Youth Project Highlights: Spring 2025

As the first round of Ocean Wise Youth projects for 2025 wraps up, we’re excited to spotlight some of the incredible work led by our young changemakers!

So far this year, 193 youth have taken part across our five youth programs and we’re continually inspired by all they’ve achieved.

Paola | Ocean Bridge | Vancouver, BC | Interactive Shoreline Cleanup Map

As part of her Ocean Bridge project, Paola is designing an interactive Shoreline Cleanup map to boost participation in plastic pollution reduction efforts. Her goal is to create a user-friendly site where individuals and organizations can log cleanups, coordinate events, and earn rewards for their efforts.

Ethan | Eco-Action Accelerator | Unama’ki / Cape Breton, NS | Mijipjewey Wejiaq Apaqtuk (“Food from the Sea”) Cookbook

Ethan is preserving Mi’kmaq knowledge and ocean heritage through a digital cookbook featuring traditional seafood recipes, stories, and teachings gathered from elders and knowledge keepers across Cape Breton. His project celebrates sustainable harvesting practices and reflects deep values like Netukulimk and Two-Eyed Seeing. With the support of Eco-Action Accelerator, Ethan launched a website (aqaptuk.ca), hosted a community feast with Senator Paul Prosper, and laid the foundation for long-term impact.

Barbara | Eco-Action Accelerator | Montreal, QC | Plants Guide Us

Barbara is strengthening connections to land, culture, and community for BIPOC and diasporic participants through food, plant knowledge, and storytelling. Her project Plants Guide Us hosted workshops for 80 participants and grew an engaged online community, expanding her social media following from 323 to 526. Through book clubs, farm days, cooking classes, and herbalism workshops, the project fosters intergenerational learning, uplifts ancestral knowledge, and creates space for healing and environmental justice.

“We are our traditions and our traditions support the environment,” Barbara says.

Jacob | Ocean Bridge | Ajax, ON | Wetland Edu-Kits

Jacob is reconnecting youth with Ontario’s wetlands through hands-on learning. With support from the Toronto Zoo, he’s created nearly 150 wetland Edu-Kits that are being distributed to schools and libraries in Ajax. These kits teach local wildlife ecology and will be used at an upcoming wetland cleanup to get young people outside and into action. By combining education with direct stewardship, Jacob is helping bridge the gap between people and nature.

Eric | Eco-Action Accelerator | BC | Seaweed Chronicles: From Tide to Table

What began as an Instagram idea has grown into a 25-minute documentary exploring the cultural, culinary, and ecological potential of seaweed in BC. Through Ocean Wise coaching and workshops, Eric brought this vision to life, spotlighting kelp farmers, harvesters, chefs, and coastal communities. His short film, Seaweed Chronicles, dives into seaforestation and the power of food to connect people. Watch the trailer below!

Trailer for Seaweed Chronicles

Kit | Ocean Action Grant | Halifax, NS | Underwater Kelp Garden

Kit is restoring Nova Scotia’s disappearing kelp forests using a beautiful blend of science and art. Their project involves crafting ceramic vessels from wild clay to serve as kelp-growing substrates, which will be planted in degraded reef systems. With support from the Ocean Wise Seaforestation team, Kit’s work contributes directly to ocean carbon sequestration and marine restoration. It’s a creative, climate-positive approach to ecosystem resilience, and a reminder of how art can bring ocean solutions to life.

Stephanie | Ocean Action Grant | Vancouver, BC | Promoting Mental Health Through Ocean Conservation

Stephanie’s project bridges two crucial needs: mental health and ocean action. By organizing Shoreline Cleanups paired with mindfulness, eco-grief workshops, and planetary health education, she’s supporting future healthcare professionals to cope with climate anxiety while engaging in conservation. This initiative helps embed planetary health into clinical thinking and builds a resilient, sustainability-minded medical community.

Our youth programs provide hands-on service opportunities centered around ocean conservation. Fostering a network of ocean lovers and leaders across Canada. We have full-time and part-time service programs as well as microgrant programs that help youth grow and expand service ideas and projects. Learning from experts in marine conservation, youth are empowered to become impactful ambassadors for the ocean. 

Learn more about our youth programs and how to apply here.