The "Stow It-Don't Throw It" Project celebrates Global Youth Service Day

To celebrate Earth Day and Global Youth Service Day, the world's largest youth service event, the
"Stow It-Don’t Throw It” Project partnered with the University of Florida/IFAS’s Fishing for Success Kids Family Fishing Day on April 21st, to teach young anglers about environmentally sustainable fishing practices and the importance of protecting aquatic wildlife from fishing line entanglement!

Youth participants at this event were able to join their friends and family for a fun day of fishing at the University of Florida aquatic sciences center. During this event, volunteers from the "Stow It-Don't Throw It" project taught participants about the importance of preventing marine debris and protecting wildlife from fishing line entanglement. Participants were also given their own personal-sized fishing line recycling bins to help them properly dispose of their used fishing line and gear.

Through this event, we were excited to have the opportunity to join the efforts of millions of young people bettering their communities around the world as part of Global Youth Service
Day, while spreading a message of conservation in honor of Earth Day!

A special thanks to Youth Service America for their support of our Global Youth Service Day work, and the University of Florida/IFAS Extension's Fishing for Success program for their
allowing us to partner with them during their event!

For more information on Global Youth Service Day visit: http://www.gysd.org/.
For more information on the Fishing for Success program visit: http://lakewatch.ifas.ufl.edu/FishSUCCESS/index.htm.

Artistree Landscape Partners with the "Stow It-Don't Throw It" Project!

When ArtisTree LandscapeMaintenance & Design agreed to be the title sponsor for the UPCC Grand Prix tennis tournament, they wanted to do something different that would help the
environment. When they came across the “Stow It - Don't Throw It” program that recycles empty tennis ball cans to help save marine wildlife, they knew they found the right partner.

From January 30th-February 5th, ArtisTree teamed up with Mote Marine Laboratory, University Park Country Club’s Tennis Pros, and the "Stow It-Don't Throw It" project to encourage tennis tournament participants to recycle their empty tennis ball cans to be turned into personal-sized fishing line recycling bins. Thanks to ArtisTree and University Park Country Club's support, nearly 700 empty tennis ball conatiners were collected and will be used by new groups becoming involved in the project during the upcoming year! A special thanks to all of those involved who helped make this partnership possible!

Check out the pictures below with "Stow It-Don't Throw It" Project volunteers, University
Park Country Club staff, and representatives from Manatee County Natural Resources
who will be using some of the tennis ball containers collected to assemble fishing line recycling bins in their area!

10 Year Old Jett Neeley Brings the “Stow It-Don’t Throw It” Project to Pinellas County!

As part of his school community service work, 10 year old Jett Neeley helped bring the “Stow It-Don’t Throw It” Project to anglers and boaters in Pinellas County by assembling and distributing 50 personal-sized fishing line recycling bins during the months of November and December. After working with his family to collect empty tennis containers from local tennis clubs, Jett assembled the recycling bins and worked to distribute them at six local fishing piers/tackle shops, the Suncoast Seabird Sanctuary, and to individual anglers and boaters. He reported that the bins were well received by those who he passed them out to. A special thanks to Jett and his mother Jen for their work on this project!

2011 Youth Ocean Conservation Summit Empowers Young Conservationists!

Over 100 youth participants took part in our first Youth Ocean Conservation Summit hosted at Mote Marine Laboratory on November 12th 2011. Through the workshops and presentations at this event, youth participants were able to learn about current threats facing marine ecosystems, and gain the skills needed to launch their own ocean conservation projects. They were also
able to connect with other youth and adults who are passionate about ocean conservation.

After inspirational words by keynote speaker, SeaWorld/Busch Gardens Animal Ambassador, Julie Scardina, participants worked with mentors from local environmental organizations to identify ocean conservation issues they wished to work on and developed action plans to help tackle these problems.

Representatives from the Sarasota Bay Estuary Program, Tampa Bay Estuary Program, Gulf Coast Community Foundation, One More Generation, the Florida Aquarium, Brevard Zoo, Florida 4-H, Mote Marine Laboratory’s SeaTrek Program and Mote’s Marine Policy Institute, as well mentors from Mote’s Research and Education departments, worked together with local teachers and volunteers, to teach participants the steps needed to start, fund, publicize, and
communicate the message of their respective projects.

Projects which emerged from the work of the summit include planting projects to restore estuary areas in Sarasota Bay, school projects aimed at educating peers about important environmental issues, recycling projects, media presentations to raise awareness about ocean conservation
issues, as well as work to expand the efforts of the Stow It – Don’t Throw It project.

Work at the summit ended with a call to action video message featuring Dr. Eugenie Clark, Founder and Director Emeritus of Mote Marine Laboratory, Dr. Kumar Mahadevan, Mote’s
President and CEO, Dr. David Vaughan, Director of Mote’s Center for Coral Reef Research, Jean-Michel Cousteau, Ocean Futures Society President, Wyland, Artist of the Sea, Steve Culbertson, President and CEO of Youth Service America, Philippe Cousteau, CEO of EarthEcho International and Jordan Howard, youth environmental activist.

A special thanks to our sponsors, volunteers, presenters, and all of those who attended for helping make this event a success!

Check back soon for updates on the ocean conservation work of the students who attended this event!

Check out the following articles on this event:

Bradenton Herald - Mote Marine Hosts 100 Students at Youth Ocean Conservation Summit

Natural Awakenings - Students Tackle Threats to Marine Ecosystems

Youth Service America - Youth Summit Empowers Young Ocean Conservationists

Maddux News Wire Report - FL Youth Attend Ocean Conservation Summit

See the photos of the event below or visit the following link to see more pictures from the summit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/70005667@N02/

Summer Camp Participants assist with the “Stow it-Don’t Throw It” Project!

This past summer, more than 200 youth participating in summer camp programs at the Brevard Zoo, Lion Country Safari, the Clearwater Marine Aquarium and Cedar Point Environmental
Center assembled over 400 personal-sized fishing line recycling bins as a conservation project during their time at camp. Through their camping programs, these youth had the opportunity to learn about marine wildlife conservation and the importance of protecting marine wildlife from improperly disposed of monofilament fishing line. Participants were then able to keep a personal-sized fishing line recycling bin for their own use and/or distribute one to a friend or family
member and teach them the importance of fishing line recycling.

Summer camp staff reported that their campers increased their awareness of the importance of marine debris prevention after their involvement in this project, and also said that these campers were excited about the opportunity to take action to protect marine wildlife from fishing line entanglement through their participation in this project! A special thanks to the Brevard Zoo, Lion Country Safari, the Clearwater Marine Aquarium, and Cedar Point Environmental Center for their support of this project!

Cedar Point Environmental Center summer campers with their completed personal-sized fishing line recycling bins.

Lion Country Safari summer campers assembling personal-sized fishing line recycling bins.

Lion Country Safari summer campers show off their completed personal-sized fishing line recycling bins.

Announcing the 2011 Youth Ocean Conservation Summit!

Around the world, our planet’s oceans and their inhabitants face many challenges. As human impacts continuously threaten the health of our marine ecosystems, both locally and globally, it is imperative that we involve youth in a campaign to solve these problems.

The “Stow It-Don’t Throw It” Project invites you to join us for our first Youth Ocean Conservation Summit on November 12th, 2011 at Mote Marine Laboratory in Sarasota, FL. This event, for middle and high school age youth, is designed to allow participants to learn from marine scientists and conservationists about the current threats facing marine ecosystems, both locally and globally. Participants will learn what other youth are already doing to help tackle some of these issues, and they will be given a chance to work with their peers to develop action plans for their own ocean conservation projects. Finally, after developing their action plans, participants will take part in workshops focused on topics which include working with the media, forming a non-profit organization, fundraising, using technology to further a cause, and ways to recruit project supporters. These workshops will be developed to give them the knowledge they need to successfully implement their newly planned projects. Many of these workshops will be taught by other student conservation leaders who will share their personal experiences and advice with the youth participants.

Registration forms for the event are due October 31st, 2011 and a $10 registration fee includes lunch and all program materials for participants!

For more details, registration forms, and sponsorship information visit: http://www.stowitdontthrowitproject.org/!

Pennsylvania Youth Work to Protect Marine Wildlife

On July 12th, 90 youth participating in the Waverly Community House for “Wild Seas and Skies" Summer Camp in Waverly, Pennsylvania, were led by 11 year old conservationist, Willy Jones, in the assembly of personal-sized fishing line recycling bins to support our work to expand the "Stow It-Don't Throw It" Project, and the use of personal-sized fishing line recycling bins, to anglers and boaters across the country! Camp participants learned about whales, ocean conservation, and the importance of preventing marine debris. They were then able to join in our work to protect marine mammals from fishing line entanglement, by assembling personal-sized fishing line recycling bins. These bins will ultimately be distributed to Anglers and Boaters along the New Hampshire coast by the Blue Ocean Society for Marine Conservation. A special thanks to the Blue Ocean Society, Willy and Pam Jones, the Waverly Community House, and Mote Marine Laboratory for their support of the expansion of the "Stow It-Don't Throw It" Project! Below is a picture of the recycling bins assembled by the camp participants, as well as an article about their work! Check back soon for more updates on these students, as well as other young people who are becoming involved in the "Stow It-Don't Throw It" Project across the nation!

Check out this great article, "Sharing A DREAM" published in The Abington Journal about the work of the Pennsylvania youth involved in this effort!