Mobilising High School Volunteers as Conservation Ambassadors
- Behavior
- Climate change
- Education
Abstract
As the impacts of environmental degradation become more intense and evident, and a lack of agency to address climate change increases amongst youth, a focus on youth empowerment and effective scientific communication skills is critical to mitigate climate anxiety and promote environmental actions. In 2024, high school volunteers at The Marine Mammal Center, USA, engaged in a service-learning program, putting them on the frontlines of communicating about marine mammal threats and conservation actions in their local communities. Youth Crew members learned the science of climate change and sustainable seafood, and logged their conservation actions through an interactive, custom mobile application (GetGreen), allowing them to track their carbon emission offsets. Through interactive exhibits at the public-facing hospital, Youth Crew members engaged with over 7,400 visitors and encouraged nearly 600 pledges for conservation actions. In total, the over 1,700 recorded actions equated to a reduction of 18 metric tonnes of carbon dioxide being released into the atmosphere. Evaluative surveys showed that youth significantly increased their comfort and frequency of environmental conversations in their personal lives, their belief that they could have a positive impact through their own actions, and increased communication about these critical environmental topics to others.
Krucik, K., Vallejo, J., Martinez, S., & Ratner, A. (2025). Mobilising high school volunteers as conservation ambassadors. International Zoo Educators Association Journal, 61, 64–71.
climate change
education
Adam Ratner
Krystal Krucik
Joelle Vallejo
Samantha Martinez
behavior, climate change, education, environmental education
Meet The Experts
{"image":"\/People\/Portrait\/cropped-images\/krystal-krucik-0-158-2316-1809-1639418542.jpg","alt":"Krystal Krucik","title":"Krystal Krucik","text":"Public Programs Coordinator","link_url":"https:\/\/www.marinemammalcenter.org\/person\/krystal-krucik","link_text":"Read Bio"}
{"image":"\/People\/Portrait\/cropped-images\/adam-ratner-0-0-1183-1230-1601919673.jpg","alt":"Adam Ratner","title":"Adam Ratner","text":"Director of Conservation Engagement","link_url":"https:\/\/www.marinemammalcenter.org\/person\/adam-ratner","link_text":"Read Bio"}
{"image":"\/People\/Portrait\/cropped-images\/joelle-saute-headshot-3-486-3014-2354-1682373986.jpg","alt":"Joelle Vallejo","title":"Joelle Vallejo","text":"High School Programs Manager","link_url":"https:\/\/www.marinemammalcenter.org\/person\/joelle-vallejo","link_text":"Read Bio"}
{"image":"\/People\/Portrait\/cropped-images\/samantha-martinez-0-286-1270-992-1756160160.jpg","alt":"Samantha Martinez","title":"Samantha Martinez","text":"Community Outreach Coordinator","link_url":"https:\/\/www.marinemammalcenter.org\/person\/samantha-martinez","link_text":"Read Bio"}
Related Publications
{"image":"\/Animals\/Patients\/Harbor seals\/hs-by-bill-hunnewell-c-the-marine-mammal-center.jpg","alt":"harbor seal in a life preserver enrichment item","title":"Enrichment as a Tool for Rehabilitating Harbor Seals","link_url":"https:\/\/www.marinemammalcenter.org\/publications\/enrichment-as-a-tool-for-rehabilitating-harbor-seals","label":"Research Paper"}
{"image":"\/Animals\/Wild\/Harbor porpoise\/cropped-images\/harbor-porpoises-foraging-by-marc-webber-c-the-marine-mammal-center-4-0-1276-996-1618438446.jpg","alt":"harbor porpoises eating a large fish","title":"Prey-Related Suffocation in Harbor Porpoises","link_url":"https:\/\/www.marinemammalcenter.org\/publications\/prey-related-suffocation-in-harbor-porpoises","label":"Research Paper"}
{"image":"\/Animals\/Wild\/Harbor porpoise\/cropped-images\/harbor-porpoises-aerial-view-badge-by-marc-webber-c-the-marine-mammal-center-0-88-1280-999-1618509985.jpg","alt":"Harbor porpoises seen from above","title":"Coevolution of Asymmetric and Spiraled Genitalia with Unique Mating Behavior","link_url":"https:\/\/www.marinemammalcenter.org\/publications\/coevolution-of-asymmetric-and-spiraled-genitalia-with-unique-mating-behavior","label":"Research Paper"}
Coevolution of Asymmetric and Spiraled Genitalia with Unique Mating Behavior
Read More{"image":"\/Animals\/Wild\/Harbor porpoise\/harbor-porpoise-shutterstock-2.jpg","alt":"harbor porpoise","title":"Harbor Porpoises Catching and Handling Large Fish","link_url":"https:\/\/www.marinemammalcenter.org\/publications\/harbor-porpoises-catching-and-handling-large-fish","label":"Research Paper"}
Related News
{"image":"\/Animals\/Wild\/Hawaiian monk seal\/cropped-images\/hms-wild-photo-1-c-noaa-pifsc-hmsrp-35-0-1270-992-1759760452.jpg","alt":"A Hawaiian monk seal rests on its side on a sandy beach.","title":"Where Do Hawaiian Monk Seals Live? And Other \u2018\u012alio Holo I Ka Uaua Trivia","link_url":"https:\/\/www.marinemammalcenter.org\/news\/where-do-hawaiian-monk-seals-live-and-other-ilio-holo-i-ka-uaua-trivia","label":"News Update","date":"2025-10-06 00:00:00"}
Where Do Hawaiian Monk Seals Live? And Other ‘Īlio Holo I Ka Uaua Trivia
October 6, 2025
Read More{"image":"\/Animals\/Patients\/Elephant seals\/cropped-images\/es-hoffman47927-photo-by-bill-hunnewell-c-the-marine-mammal-center-124-0-1270-992-1748384535.jpg","alt":"An An elephant seal\u2019s face with long black whiskers and wide eyes emerges from the water. ","title":"Adaptations of the Deep: Seal Whiskers and Eyes","link_url":"https:\/\/www.marinemammalcenter.org\/news\/adaptations-of-the-deep-seal-whiskers-and-eyes","label":"Patient Update","date":"2025-05-28 02:00:00"}
{"image":"\/Animals\/Wild\/Humpback whale\/cropped-images\/humpback-whale-sea-lions-photo-c-bill-hunnewell-102-0-1270-992-1743014972.jpg","alt":"A California sea lion jumps out of the ocean next to a humpback whale showing its tail and another whale showing its back.","title":"What is the Loudest Animal on Earth? And Other Animal Trivia","link_url":"https:\/\/www.marinemammalcenter.org\/news\/what-is-the-loudest-animal-on-earth-and-other-animal-trivia","label":"News Update","date":"2025-03-26 07:00:00"}
{"image":"\/Animals\/Wild\/Guadalupe fur seal\/cropped-images\/gfs-wild-photo-by-marc-webber-193-0-1270-992-1739906952.jpg","alt":"A Guadalupe fur seal floats in the water with its flippers raised. ","title":"Your Visual Guide to Sea Lion and Seal Behavior","link_url":"https:\/\/www.marinemammalcenter.org\/news\/your-visual-guide-to-sea-lion-and-seal-behavior","label":"News Update","date":"2025-02-18 02:00:00"}
