Youth to Sea
A hands-on learning program that endeavours to unite youth to make a difference towards ocean conservation.
Service Projects and Work Experience that help inspire the next generation of ocean leaders
During their eight-month program with Youth to Sea, participants will gain invaluable experience through 3 key aspects of the program: (1) Immersive Learning Journeys (2) Skill Building Workshops, and (3) Ocean Service Projects.
Learning Journeys
Through experiential learning, Learning Journeys provide an opportunity in which youth can gain valuable knowledge and experience in science-based career paths. All Learning Journeys include a reflection component in which youth can express their thoughts and what they learned about during their experiences. All learning journeys are connected to Ocean Wise’s conservation strategy pillars: Climate Change, Unsustainable Resource Use and Pollution. Examples of past Learning Journeys include:
- Kayak & Water Sampling: Learn the skills of kayaking and understand how to take water samples and analyze them for common water quality indicators.
- Snowshoeing & Plant Identification: Doing a guided snowshoe walk on a mountain or in a forest and learning about the different tree and plant species in that specific area.
- Invasive Plant Pull: In collaboration with various community ecological societies, come learn about the effects of invasive species and their effects on the ecosystem.
- Indigenous Learning Experience: Learn firsthand about the importance of indigenous culture and the interconnections of environmental justice.
Skill Building Workshops
Youth to Sea hold monthly Workshops focusing on an array of topics. All workshops are designed for participants to build and develop soft skills that can be used in all aspects of life. They also bring a sense of community as well as build on confidence. Again, experiential learning is key, and we provide hands on activities and games to promote learning. The workshop topics in the past include:
- Action Planning
- Communication
- Public Speaking
- Problem Solving & Conflict Resolution
- University Applications
- Resume Building
- Write to a Politician
- Social Media & Communications
- Data Collection
- Creating & Following a Budget
- Networking
Ocean Service Projects
As part of this program, we encourage our participants to create their own Ocean Service Project to address a conservation issue they see in their own community. The Ocean Service Project can be whatever the student is interested in and Ocean Wise will provide resources to help with these projects. These include one on one mentorship and access to grant funding as well as connections to community partners to collaborate with. Ocean Service Projects are an opportunity for participants to exude their creativity and to demonstrate their passion towards conservation. Examples of service projects include: youth led shoreline cleanups, writing and illustrating children books, waste-free workshops, film screenings, facilitating school clubs, replenishing and re-cultivating school gardens and campaigning to make their schools single-use plastic free.
Youth to Sea has already absolutely exceeded my expectations, and this latest excursion sealed how lucky I am to have joined this group. Overall, this program is tailored to fit the kind of student who wants to explore with others [...] I genuinely can't thank everyone enough, from the leaders to the other attendees; from the bottom of my heart, thank you!
Sophie
Youth to Sea Ambassador, 2021
Program Requirements for Ambassadors
Youth to Sea 2023 will run from December 2024 to July 2025. During this 8-month program, youth will complete 120 volunteer hours through monthly excursions, skill building workshops and the creation of an ocean service project in their local community.
Generally, each month there will be the opportunity for one full day excursion, one part-day workshop and one monthly group call online. These excursions are a chance for participants to get to know each other and the program. Attendance at Youth to Sea Monthly Group Excursions is strongly encouraged to be able to meaningfully and successfully engage in the leadership program. The program also includes an overnight in-person leadership retreat (3-days, 2-nights) which will take place mid-July 2025 – an amazing way to wrap up the program with your peers!
In addition to the retreat, youth will also be invited to present their ocean service project at our annual showcase. Participants will share their program experience via whichever medium they prefer (i.e. writing, photography, vlogging, podcasting, graphic design, etc.) and contribute meaningfully to their individual or collaborative action project to be presented at the showcase.
Who can participate?
Eligibility:
Applicants must be:
- A Canadian citizen, permanent resident or person granted refugee status in Canada
- Living in Canada for the duration of the program and cannot be out of the country for more than one month consecutively
- Between 15 years old on the program start date to 18 years old at the time of submitting the application
Youth to Sea has definitely been one of the best decisions I’ve made in my life. Our service project, Schooling Fish, has evolved me in making it easier for me to step outside my comfort zone. I also connected with many amazing people and made experiences that’ll last a lifetime
Ronald, 16
Youth to Sea Ambassador, 2021
Frequently Asked Questions
During the program students are expected to complete 120 hours of volunteer service (this includes Youth to Sea multiday orientation, workshops, excursions, Ocean Service Projects and the service showcase). Because this is a funded program, students must commit to completing 120 hours of service before the end date of the program.
The majority of Youth to Sea excursions and workshops will take place in the city centre of each region. Youth from communities outside the city centre are welcome to apply but you will be expected to have your own transportation to and from events.
Participants will have the opportunity to take part in a variety of opportunities. In the past, Youth to Sea has done events such as kayaking, sailing, snowshoeing, hiking, invasive species removal, planting, boating, and marine surveys. Specific excursions are not guaranteed and subject to change. Skill building workshops include leadership skills, resume building, communication, action planning, mental health strategies and problem solving.
The Ocean Wise Leadership Program can be used to fulfill the B.C. Curriculum Work Experience program. You can use the hours and experience gained at Ocean Wise to fulfill all the Work Experience requirements and our team will fill out all the employer sheets for you.
There will be 80 participants in the Vancouver region and 30 participants each in Halifax, Ottawa, Montreal, and Victoria.
This is a fully funded volunteer program and there is no cost to the participant. The program covers offsite travel, food, accommodation, and certification expenses. The only thing that might warrant a cost is travel to and from excursions in the city centers. Youth are responsible for getting to the different activities in the city centers.
This program is about giving youth professional work experience and development opportunities, so we do not have any pre-requisites to be part of the program. We hope students come with a desire to learn more about waterways, environmental education, leadership, as well as a passion for learning new skills.
As part of this program, we encourage students to create their own Ocean Service Project to address a conservation issue they see in their own community. In the past, students have run shoreline cleanups, led waste-free workshops, held film screenings, and campaigned to make their schools single-use plastic free to name a few. The Ocean Service Project can be whatever the student is interested in. Click the button below for examples from the 2020/2021 cohort.
Still have questions?
Contact us at [email protected] for more information.
