Leadership Ocean
Student Fellows
Fostering the ocean conservation leaders of tomorrow
Goals:
- Teach a group of nationally recognized youth leaders the knowledge and tools to become leading ocean advocates;
- Create a growing network of Leadership Ocean Alumni that will provide the next generation of ocean advocacy professionals.
Outcomes:
- 15 youth leaders from diverse backgrounds that have a basic proficiency in ocean issues, advocacy methods, the legislative process, media training, and campaign organization;
- 15 youth leaders that have a personal story about the human connection to the ocean;
- A growing group of trained youth leaders who have the knowledge and tools to be leading ocean advocates.
Activities:
With the assistance of partnering organizations, EarthEcho International will annually select a diverse class of 15 Student Fellows, ages 16-22, who have distinguished themselves through service to their communities and an extraordinary ability to engage others. We are looking for the best of the best nationally, regardless of the causes they have championed thus far.
The Fellows' year begins with a week-long Leadership Expedition in a coastal community facing critical water challenges (possibly a National Marine Sanctuary location). Experiential instruction woven throughout will build their personal leadership knowledge and skills (listed above). When Fellows return to their communities, they will be required to use what they learned during the Leadership Expedition to complete a Leadership Ocean Student Fellows Project—a locally-relevant action campaign that supports ocean health.
Leadership Ocean Student Fellows alumni will stay connected to an increasing library of tools and resources provided by EarthEcho International, and to one another through an online platform that allows Fellows a forum to share experiences, best practices, ideas, and solutions for ocean stewardship and affecting change at the community and individual levels.
Champions
Empowering society's heroes to be champions for our oceans
Goals:
- Provide a group of nationally-recognized pop culture thought leaders the knowledge and tools to become leading ocean advocates;
- Create a growing network of Leadership Ocean Alumni that will provide the next generation of ocean outreach leadership.
Outcomes:
- Five Champions (individual or groups) from diverse backgrounds who have a basic proficiency in ocean issues, advocacy methods, the legislative process, media training, and campaign organization;
- Five Champions who have a combined minimum reach 500,000 fans or constituents;
- Five Champions who have a personal story about the human connection to the ocean;
- A growing group of pop culture leaders who have the knowledge and tools to be ocean advocates.
Activities:
EarthEcho International will work with partnering organizations to select five annual Champions (individuals or groups). Champions will spend up to five days on an Eco Adventure in a coastal community facing critical water challenges (possibly a National Marine Sanctuary location). Experiential instruction woven throughout will build their personal leadership knowledge and skills (listed above). When Champions return to their daily routines, they will be asked to utilize their networking skills to share the ocean-related knowledge and tools they have acquired with their large constituent and/or fan bases.
Classroom
Connecting service learning and science education
through ocean literacy
Goal:
Utilize ocean literacy to teach critical science concepts and connect classroom education to real world action through service learning.
Outcomes:
- A curriculum enhancement program that utilizes ocean literacy to complement existing science curriculum and teach core science concepts;
- A network of service learning initiatives tracked on EarthEcho International's website that elevates the visibility of students engaged in ocean (and related water systems) restoration and protection projects in their communities.