
Virtual After-School Program for High Schoolers Inspires Climate Action
- Climate change
The world’s largest marine mammal hospital is inspiring teenagers through activism to find solutions to today’s most challenging conservation issues.
Applications are open for Ocean Advocacy Collective, a new virtual leadership program that encourages teen activism and action to find solutions to today’s most challenging conservation-related issues, including climate change. This program fills a critical void in high school afterschool programs that are currently on hold due to the pandemic. Ocean Advocacy Collective allows high school youth to connect around their passion for ocean conservation, build a national network and gain important career development skills.
“With so many critical afterschool programs on hold during the pandemic, we are excited to provide this exciting new opportunity for high school youth to connect around their passions for ocean conservation and build a national network to amplify their voices and actions,” says Karina Abou-Chakra, Marine Science Educator at The Marine Mammal Center.
We hope to build a community of leaders that will support one another after this program as they navigate protecting our ocean.
The program launches in January 2021 and applications are due January 4, 2021. It is free to apply for the program. There is a membership fee of $75, due upon acceptance into the program. Scholarships are available.
Participants will meet weekly on Tuesdays from 4-5:30pm PT to connect on issues and ideas. Participants will be required to spend additional time on resource readings, forums, feedback or surveys. Through participation, youth will build a community and national network of ocean enthusiasts and conservationists and get career development and resume building opportunities.
Program Requirements:
- Be a high school student, including home school, in grades 9-12 for spring and winter sessions, or a rising 9th-12th grader for the summer session
- Have reliable access to a computer or tablet, internet and Zoom
- Be excited to connect with other ocean enthusiasts and passionate about learning marine science
- Do your best to be present for all meetings, as this leadership program aims to build a strong community
- Acknowledge and value the varied experiences we all bring to the program, and therefore hold space and listen to others with differing opinions as we navigate discussions
Participants can apply online.
The Center’s online learning resources and programs reach thousands of students across the United States, including those who do not live on the coast, connecting them to marine mammals and our ocean. By expanding communities’ access to ocean conservation and marine science learning opportunities, the Center’s award-winning educators aim to provide the next generation of engaged citizens with not only inspiration, but also opportunities to address ocean health threats.
For more information or to set up an interview on this topic, please contact us at media@tmmc.org.
Yes, I want to save a life!

Yes, I want to save a life!
You’ll be giving sick and injured animals the best possible care at the Center’s state-of-the-art hospital. With your gift today, you are giving a patient a second chance at life in the wild.
See Our Latest News
{"image":"\/Animals\/Patients\/Harbor seals\/cropped-images\/hs-group-with-hats-photo-by-bill-hunnewell-c-the-marine-mammal-center-34-0-1270-992-1750873865.jpg","alt":"Four harbor seals with small ID tags on their heads swim in a rehabilitation pool.","title":"How Our Patients are Named and Identified","link_url":"https:\/\/www.marinemammalcenter.org\/news\/how-our-patients-are-named-and-identified","label":"Patient Update","date":"2025-06-26 02:00:00"}

{"image":"\/Animals\/Wild\/Gray whale\/cropped-images\/gray-whale-oreo-by-josie-slaathaug-c-the-marine-mammal-center-108-0-1270-992-1750880575.jpg","alt":"Gray whale fluke above the water","title":"Los Angeles Times: The numbers of gray whales migrating along the California coast continue to plummet","link_url":"https:\/\/www.marinemammalcenter.org\/news\/los-angeles-times-the-numbers-of-gray-whales-migrating-along-the-california-coast-continue-to-plummet","label":"In the News","date":"2025-06-25 02:00:00"}

Los Angeles Times: The numbers of gray whales migrating along the California coast continue to plummet
June 25, 2025
Read More{"image":"\/Animals\/Wild\/Harbor seal\/cropped-images\/harbor-seal-pup-photo-by-Ruvim-Miksanskiy-251-0-1270-992-1750880392.jpg","alt":"Harbor seal pup resting on the beach","title":"ABC7 San Francisco: Animal trauma could be linked to bad human behavior, Bay Area marine mammal experts say","link_url":"https:\/\/www.marinemammalcenter.org\/news\/abc7-san-francisco-animal-trauma-could-be-linked-to-bad-human-behavior-bay-area-marine-mammal-experts-say","label":"In the News","date":"2025-06-24 02:00:00"}

ABC7 San Francisco: Animal trauma could be linked to bad human behavior, Bay Area marine mammal experts say
June 24, 2025
Read More{"image":"\/People\/Action\/Response\/cropped-images\/mbo-crew-es-rope-rescue-photo-by-lesley-simms-c-the-marine-mammal-center-2-0-0-1270-992-1749571082.jpg","alt":"MBO crew carrying a crate up a cliff","title":"The Marine Mammal Center reports high levels of marine mammal disturbance in Central and Northern California for third year in a row","link_url":"https:\/\/www.marinemammalcenter.org\/news\/the-marine-mammal-center-reports-high-levels-of-marine-mammal-disturbance-in-central-and-northern-california-for-third-year-in-a-row","label":"Press Release","date":"2025-06-10 02:00:00"}

The Marine Mammal Center reports high levels of marine mammal disturbance in Central and Northern California for third year in a row
June 10, 2025
Read More