Congratulations to our 2012 Youth Ocean Conservation Team mini-grant recipients!

Thanks to support from the International Ocean Institute-USA, and funds raised from our first Community Ocean Conservation Film Festival we were able to carry out our first Youth Ocean Conservation Team mini-grant program, which provided funding to help support ocean conservation projects planned by some of our 2012 Youth Ocean Conservation Summit participants. Congratulations to our first grant recipients, who are mentioned below with a brief description of their projects!

Lauren Baillie and Sabrina Angelides are creating awareness and inspiring others to take action to protect marine ecosystems through the production of short films and public service announcements.

Robbie Breininger and Brevard Zoo are developing an educational brochure focused on the Florida East Coast Terrapin, a species vulnerable to extinction.

Sara Brenes is running educational outreach programs and paddle board eco-tours focused on teaching community members about shark conservation.

Students at the National Aquarium are creating a play, video, and educational materials to teach students in Baltimore City, MD about the importance of protecting the Chesapeake Bay watershed.

Casey Sokolovic is leading educational summer camp programs involving Boys and Girls Clubs members focused on water and ocean conservation.

The Trailblazer's 4-H Club is raising and planting mangroves to support ecosystem restoration efforts in the Pine Island Sound.

The TRUE Dive Team is planting nursery raised coral in the Florida Keys and carrying out an artificial reef cleanup off Florida's Gulf coast. 

Stay tuned for more updates on these projects, as well as other ocean conservation initiatives being carried out by our Youth Ocean Conservation Summit participants!

Want to get involved, check out the Youth Ocean Conservation Team and sign-up for our monthly e-newsletter!