About The Ocean Project
The Ocean Project Initatives
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The Ocean Project Team
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The Ocean Project Initiatives

Initiatives for 2008 and Beyond: The Ocean Project has grown from just a handful of American aquariums in 1998 into a global network of over 750 zoos, aquariums, science and natural history museums (ZAMs), conservation organizations, and other interested educational institutions in all 50 U.S. states and more than 75 countries that span the globe. We provide all Partners with cutting edge communications research and strategies for effective educational and outreach programs, the latest in ocean science and news, and other helpful information and opportunities. Using inspirational and informative values-based communications strategies and products, our newest initiative, Seas the Day, utilizes The Ocean Project's broad network to enhance ocean awareness among the public; change attitudes and behaviors for conservation; increase civic involvement in community conservation activities; and generate regional and national policy-focused action. We also continue to help promote and coordinate World Ocean Day on and around June 8th. Working with our diverse Partners, this worldwide celebration of our world ocean grows each year!

Ocean Constituency Building : An underlying premise in all activities of The Ocean Project is that if we can get people to think and act with our world ocean in mind - whether one lives in Australia or Arizona, Kazakhstan or Kentucky - we can help instill a stronger understanding of the interconnectedness of life, create a true earth ethic, and a more sustainable society. In the United States and too many other parts of the world, this way of thinking is the exception, and a strong constituency to take action for our world ocean is still notably absent. The Seas the Day initiative aims to help significantly change that situation in the coming years by working with and through The Ocean Project expansive network.

New Paradigms for Powerful Change : The Ocean Project focuses on changing the ZAM approach to education by helping our Partners' staff more effectively educate and communicate with their visitors for conservation outcomes. Our strategies go beyond conveying the facts to utilize a communications approach that keeps things positive, informative, empowering, and, ultimately, effective in changing attitudes and behaviors. With a network that has the potential to reach 200 million visitors each year - more people than attend all major American sporting events combined - the potential for significant change is great. Expanding on our theme of working with and through our Partner network to bring about positive personal change, we strive to motivate ZAMs to help shape public policy on key overarching issues, nationally and internationally.

Creative Conservation Commerce : Through the Seas the Day initiative, The Ocean Project is creating products and tools - available at a discounted price to Partners - for ZAMs to utilize, co-brand as they like, and use in visitor outreach so they can become a powerful force for positive change in their communities. These mission-driven products are for use by our Partners in their retail shops, as membership premiums, and for development purposes. A first product is the annual Seas the Day desktop conservation education and action calendar, which contains inspirational images and conservation education messaging. We have also developed The Seven C's conservation bookmark, which can also be co-branded; Seas the Day note cards; t-shirt; and other items that convey conservation messages and drive the public to this new personal action website to learn more and take action for the ocean. Many innovative products are in development (and ideas from Partners are always welcome!)

Customizing Conservation : The Ocean Project plans to advance conservation efforts by connecting ZAMs and their millions of visitors with citizens groups, conservation organizations, environmental events, and other opportunities. Our online Community Conservation Action Map is a first step, and we are developing a highly interactive online personal awareness, community involvement, and civic action center for the ocean that will utilize a zip code-driven database and will link interested ZAM visitors and the public with information and opportunities to get involved in local, national, and international conservation events, activities, and advocacy.

It's time to Seas the Day for Our Ocean! If your organization is not yet a Partner, please join! You can receive our monthly e-newsletter, Blue Planet News to Use , and, if interested, our Seas the Day personal action e-newsletter, as well as other useful information and inspiration. If you have questions, or are interested in helping fund some aspect of this exciting initiative, please contact Bill Mott, director, or call anytime at +1.401.709.4071. Thank you!