Youth Advocacy Training for Ocean & Climate Action

The Ocean Project will conduct 2 free online training programs for youth to be held in early 2024. Each program is four weeks, one hour each week.  We launched free online environmental literacy and advocacy training programs for youth in 2019. These sessions build upon and refine the existing advocacy skills of attendees, integrate civic learning, and encourage strengthened collaborative conservation action - locally, nationally, and globally. The training program is continually evolving, shaped by experienced leaders working in ocean and climate advocacy and current members and alumni of the World Ocean Day Youth Advisory Council. Each session includes different co-leaders, and youth will be connected by interest area and/or geography following each session so they can collaborate going forward.

We recently completed the four-week program  designed for youth, ages 13-23, who are associated with an aquarium, zoo, and/or science museum. Recordings can be seen here.

Next up! Click here to register for training program in March/April. This program is designed for any youth, ages 13-23.

  • Session 1: March 23rd @10am PST / 1pm EST/ 5pm GMT
  • Session 2: March 30th @10am PST / 1pm EST/ 5pm GMT
  • Session 3: April 6th: @10am PST / 1pm EST/ 5pm GMT
  • Session 4: April 13th: @10am PST / 1pm EST/ 5pm GMT

 

Here's an overview of each of the sessions:

Session 1 - The Ocean-Climate Connection

  • Focuses on understanding the crucial role that advocating for ocean conservation plays in addressing the climate crises. This session emphasizes the challenges and explores potential solutions to bridging the gap in understanding and awareness of this connection to decision makers and the public. Attendees will be inspired and motivated to contribute actively to the movement.

Session 2 - Event Planning & Fundraising

  • Focuses on demonstrating what it takes to plan an event or campaign - from recruiting the right people to your team, where to look for funding and how to get it, and engaging with your community for a lasting impact. Attendees will learn tangible principles, tips, and how-tos on planning effective events and fundraising that they can pass along to their communities.

Session 3 - Social Media & Communications

  • Focuses on how to develop proper messaging for conservation campaigns including formulating calls-to-action for social media, writing op-eds, letters, and other types of communication. Attendees will learn how to effectively communicate campaign goals and progress to diverse audiences, and strategies for utilizing various platforms to connect with these audiences.

Session 4 - Campaign Organizing

  • Focuses on the importance of organizing campaigns and events in partnership and collaboration with others. Attendees will walk away with a better understanding of how to build collective power within a movement, with the capacity to make a bigger impact than if individuals acted on their own.

 

Read youth testimonials from previous sessions here

Click here to subscribe to our monthly youth newsletter, Rising Blue Network Newsletter, with events and opportunities, including announcements about upcoming training  programs and webinars. And let us know if you'd like us to share any events or activities in an upcoming issue. The newsletter goes out the first week of each month.

Click here to watch recorded episodes from previous trainings and webinars (via our World Ocean Day YouTube channel).

Rise Up! Webinar

From early 2020  until 2022, this youth-led monthly webinar series connected young people, including those associated with youth groups, schools, aquariums, zoos, and more with a global online community of change makers focused on protecting our shared blue planet – together!  By youth and for youth, each webinar highlighted what youth are doing to safeguard the ocean, protect the climate, address other interconnected issues, and provide opportunities for how to get involved.

Watch all episodes here!

Ocean Conservation: No Matter Where You Live!

Ocean Conservation in an Urban Environment

Ecotourism: Ocean Conservation in Mexico

Coalition Building for Ocean + Climate Action

Take Your Advocacy to the Next Level

Redefining Sustainability & Overcoming Barriers

Voteless — Not Voiceless! Ways to Act