Are your youth concerned about poverty, immigration, and the environment? Serve with SSP in San Diego’s South Bay to explore these issues which are very real in the communities adjacent to the US / Mexico border.
2025 Dates
- Week 1: June 29 – July 5
- Week 2: July 6 – 12
- Week 3: July 13 – 19
- Week 4: July 20 – 26
- Week 5: July 27 – August 2
- Week 6: August 3 – 9
Note: Both 5-night and 6-night sessions will be available during these weeks (determined by priority registration)
2025 Summer Participant Fees
- $655 – $715 per person
- Price is dependent on session length
- Plus flat sign-up fee of $75 for 1-5 people, or $200 for 6+ people
About the Community
What are the prevailing needs in San Diego’s South Bay?
- Housing and food insecurity
- Plentiful hands to aid with community-led initiatives
- Low-income residents benefit from otherwise costly home repairs
What does San Diego’s South Bay have to offer?
- Moderate summer temperatures and a warm coastal climate
- Connections with local nonprofits working towards stable housing and preserving the vibrant border community
- Ample sightseeing opportunities beyond the SSP week, including parks, museums, and more
Who is a good fit to volunteer at this location?
- Anyone is welcome!
- Groups and individuals looking for projects with both homeowners and community-based organizations
- Anyone concerned about poverty, immigration, and the environment; these issues which are very real in the communities adjacent to the US / Mexico border
Service Work in San Diego’s South Bay
Volunteers may work on a blend of community-led projects and traditional SSP repair work. As grant funding for building materials is available, typical home repair projects in San Diego include painting, rebuilding fences, and other exterior home repairs. No construction experience is needed, and you’ll be amazed at all of the work that your youth teams complete! Most projects take longer to complete than your week at SSP so you may see the beginning, middle or end of a project. Our past partners for community-led projects have included:
- Tijuana River National Estuarine Research Reserve
- WILDCOAST
- I Love a Clean San Diego
- I Love to Glean
In 2019, volunteers completed 16 projects for homeowners and community organizations:
- 1 roof replacement
- 1 drywall replacement
- 1 flooring replacement
- 2 awnings
- 5 fences
- 6 painting projects
Community Partners
Learn About San Diego’s South Bay
Download the detailed SSP San Diego’s South Bay Study Guide to help your group learn about the community and get more out of your SSP experience. We suggest that you download the study guide, share with your group and discuss the materials during a planning meeting.
Community Engagement in San Diego’s South Bay
In South Bay, we will focus our service and learning around the intersection of immigration, wealth inequality, and the environment. We will work with city governments, community organizations, and churches to organize our work near the international border of the US and Mexico.
Almost half a million people reside in South Bay, which has a relatively large immigrant population. Both the Border Field State Park (home of Friendship Park) and the San Ysidro Port of Entry are located in South Bay.
The Tijuana River estuary is the largest wetland in Southern California, with a watershed from both San Diego County and across the border in Tijuana. During the winter rainy season, sewage contamination from Tijuana impacts the beach from the international border north to Coronado.
San Diego’s South Bay
Housing
TBD – SSP is working with community contacts to secure a location where we can be based out of for the summer. We expect to stay somewhere accessible to Imperial Beach, National City, and Chula Vista. Stay tuned for logistical details about housing accommodations.
Directions to Imperial Beach
To get to the site, consult Google maps or a similar mapping service to find the best route for your group.
South Bay Climate
Summer temperatures are often in the upper 70s and winter temperatures in the 60s. Imperial Beach is often 10 degrees cooler in the summer and 10 degrees warmer in the winter than inland areas of South Bay.