Teams
Browse the open teams below and register for the one that fits your schedule.
Monday · 3:30–5:30pm · Leadbetter · Grades 3–5
Monday · 3:30–5:30pm · Campus Point · Grades 3–5
Tuesday · 3:30–5:30pm · Campus Point · Grades 3–5
Tuesday · 3:30–5:30pm · Leadbetter · Grades 1–2
Wednesday · 3:30–5:30pm · Leadbetter · Grades 3–5
Wednesday · 3:30–5:30pm · Campus Point · Grades 1–2
Thursday · 3:30–5:30pm · Campus Point · Grades 6–8
Thursday · 3:30–5:30pm · Leadbetter · Grades 1–2
Friday · 10am–12pm · Leadbetter · Grades 1–5
Friday · 3:30–5:30pm · Campus Point · Grades 1–6
Price is never a barrier.
We operate a sliding scale that matches what you are able to afford. Fully funded spots are available for high-need families.
How spots are assigned
80% First Come, First Served
Standard registration window slots are filled strictly according to submission time.
20% Weighted Lottery
Allocated to maintain equitable access across all program teams.
3 things the lottery weighs
Equity indicators, family structure, and local high-need school partnerships.
Next time, odds rise
If you did not receive a slot last season, your lottery placement weight increases proportionally.
Eight weeks, on purpose
Weeks 1–2
Discover your comfort zone
Meet your team and coaches.
Weeks 3–4
Find your footing
Learn how to play in the ocean.
Weeks 5–6
Stretch your comfort zone
Try going deeper in the water.
Weeks 7–8
Become an ocean steward
Develop ownership for the ocean's wellbeing.
Field-based ocean science and coastal exploration
We make naturalists out of every participant through an immersive curriculum that places science at the center of play.
Meteorology
Learn to read pressure systems, wind behaviors, coastal fog trends, and wave propagation mechanics firsthand.
Our curriculum was developed in collaboration with the Benioff Ocean Science Laboratory at UCSB.
Locations
Every site is chosen for safe, easy drop-off and direct beach access.
Leadbetter Beach
Shoreline Drive, Santa Barbara, CA 93109
Drop-off is at the main grassy area next to the restroom pavilion. Parking is available in the public lot (first 15 minutes free). Coach contact will be shared with registered families.
Campus Point
UC Santa Barbara Campus, Isla Vista, CA 93117
We meet at the roundabout near the marine lab. Parents must park in designated lot (permit required) or use the drop-off zone. Coach contact will be shared with registered families.
How we keep kids safe
All lead coaches carry current lifeguard certifications with a minimum of 3 years of ocean recreation experience. Program ratios are kept strictly to 3:1 so that no mentor ever loses close-range visual contact.
The training is the program
Anyone can run a surf lesson. What's hard — and what we spend most of our time on — is preparing a nineteen-year-old to hold a group of twelve kids in open water, notice the one who's gone quiet, and know what to say next.
Our coaches train to industry standard on water safety and then keep going, into the part almost nobody trains for: how to actually connect with a kid who doesn't feel comfortable in the water.
Water safety to standard
Leads are certified lifeguards with a minimum of three years in ocean recreation. Support coaches hold current CPR and pass an in-water skills assessment in pre-season training.
Culturally responsive practice
Many of our kids are the first in their family to spend time in the ocean. Our coaches train using a challenge-by-choice method so our participants can always set their own edge.
A shared field guide
We work from the Sea League Field Guide, developed in collaboration with the Benioff Ocean Science Laboratory at UCSB. It covers ocean mechanics, Santa Barbara forecasting, freedive and snorkel safety, kelp ecology, local species, Marine Protected Areas, and Chumash cultural heritage.
“We revisit our training every season. Not just whether our programs are safe enough — we hold that line — but whether we're actually reaching the kids and the community in front of us. That second question doesn't have a certification attached to it, so we keep asking it.”
— Coach Lead Coordinator
What kids take home
Belonging
A cohort where kids are known, valued, and safe.
Confidence
The pride of crossing limits in safe waters.
A real voice
Practice expressing feelings and values.
Ocean literacy
Firsthand safety and science expertise.
Team mentality
Strong habits of collaborative care.
The 3:1 ratio meant my son felt incredibly safe. By week 4, he was snorkeling past the break — something he never thought he could do.
— Parent, Fall 2025 Participant
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions from parents about the After-School Seasons program.
Ready to get in the water?
Spots fill up fast when registration opens. Find the right team for your kid today.