2014 Youth Ocean Conservation

Summit Event Program

November 8 Mote Marine Laboratory Sarasota, FL

Empowering the next generation of ocean conservationists!

#YOCS14

2014 Youth Ocean Conservation Summit schedule

Saturday, November 8th Mote Marine Laboratory

9:00-9:45 Registration/Check-in Keating Marine Education Center,

New Pass Room 10:00-10:10 Welcome to the Summit and Mote Marine Laboratory Sean Russell, Director, Youth Ocean Conservation Summit Aly Busse, Assistant Vice President of Education, Mote Marine Laboratory Kim Bassos-Hull, Senior Biologist, Sarasota Dolphin Research Program 10:10-10:40 Keynote Presentation Engaging Youth ASAP to Save the Ocean!

Steven Culbertson, President and CEO, Youth Service America 10:40-11:10 Youth Ocean Conservation Team member presentations National Aquarium Aquarium on Wheels Students

Cybill Winkel (video message) South Broward High School Brooke Welch Brevard Zoo Teen Volunteers Palm Beach Maritime Academy Edward Douglas White Catholic High School Ecology Club

11:10-12:10 Morning Workshop Sessions:

Action Planning Session (recommended for 1st time participants) Careers in Ocean Conservation (recommended for returning participants)

12:10-1:10 Lunch

Afternoon Workshop Sessions 1:10-1:55 Workshop Session 1

- Identify and Communicate with Political Leadership - Fishing for Funding - EarthEcho Expedition: Into the Dead Zone - Bringing the Ocean into the Classroom - Youre Never Too Young to Make a Difference

2:00-2:45 Workshop Session 2

- Identify and Communicate with Political Leadership - Fishing for Funding - EarthEcho Expedition: Into the Dead Zone - Bringing the Ocean into the Classroom - Art as Advocacy

2:50-3:35 Workshop Session 3 - Lights, Camera, Action! - Speak Up, Speak Out, Make a Difference! - 7 Social Media Insider Tips You Need for Conservation - How Can Art and Culture Help You Do Ocean Conservation? - Grant Writing 101

3:40-4:25 Workshop Session 4

- Lights, Camera, Action! - Speak Up, Speak Out, Make a Difference! - 7 Social Media Insider Tips You Need for Conservation - How Can Art and Culture Help You Do Ocean Conservation? - Trash to Treasure

4:30-4:40 Call to Action

4:40-5:00 Closing Remarks/Youth Ocean Conservation Team/Evaluations 5:00 Ice Cream/Networking Social (optional)

Register online at www.yocs.org!

Thanks to Mote Marine Laboratory for hosting the 2014 Youth Ocean Conservation Summit, and our sponsors for their financial

support of this event!

A special thanks to our speakers, workshop presenters, and event volunteers for their contributions to this years summit!

And thanks to YOU, for joining us as we work together to protect our

planets marine ecosystems!

2014 Youth Ocean Conservation Summit 10:10-10:40 Keynote Presentation: Engaging Youth ASAP to Save the Ocean! Steven Culbertson, Youth Service America President and CEO Young people have amazing stores of energy, commitment, idealism, and creativity. In this session Steve will share stories of young people tackling ocean conservation issues and making a difference in their communities to protect the ocean. Steve believes youth are valuable assets and need to be engaged in service to their communities today, not tomorrow. During this presentation, Steve will share his four major reasons why youth service is so critical in the 21st Century arguments that he uses with educators, parents, corporate leaders, government officials, nonprofit executives, and youth worldwide. About the presenter: Steven Alexander Culbertson is President and CEO of YSA. For two years in a row, the Nonprofit Times named him to its list of "The 50 most powerful and influential leaders" in the sector, saying, "Culbertson has helped to position volunteering and young people as an issue and a national priority." Under his leadership, YSA has expanded its work into 135 countries on six continents. Steve is a Trustee for America's Promise Alliance, a member of the Advisory Committee for the Ad Council, and serves on the board of directors of Camp Fire and YSA. He was born in Bitburg, Germany and grew up in Amherst, Massachusetts. He has a degree in both English and French from Hamilton College and lives in Washington, DC. Steves favorite place to SCUBA dive is with the whale sharks off Tofo Beach in Inhambane, Mozambique. Follow him on Twitter: @Culbs

2014 Youth Ocean Conservation Summit 10:40-11:10 Youth Ocean Conservation Team Presentations Through this special opening presentation, hear from some of our 2013 Youth Ocean Conservation Summit participants as they share the exciting ocean conservation work theyve been involved in over the past year, and talk about how they started the ocean conservation projects theyre working on! About the presenters: National Aquarium Aquarium on Wheels Students The National Aquariums Aquarium on Wheels is an award-winning after-school and summer program for Baltimore-area high school students. The program combines scientific research, conservation activities, job training, and the theater arts to promote environmental stewardship. Students engaged in this program take part in a variety of conservation and education programs including habitat restoration projects, cleanups, and outreach efforts designed to teach younger students about the conservation of marine environments. In July 2014, members of this program hosted the first satellite Youth Ocean Conservation Summit in Annapolis, Maryland! Cybill Winkel, St. Johns County 4-H Marine Ecology Club (video message) Cybill Winkel is the president of the St. Johns County 4-H Marine Ecology Club based in St.

Augustine, FL. Over the past year, she has worked with club members to launch their Water Quality Awareness Project, which received support from the 2013 Youth Ocean Conservation Team mini-grant program. Through this program, 4-H club members have had the opportunity to take part in field trips and educational experiences to learn more about water quality and ocean conservation. Together, they have worked to share this knowledge with the community through interactive activities and booths at a variety of community events. As part of her work on this project, Cybill has also volunteered for NOAA's Red Tide Monitoring program, helping collect water samples to be analyzed for evidence of harmful algae blooms, and has worked to share this project with youth and adults in other counties and states.

2014 Youth Ocean Conservation Summit About the presenters continued: South Broward High School South Broward High School is a maritime magnet school in Hollywood, FL. Students there are involved in a variety of marine conservation efforts, including working with the University of Miamis RJ Dunlap Marine Conservation Program to catch, tag, and release sharks. After participating in the 2013 Youth Ocean Conservation Summit, these students launched the Friends of Fins program focused on shark conservation and education. As part of their efforts, theyre working to educate middle school students about the importance of shark conservation and they received a Youth Ocean Conservation Team mini-grant to help support their work.

Brooke Welch, Mote Marine Laboratory High School Intern Brooke Welch is a 16 year old homeschool student living in Sarasota, FL. At a very young age, Brooke became fascinated with marine life, especially rays. Brooke organized her first environmental cleanup while living along the edge of the jungle in Ecuador. After moving to Sarasota in 2011, Brooke began volunteering with Save Our Seabirds, Keep Sarasota County Beautiful, and Mote Marine Laboratory as a high school intern. This year, Brooke founded Sarasota Ocean Preservers through a mini-grant from the Youth Ocean Conservation Team. Sarasota Ocean Preservers is a program for youth that combines beach and ocean cleanups with an emphasis on marine life education. Brooke aspires to receive her PhD in marine biology and study spotted eagle rays.

Edward Douglas White Catholic High School Ecology Club Teens from the Edward Douglas White Catholic High School Ecology Club in Louisiana work throughout the year on a variety of projects designed to raise awareness about, and engage community members in the conservation of, the wetlands and marine environments along the Gulf of Mexico. In 2013, they attended the Youth Ocean Conservation Summit and created a plan to bring personal-sized fishing line recycling bins to Louisiana through the Stow It-Dont Throw It Project in an effort to protect marine wildlife from fishing line entanglement. They received a Youth Ocean Conservation Team mini-grant to help them make 200 fishing line recycling bins.

2014 Youth Ocean Conservation Summit About the presenters continued: Brevard Zoo Teen Volunteers: The Brevard Zoo Teen Volunteers have the unique opportunity to work alongside zoo staff to create a positive and memorable experience for Zoo visitors. They perform a variety of tasks at the Zoo, including Animal Husbandry, Kayaking, Animal Handling, and Public Education. Zoo Teens also volunteer their time for Zoo Camp, fundraisers, special events and conservation projects. Teens also have the opportunity to work directly with animals and the public, gaining valuable skills for a variety of careers. Most importantly, Zoo Teens gain an appreciation for the value of volunteer work and community involvement. After attending the 2011 Youth Ocean Conservation Summit, this group of dedicated high school students launched a series of beach cleanups to help protect their local beaches from marine debris. For the third year in a row theyve organized their own environmental summit designed to educate other students about environmental issues and engage them in conservation work! They received Youth Ocean Conservation Team grant funding to help them with this effort!

Palm Beach Maritime Academy Students The Palm Beach Maritime Academy is a public charter school in Lantana, FL with an over-arching theme of marine conservation. The school works to integrate this focus into every class and subject as deeply as possible. This year two science teachers, and their art teacher, started an environmental club to give students the responsibility of researching and creating solutions designed to solve environmental problems. They utilized World Oceans Day as one avenue to raise awareness in their local community about the problems facing our ocean. The creative, fun, and educational activities invented by these students were the highlight of the event. Today they will share some of these with you, as well as reflections on the event and what they have planned for next year as a result of this experience!

2014 Youth Ocean Conservation Summit 11:10-12:10 Morning Workshops Action Planning Session (recommended for first time participants)

Is there an ocean conservation issue you wish to address in your community? Join students from across the country, and work with ocean scientists and conservationists, to develop a project and action plan to help address relevant marine conservation issues. This engaging session will walk you through the process

of planning your own ocean conservation project and help you gain the knowledge and skills you need to make your project successful! Afternoon workshops at the summit will help you further develop the skills you need to successfully implement your conservation project in your home town and help protect our planets marine ecosystems! Careers in Ocean Conservation (recommended for returning participants) Already working on an ocean conservation project and want to learn how to turn your ocean conservation work into a career? Then this workshop is for you! Join a panel of researchers, educators and ocean conservationists to learn about their career paths, educational background, and current day to day conservation work! Youll also have the chance to have your questions answered by this team of conservationists, and theyll share with you ways you can take action now to help with the ocean conservation work they do on a daily basis! About the panelists: Jim Abernethy Jim Abernethy, award-winning underwater photographer, filmmaker, and author, is a pioneer in shark encounters, without a cage. Starting at a young age, scuba diving served as an inspiration for his life's mission as a conservationist and has enabled him to interact with some of the most notorious sharks. For decades, he has been running photography/video expeditions to engage with the world's largest predatory sharks-Abernethy pioneered shark encounters without a cage (day and night) with tiger sharks, great hammerheads, oceanic white tips, bull, and lemon sharks. It should be noted that Jim is best known as an extremely passionate crusader for their protection. His award-winning marine life images are often featured in top photography magazines such as Wetpixel and Nature's Best Photography. Jim lives at sea, in the Bahamas, running shark expeditions and wild dolphin encounters year round on his boat, "Shear Water." His dive business, Jim Abernethy's Scuba Adventures Inc., is based in West Palm Beach, FL.

2014 Youth Ocean Conservation Summit Jim Abernethy continued Abernethy has hosted many of the world's top nature filmmakers and magazines such as Imax, National Geographic, BBC Wildlife, Animal Planet, and the Discovery Channel. He owns the "Marine Life Art Gallery" in West Palm Beach, FL, where his captivating images and educational books are available. When he's not below sea level, Jim is often seen piloting his flying inflatable boat (ultra-light), "Oversear," in order to capture nature at sea with his lens from an aerial perspective. While Abernethy is well known as a photographer and passionate conservationist, it's his unique ability to bring divers up close to some of the world's largest predatory sharks, turning them into strong passionate ambassadors to save them, which sets him apart from all others. His relentless pursuit of his life's mission is to save the planet's ocean creatures, starting with sharks, through his photography, books, films, and presentations. Robin Smith: Born in Sarasota, Florida, Dr. Robin Smiths love for sailing began at the age of 6. That summer, he

and his grandfather cast off their 24-ft sailing sloop to explore the mangrove islands, coral reefs and cays along the western peninsula of Florida, the Keys, Dry Tortugas and the Bahamas. Dr. Smith received his B.S. in Biology (marine emphasis) from Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton, Florida, where he worked as a paid research assistant for the Chair of the Biology department. As an undergraduate student, he also served on the Marine Biochemistry Scientific Dive Team, collecting marine cone snails for biomedical research. Dr. Smith earned his Ph.D. in Biological Science from Florida International University (FIU) in

Miami, Florida. His first summer, he participated in the U.S. Environmental Protection Agencys (EPA) CisNet project focused on evaluating the photobiology of UV damage in Caribbean corals. In 2005, Dr. Smith founded Science under SailTM (SUS). SUS empowers college students to become innovators through transformative learning experiences in exploration science. Through this program, student teams join experts in the field aboard sailing expeditions to conduct innovative research on coral reefs worldwide.

2014 Youth Ocean Conservation Summit About the panelists continued: Miranda Wrobel Miranda Wrobel is the Public Programs Coordinator at Mote Marine Laboratory in Sarasota, FL. She

coordinates and teaches marine science classes to a variety of audiences, ages, and backgrounds including her favorite preschool marine science program for toddlers called Mommy and Me at Mote. Combining current marine science research with audiences in the classroom has been a perfect fit. She graduated with honors from the University of New Hampshire with her degree in Marine and Freshwater Biology and is currently working on her Masters of Science degree in Early Childhood Education with a focus in Administration, Management, and Leadership from Walden University. She hopes to use her new knowledge to expand her preschool science curriculums within Mote and the community. She shares a passion for marine science, education, and art and is thrilled to combine her skills to promote and inspire ocean conservation.

Brian Siegel Brian Siegel is a Senior Aquarium Biologist at Mote Aquarium in Sarasota, FL where he specializes in cephalopod care. Originally from Staten Island, NY, he spent most of his life in Silver Spring, MD after moving there with his family in 1989. Brian has been designing, fabricating, and maintaining exotic fish, reptiles, and invertebrates professionally since 1994. He has a B.S. degree in Biology from Salisbury State University and a B.S. in Environmental Science/Marine Biology from the University of Maryland Eastern Shore and has been working at Mote Aquarium since April of 2007. Brian has always kept exotic reptiles as pets; his current collection includes an Arizona Mountain Kingsnake, a Hypo-brooksi Kingsnake, a Gray Banded Kingsnake, a Florida soft shell turtle, a River Cooter turtle, a Striped face mud Turtle and a Leopard Tortoise (named Irving).

2014 Youth Ocean Conservation Summit

12:10-1:10 Lunch While enjoying your lunch, continue to finalize the details of your ocean conservation project action plans, and take time to network with other youth attending the summit as well as the representatives from local environmental organizations!

Afternoon Workshops: Use the below schedule to help select your afternoon workshop sessions. These workshops are designed to equip you with the knowledge, skills, and resources you need to help launch your newly planned ocean conservation projects and/or continue to expand your existing conservation efforts! Complete workshop descriptions and presenter bios can be found on the following pages. 1:10-1:55 Workshop Session 1

- Identify and Communicate with Political Leadership - Fishing for Funding - EarthEcho Expedition: Into the Dead Zone - Bringing the Ocean into the Classroom - Youre Never Too Young to Make a Difference

2:00-2:45 Workshop Session 2

- Identify and Communicate with Political Leadership - Fishing for Funding - EarthEcho Expedition: Into the Dead Zone - Bringing the Ocean into the Classroom - Art as Advocacy

2:50-3:35 Workshop Session 3 - Lights, Camera, Action! - Speak Up, Speak Out, Make a Difference! - 7 Social Media Insider Tips You Need for Conservation - How Can Art and Culture Help You Do Ocean Conservation? - Grant Writing 101

3:40-4:25 Workshop Session 4

- Lights, Camera, Action! - Speak Up, Speak Out, Make a Difference! - 7 Social Media Insider Tips You Need for Conservation - How Can Art and Culture Help You Do Ocean Conservation? - Trash to Treasure

2014 Youth Ocean Conservation Summit Afternoon Workshops: Identify and Communicate with Political Leadership (Offered sessions 1 and 2) Projects and programs related to ocean conservation need to be presented to political representatives to secure support and resources needed for the cause. Several political leaders may not know what the problems are or what solutions are being proposed or currently being worked on. Educating our political leaders is a vital part of ocean conservation. This workshop should help the participant find out who the key political leaders are and how to best communicate with them and their senior legislative staff. State and Federal Senators, Representatives and Congressional leadership will be reviewed including key committees and the legislative processes. About the Presenter: Mark Perry is the Executive Director of Florida Oceanographic Society, serving in this position since 1978. Florida Oceanographic Society is a non-profit organization established since 1964 and dedicated to inspiring environmental stewardship of Floridas coastal ecosystems through education and research. Mr. Perry is responsible for the developing and directing the Societys education, research and advocacy programs. He directs the building and expansion of the Florida Oceanographic Coastal Center on Hutchinson Island in Stuart, Florida which includes regional aquariums, exhibits and nature trails on the 57-acre site opened to the public. Mr. Perry currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Everglades Coalition and Rivers Coalition and he is an active member of the Water Resource Advisory Commission, advisory to the South Florida Water Management District Governing Board and the South Florida Ecosystem Restoration Task Force under U.S. Department of Interior. Mr. Perry has testified before the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry about the Everglades, he served as a panel member for the U.S. Congressional Briefing on Floridas Estuary impacts and also as a panel member of the Florida Senate Select Committee on Indian River Lagoon and Lake Okeechobee Basin. Mr. Perry is an author and co-author of several publications and is active speaker to many scientific and community organizations, continuing to advocate for protecting Floridas ocean and coastal ecosystems.

2014 Youth Ocean Conservation Summit Fishing for Funding: How to Secure Investment in Your Ideas (Offered sessions 1 and 2)

Looking for funding for your project but dont know where to start? Learn tips for successfully identifying and attracting funding for your conservation project. This workshop will introduce you to a step-by-step process for securing the financing you need to put your ideas into action. About the Presenter: Erin Knievel joined Mote Marine Laboratory as Annual and Major Gifts Officer in January 2014. Prior to this, Erin worked as a Resource Development Officer for the Sabin Vaccine Institute in Washington,

DC where she raised significant funding for the organization s vaccine research and development efforts. Erin has held positions with FasterCures and the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS). Erin has a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry from the

University of Florida and a Master s degree of Public Health from the George Washington University.

EarthEcho Expedition: Into the Dead Zone (Offered sessions 1 and 2) EarthEcho Expedition: Into the Dead Zone allows young people to join Philippe Cousteau and the EarthEcho International team on a virtual journey investigating the connections between our daily actions and the global threat of aquatic dead zones and ocean acidifcation. Utilizing the lessons learned from EarthEchos Expeditions to the Chesapeake Bay and South Florida, this workshop will highlight the pressing need for young people to take action to help improve water quality through ocean conservation projects as well as the personal actions they take on a daily basis so as to positively impact their local watersheds and ultimately the ocean. About the Presenter: Growing up splitting time between the Chesapeake Bay and the Atlantic Ocean, Allie Toomey has had a life-long passion for the environment and education. She began her career in field education working with children and adults of all ages. Working across the country from the mountains of California to the coast of the Long Island Sound, Allie has developed and taught science curriculum for pre-school through high school and beyond. In her past position she oversaw the development of a multi-school, service-learning based organization aimed at getting high school students involved in protecting and preserving the environment, beginning in their local communities. While completing

2014 Youth Ocean Conservation Summit Allie Toomey continued her B.A. in Evolution, Ecology, and Organismal Biology at the Ohio State University, she was an active member of the Advocates for Children and Education Scholars Program and earned a minor in Education. During her junior year, she had the opportunity to assist with the Delaware Shorebird Project, working to count and monitor species of migratory shorebirds throughout the entire Delaware Bay area. Currently, she has leveraged the power of social media and technology to bring environmental education to classrooms across the globe. Bringing the Ocean into the Classroom (Offered sessions 1 and 2) In this session, students will learn how create educational resources focusing on ocean conservation issues. This workshop aims to raise public awareness about ocean conservation and how to inspire people to help protect this vital ecosystem. Participants will learn how to foster a connection between people and the issues marine animals face because of human impact, leading to understanding and action on their behalf. We will examine how to provide innovative and meaningful outreach; topics will include printable materials, virtual education resources, online social media, etc. This toolkit will aid in planning and delivering students own presentations. About the Presenter: There is nowhere Melissa C. Marquez would rather be than making observations outside in nature. For her, the ocean holds her curiosity and passion. She was born with an extreme fascination for misunderstood predators, and sharks are the most misunderstood predator of them all. Currently a BA candidate at New College of Florida studying Marine Ecology and Conservation, her thesis has a focus on marine predator (shark) ecology, conservation and satellite tag movements, using photography to enhance her research. Her research endeavors have led her to travel all over the world, from the British Virgin Islands, Galapagos, South Africa, Mexico, Belize, Canada, Puerto Rico and more. Melissa is actively engaged in research, exploration, communication, and application of scientific knowledge related to the conservation of marine ecosystems. She saw a need for teachers to integrate shark education and conservation into their teachings and founded Sarasota Fins (sarasotafins.weebly.com) to help reach out to local/national educational institutions. Through easy-to-access materials that educators can use in classroom and camp settings, adults have plenty to choose from when tackling the challenge of correctly portraying these apex predators. Melissa is also author of two books, Sharks, Skates and Rays of Sarasota Bay and Finleys Great White Adventure, with all proceeds going to shark conservation efforts. In her free time, Melissa enjoys running, scuba diving and cozying up with a good book.

2014 Youth Ocean Conservation Summit Youre Never Too Young to Make a Difference! (Offered Session 1) Gain inspiration for your ocean conservation projects by learning from the stories of these outstanding young people who are making a difference for our planets ocean and its inhabitants. Halle Belden Session Facilitator

Halle is a 15 year-old environmentalist from San Francisco, California. She enjoys exploring nature by kayaking, geocaching, and taking part in any other adventure she can find. Halle is a second year High School Intern at Mote Marine Laboratory. She exercises her passion for the environment as the founder and president of her school's environmental club and Youth Ocean Conservation Team coordinator. In her role as the Youth Ocean Conservation Team coordinator she helps support the annual Youth Ocean Conservation Summit and associated activities, as well as the youth participants planning conservation projects through this event. Though she currently lives in Sarasota, Florida, Halle hopes to travel the world to research and help solve our world's sustainability issues.

About the Panelists: Cori McWilliams Coris stepping stone into environmental work began in 2011 at the Barrier Island Center and Sea Turtle Conservancy located in Brevard County, Florida. Coris volunteer activities with these organizations include an active membership in the Sea Turtle Conservancys AdvoKids program which involves participation in sea turtle related activities on an annual basis, volunteering at the annual Tour de Turtles kick off party and social, as well as hosting a childrens story time program where she reads conservation messaged literature to younger children. Cori has created an educational presentation about sea turtle conservation which shes shared with multiple groups including schools, local environmental groups, Girl Scout Troops, etc She is also an authorized member of Brevard Countys Sea Turtle Emergency Response Team which allows her to help care for post-hatchling washback sea turtles. In 2014 Cori started Kids for the Sea a conservation group aimed at getting kids involved in marine conservation at a young age. Through her newly founded organization she hopes to work with other like minded organizations to take part in coastal clean ups, beach investigations educational/discovery activities and in water activities.

2014 Youth Ocean Conservation Summit About the Panelists continued:

Alexis Mariash Alexis Mariash is a sixth grader at Buchanan Middle School where she is participating in the STEM Bio-Engineering program. Alexis plans to utilize her education in the STEM program and her work with sea turtle conservation as an avenue to attend the University of Hawaii and become a marine biologist specializing in sea turtle conservation. Alexis love of sea turtles and deep desire to help protect them motivated her to create Turtle Inc. when she was ten years old. Through Turtle Inc (TurtleInc.org) Lexi uses her knowledge of sea turtles to educate others about sea turtles and the dangers they face. Lexi is a charitable supporter of Mote Marine Laboratorys turtle sanctuary and has worked to raise funds at the Turtle Run in Sarasota to benefit Motes sea turtle program. Alexis will be hosting a charity mini-golf tournament this fall in Sarasota, Florida with all proceeds being donated to Mote Marine for sea turtle work. Her goal for this event is to raise enough money to provide food for a Sea Turtle for a full year. Recently, Lexi helped Mote release turtle hatchlings back into the sea, and found it an amazing experience she will always remember.

Ryan M. Ryan M. believes that the ocean needs our help and that it is up to all of us to give it the love and care it needs so much. He believes one person can make a huge difference to a lot of sea creatures! Ryan began helping the ocean when he was four by bringing his own bag with him to pick-up trash when he went to the beach. As Ryans love and knowledge about the ocean and its inhabitants grew, Ryans efforts to help protect the ocean grew as well. With his familys help, Ryan started The Fishes Wishes, an organization dedicated to helping the ocean. Ryan has also written a book about how trash affects the ocean and its inhabitants. He sells his book at local shows and donates all of the profits to ocean conservation. Ryan became involved with the Stow-It-Dont-Throw-It organization three years ago when he created a short film on marine debris for the annual youth ocean conservation film competition. He has also given marine debris presentations to his classmates on Global Youth Service Day and has led sea oat planting projects in his local community in an effort to restore a beach that had been heavily affected by storms. Ryans hard work and dedication to protecting the ocean, at such a young age, is truly inspirational!

2014 Youth Ocean Conservation Summit About the Panelists continued: Lilly Tougas

Eighth-grader, Lilly Tougas, is passionate about earth conservation. In fact, she is so passionate that she has been advocating for Mother Nature since the age of four. In 2008, Lilly was chosen as one of four children to represent the United States of America at the Green Olympics in Beijing, China as part of the Hands Across the Ocean event. The event brought together children from all over the world to paint a two-mile long ocean-life mural. The children also joined hands, as vowed Youth Ambassadors for the Planet, to symbolize their unity and commitment to ocean conservation. As a result of her volunteer work at environmental events all over the country, Lilly became inspired to organize her own conservation efforts, some of which include campaigns such as Cupcakes for the Planet and raising funds to provide shoppers with reusable grocery bags. In October 2013, Lilly also joined the River Warriors on a trip to Washington D.C. to aid Congressmen and other conservationists in bringing

awareness to water pollution in her home state of Florida. Whether it is working with kids, speaking, or teaching, Lilly is passionate about helping to spread the message of conservation. Lillys latest projects have paired her with the network HBO as part of an environmental documentary, as well as Jim Abernethy, award-winning underwater photographer, filmmaker, and author, for Project Seahorse. Lilly is always getting local kids involved in conservation efforts and gives them the guidance they need to start campaigns of their own. Art as Advocacy (Offered session 2) As you carry out ocean conservation projects, there are a variety of strategies you can use to spread your ocean conservation messages to your community. Through this panel format workshop, youll hear from people of all ages who use a variety of art forms including painting, photography, and sculpting, to inspire others to take action to protect our planets marine ecosystems! About the Panelists:

Ben Hicks South-Florida based photographer Ben Hicks has journeyed across the Americas and ventured to exotic locales spanning the globe to compose a profoundly diverse collection of fine-art photography that truly captures the majestic beauty of the natural world. This self-proclaimed adventure-boy not only strives to portray the familiar in extraordinarily original ways, but also takes big risks to capture the most complex, often dangerous situations including big waves and

2014 Youth Ocean Conservation Summit Ben Hicks continued precarious animal encounters all to share his admiration for Mother Nature's creations. Whether shooting tropical beachscapes in the South Pacific, vast sandstone buttes in the American Southwest or the first few open water strides of a leatherback sea turtle hatchling, Bens distinctive vision and inimitable approach to photography renders intricately detailed images that captivate viewers and serve as a testament to his enjoyment and reverence of nature. Through his photography, Ben aspires to raise environmental awareness by depicting the natural world in a relevant and endearing manner that everyone can connect with. Ben is particularly focused on using his photography to communicate the importance of conserving the worlds ocean and follows key species, such as sea turtle, that serve as important indicators of the health of the world's marine and coastal ecosystems. Ben shares the Sea Turtle Conservancy's belief that "whether sea turtles ultimately vanish from the planet or whether they remain a wild and thriving part of the natural world, will speak volumes about both the general health of the planet and the ability of humans to sustainably coexist with the diversity of life on Earth." Ben strives to serve the global community by using his art to inspire others to value conservation and preservation so that we can work towards a more sustainable future. Ryan Sobel: Artist Ryan Sobel was born and raised in a suburb just outside of Cleveland, Ohio. He has always had an interest in nature and the arts. His love for art began with simple pencil sketches. As a child, frequent trips to the zoo and parks near his home became routine; with pencil and sketchbook in hand, he would arrive back home with a plethora of doodles and drawings depicting the various wildlife he had encountered each day. As a child, he actually disliked painting. He saw it as sloppy, and for a while, stuck to pen and pencils. Until one day, something compelled him to give this new art a try. Soon, he had fallen in love with his paints and brushes, leaving behind his sketchpad for canvas; painting nature and wildlife native to his home and from around the world. Having always been a wildlife painter, he began by painting the creatures he saw in books, later painting those which had inspired him during real life experiences. Ryan wanted to combine his two great passions, the ocean and art, into one, in hopes of inspiring others to care about the planet we live on. So, he began to paint scenes inspired by the world which lies beneath the waves. His artwork brings awareness to the beauty, yet fragility, of our seas to people living near the coasts, as well as those living inland, some hundreds of miles from the nearest ocean. Ryan seeks to show others the world as he sees it; for in his words, If I can lead someone to see beauty in mere dyes and brushstrokes on a canvas, then possibly they will see that this fascination is real; just waiting to be discovered by each and every one of us everywhere around us.

2014 Youth Ocean Conservation Summit About the Panelists continued Jordan Holm: Jordan is a freshman at Ringling College of Art and Design majoring in Fine Arts/ Sculpture. As a

growing artist, much of her work reflects her fascination with man's influence on his natural surroundings. Because of her interests in becoming an artist, and her love for marine creatures and conservation, she volunteered for world-renowned marine wildlife artist, Wyland. In 2012 she became one of Wylands Youth Ambassadors for the Planet. On a daily basis Jordan strives to do her part to help the ocean by removing marine debris, and by producing two and three dimensional art work pieces which showcase the beauty of the ocean and its inhabitants and how they are threatened by our carelessness.

Paris Shewfelt Thirteen year old Santa Cruz, California resident Paris Shewfelts passion for ocean conservation began when she became fascinated with the enchanting sea otters of Monterey Bay at three years of age. Shocked by learning these otters were on the brink of extinction from preventable human interactions; Paris decided to do something about it. At four years of age she founded her non-profit organization Greatkidscare in an effort to take part in ocean conservation and inspire other kids along the way. Paris uses her artistic talent to create artwork and compose music to convey ocean conservation messages to unlimited audiences ages one to one hundred and one. Her goal is to open the eyes of generations across the globe so they too can appreciate and conserve vibrant ocean life for eons to come. Paris is a firm believer that together we can make a difference. Paris, a Wyland Youth Ambassador for the Planet, has had the honor of creating and displaying Ocean artwork at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History in Washington DC, the 2008 Green Olympics Hands Across the Ocean 2 mile long marine mural with Wyland, the 60th Annual International Whaling commission meeting in Santiago, Chili, as well as The coastal Ecosystem Learning Centers Network which is connected to the top twenty-two National Aquariums which reaches school children across the United States. Additionally her artwork has been sold and displayed at the Pacific Whale foundation in Hawaii, as well as numerous museums, fundraiser events and art galleries across the country.

2014 Youth Ocean Conservation Summit Light, Camera Action! (Offered sessions 3 and 4) Inspire others to join you and the work of your project, and/or educate the public about an important environmental issue that relates to the work of your project. Brief public service announcements are a great way to do both! This video workshop will give participants a chance to view PSAs created by other youth, will take participants through a step by step storyboarding process to create a PSA, and will end with participants filming their own PSAs for their newly planned ocean conservation projects! About the Presenter: Bella Genta is a freshmen at the University of North Florida, majoring in Coastal Biology. Bella has served as the social media and outreach coordinator for the "Stow It Don't Throw It" Project since attending her first Youth Ocean Conservation Summit in 2012. She also interns in the Seahorse Conservation Lab at Mote Marine Aquarium in Sarasota, Florida. Bella hopes of one day becoming a part of the research aspect of marine biology; until then, she really enjoys writing about herself in the third person. Speak Up, Speak Out, Make a Difference! (Offered Sessions 3 and 4) Learn the skills it takes to propose your project and express your passion for conservation not only locally but globally. This interactive workshop is dedicated to breaking you out of your shell and understanding the power of presentation. We will touch on the power of body language and being able to read your audience in order to achieve your goals"

About the Presenter: Born and raised in Florida, Ben Duvals love for the outdoors has lead him to be a novice marine science geek and Florida history enthusiast. His education has led him all over the United States and across the pond. With a degree in Theatrical Directing from Texas State University, he has studied in Ithaca NY, London, and all over Central Texas. Ben brings a proficiency in Public Speaking and performance as well as talent and event management and directing. In the Theme Park Entertainment industry he has worked with a wide range of skillsets and backgrounds. Ben has brought out the best in individuals from Professional Performers to Educators and even Elementary school students and allowed them to share their passions and knowledge with their audiences. Ben is enthusiastic about not only the environment but sustainability and conservation. An avid fisherman, he is always reminded that a bad day on the water is always better than a good day in the office.

2014 Youth Ocean Conservation Summit 7 Social Media Insider Tips You Need for Conservation (Offered Sessions 3 and 4) You have a conservation project, funding, and people involved...now what? How can you use social media to help achieve your goals? And how do you know if you're successful? Social media can be a powerful force for conservation...or a time-suck and energy-drainer. Join me to learn how to leverage your reach and influence in social media to engage and motivate audiences for conservation. I'll share seven 'insider tips' that will help you maximize your time for maximum impact on social media! About the Presenter: Julie Henry (@julie_c_henry) is a speaker, trainer and coach dedicated to helping conservation education and interpretation professionals grow in strategic business, communication and leadership skills. As Founder and President of The Pulse Team, she works with organizational clients from the non-profit, government and corporate sectors including the National Marine Educators Association (NMEA), North American Association of Environmental Education (NAAEE), National Association for Interpretation (NAI), The Florida Aquarium, The Marine Mammal Center, Sarasota County's Green Business Partnership, and SeaWorld Parks and Entertainment. Julie spent 15 years in the conservation education field with leadership roles held at Chicagos John G. Shedd Aquarium, Mote Marine Laboratory, and Busch Gardens Tampa Bay. She became an entrepreneur in 2008 and has been invited to speak at events in England, Australia, New Zealand, the British Virgin Islands and through the U.S. Julie has been honored to motivate, connect with, and train audiences ranging from 10 people outside on a beach to 4,000 people in an auditorium. Julie holds a Masters Degree in Communication from the University of South Florida and a Sustainable Business Leadership Executive Program Certificate from Green Mountain College in Vermont. She earned a Postgraduate Diploma in Outdoor Education from the University of Otago in New Zealand as a Rotary Ambassadorial Scholar. She is a proud graduate of Miami University of Ohio with Bachelor Degrees in Education and Zoology with Honors. Originally from Chicago, Julie now lives with her family in Sarasota, Florida and enjoys doing yoga on the beach and spending as much time as possible outdoors. She is part-Kiwi, half-mermaid, an avid explorer, marathon runner, and mom to two active children, ages 5 and 7, who think she wins every race because she comes home with a medal.

2014 Youth Ocean Conservation Summit How Can Art and Culture Help You Do Ocean Conservation? (Offered Sessions 3 and 4) What tools do you have to scale up and sustain your project from individual actions to a city-wide, state-wide, country-wide, and world-wide culture of conservation? What even is culture? How does art and culture define how we relate to the ocean? Art more than just fine art is the blood and oxygen of culture. Culture is alive and growing and shifting and moving and beating because we are always making different kinds of art! Whether you are already using art or not in your project, art is an incredibly powerful tool in shaping how people see the issue you are addressing, and how they perceive how well your project might work. In this workshop, well look at how our perceptions of the ocean are shaped by art, and how we can use some of the tools that art gives us to slowly create a culture of conservation and ocean care. About the Presenter:

Ellen Bechtel is the newest member at From the Bow Seat Education Programs and the Ocean Awareness Student Contest. A big part of her role is connecting with teachers and students through conferences, school visits, and workshops, as well as piloting a classroom visit series teaching marine science communication, and ocean conservation, advocacy, and activism through art. In May of 2014 Ellen graduated from Wellesley College with a degree in Environmental Studies and Geoscience. For three months last fall, she also sailed across the Pacific Ocean with Sea Education Association and scientists from Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute as a student and crew member on the sailing tall ship the SSV Robert C Seamans. She describes her biggest accomplishment on the voyage as climbing to the top of the mainmast and overcoming a long-standing fear of heights. Ellen is in love with grapes, tidepools, girls in science and leadership, rocks, and most of all - a hot cup of earl grey. She looks forward to connecting with the Youth Ocean Conservation Summit participants!

Never doubt that one person can make a difference.

- Jim Abernethy 2012 Youth Ocean Conservation Summit keynote

2014 Youth Ocean Conservation Summit Grant Writing 101 (Offered Session 3) No matter what type of work you plan to enter into in the future, or what type of ocean conservation project you wish to start, it's most likely going to need a little or perhaps a lot of money to get started and that's why an important skill to acquire is one of grant writing. In Grant Writing 101 you'll gain insight into why grant writing is an important skill to have and use. You'll also get a chance to get guidance on filling out our 2014 Youth Ocean Conservation Team Mini Grant, as during this workshop you'll have a chance to start working on the actual application form that will allow you to gain funding for the ocean conservation project you work on during the summit. About the Presenter: Kim Bassos-Hull, M.S. is a Senior Biologist at Mote Marine Laboratory working in the Dolphin Research Program, Center for Shark Research and Education Division. Kim grew up in Connecticut and was always fascinated by sea life so she headed west to attend the University of California at Santa Cruz majoring in Biology and Marine Science for both her B.S. and M.S degrees. Her masters thesis work brought her to Florida in 1990 to study dolphins in Southwest Florida under the direction of Dr. Randy Wells, director of the Sarasota Dolphin Research Program which has the world's longest running study of dolphins in the world. Kim has extensive experience studying marine animal behavior and ecology along Florida's Gulf coast, especially in regards to photo-identification and population estimation. Kim has been active with Mote's Education Division mentoring high school students with research projects and community outreach since 2007 and has been a Co-PI with Mote's Spotted Eagle Ray Conservation Program since 2009.

We now face a time when we must take care of the ocean that takes care of us.

- Dr. Sylvia Earle National Geographic Explorer in Residence 2012 Youth Ocean Conservation Summit video message

2014 Youth Ocean Conservation Summit Trash to Treasure (Offered Session 4)

Have you ever wondered what to do with all the trash you find on a cleanup? In this workshop, you will have the opportunity to let your creativity run wild as you turn trash into treasure. Join artists Ryan Sobel and Jordan Holm as they lend their talents to help inspire your work to turn what was once an ugly piece of trash into a piece of ocean artwork you will treasure!

4:30-4:40 Call to Action Message 4:40-5:00 Closing Remarks/Youth Ocean

Conservation Team/Evaluations 5:00 Ice Cream/Networking Social (optional) Join your fellow conference participants at an end of the day ice cream social and make connections with other youth and adults who are passionate about marine conservation work!

I urge all of you to come to this conference and let it be a catalyst for further action. You have the power to change the world.

- Philippe Cousteau EarthEcho International Co-Founder and President

2013 Youth Ocean Conservation Summit video message

2014 Youth Ocean Conservation Summit

2014 Youth Ocean Conservation Film Competition Are you an aspiring filmmaker? Is there an ocean conservation issue that you want to share with others? Were calling all students in grades preschool-college to take part in our 2014 Youth Ocean Conservation Film Competition!

This competition provides you with the chance to highlight an ocean conservation issue thats relevant in your home town, make a short video to raise awareness about a conservation project, or film a public service announcement encouraging people to protect our planets oceans. The possibilities are endless just use your creativity! Winning films will be screened at Mote Marine Laboratory as part of our Community Ocean Conservation Film Festival on Saturday, November 8th and winners will also receive great prizes! Visit www.yocs.org to download the contest rules and video submission instructions! Good luck!

Join us for the Community Ocean Conservation Film Festival! Saturday, November 8th, 2014 Mote Marine Laboratory

On Saturday, November 8th, join us after the Youth Ocean Conservation Summit for the third annual Community Ocean Conservation Film Festival! This event will feature a screening of the film Mission Blue, a screening of Mission Blue! This ambitious film tackles the daunting challenge of how to protect the global ocean that is now under attack as never before. As a witness to changes that have occurred in the ocean over the past 60 years, Dr. Sylvia Earle is a steadfast warrior, who is leading the charge to restore the ocean to health before its too late. Mission Blue shot during a 3-year period in numerous locations around the world traces Sylvias remarkable personal journey, from her earliest memories exploring the ocean as a young girl to her days leading a daring undersea mission in the Virgin Islands and beyond. The film deftly weaves her unique personal history with the passion that consumes Sylvia today: creating a global parks system for the ocean that she calls Hope Spots. Attendees will also have the chance to participate in a silent auction/raffle fundraiser with the chance to bid on marine themed artwork and other items. Proceeds will support youth-driven ocean conservation projects. Admission to this event is free but there is limited seating and participants must RSVP at www.yocs.org to reserve a seat. The event will take place in Mote Marine Laboratorys Immersion Cinema. Doors open and silent auction/raffle fundraiser, as well as student conservation project showcase begins at 6:30pm.

2014 Youth Ocean Conservation Summit

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Cant wait for the Youth Ocean Conservation accommodation Summit?

Join the discussion in advance online!

On Facebook: Like our page at: facebook.com/stowitdontthrowit

Use social media to share your comments and questions in advance and during the summit with the hashtag: #YOCS14

Visit our website at: www.yocs.org

Sarasota Bay Exploration! Sunday, November 9th Ken Thompson Park

9:30am-11:30am Join your fellow Youth Ocean Conservation Summit participants to explore Sarasota Bay by kayak and paddleboard and by taking part in a hands on seining and dip netting field excursion to learn more about the marine wildlife that inhabit this ecosystem. Dont miss out on this great opportunity to wrap up your weekend in Sarasota, make new friends, and experience Sarasota Bay! Participation in this event is free to Youth Ocean Conservation Summit participants who select the option to participate when they complete the Sarasota Bay Exploration registration form at www.yocs.org.

Location and Directions The 2014 Youth Ocean Conservation Summit will be held at Mote Marine Laboratorys Keating Marine Education Center. Mote Marine Laboratory is located at 1600 Ken Thompson Parkway, Sarasota, FL 34236. Below are directions to Mote from a variety of Florida cities.

FROM BRADENTON: Take US-301 south to Fruitville Rd. Turn right on Fruitville Rd. and go approximately 2 miles until it dead ends at US-41 (North Tamiami Trail). Turn left onto US-41 and turn right at the next traffic light, Gulfstream Avenue. See FROM GULFSTREAM AVENUE. ***OR*** Take US-41 south (North Tamiami Trail) following the signs to Sarasota. While on US-41, PASS Sarasota-Bradenton airport, Ringling School of Art and Design, and Fruitville Rd. At the next light, Gulfstream Avenue, (past Fruitville Rd.) turn right. See FROM GULFSTREAM AVENUE. FROM FORT MYERS/NAPLES: Take I-75 north to Exit 210 (Fruitville Road). Take Fruitville Rd. west approximately 6.5 miles until it dead ends at US-41 (North Tamiami Trail). Turn left onto US-41 and turn right at the next traffic light, Gulfstream Avenue. See FROM GULFSTREAM AVENUE. FROM ST. PETERSBURG/CLEARWATER: Take I-275 south over the Sunshine Skyway Bridge to I-75 south to Exit 210 (Fruitville Road). Take Fruitville Rd. west approximately 6.5 miles until it dead ends at US-41 (North Tamiami Trail). Turn left onto US-41 and turn right at the next traffic light, Gulfstream Avenue. See FROM GULFSTREAM AVENUE.

FROM TAMPA: Take I-75 south to Exit 210 (Fruitville Road). Take Fruitville Rd. west approximately 6.5 miles until it dead ends at US-41 (North Tamiami Trail). Turn left onto US-41 and turn right at the next traffic light, Gulfstream Avenue. See FROM GULFSTREAM AVENUE. FROM VENICE: Take US-41 (South Tamiami Trail) north (to the Sarasota bayfront) and turn left onto Gulfstream Ave. See FROM GULFSTREAM AVENUE. FROM GULFSTREAM AVENUE Continue over the Ringling Causeway Bridge to St. Armand's Circle (approximately 2 miles). Enter St. Armand's Circle, making your first right onto Boulevard of the Presidents North following the signs to Longboat Key and Mote Aquarium. Approximately one mile from St. Armand's Circle, just before the drawbridge to Longboat Key, turn right onto Ken Thompson Parkway.

2014 Youth Ocean Conservation Summit Overnight Accommodation Options

LaQuinta Inn & Suites Sarasota

1803 North Tamiami Trail Sarasota, FL 34234 Phone: 1-941-366-5128 Fax: 1-941-953-4322 Special rate of $71.10 + tax per night for standard rooms with 2 double beds if you make a reservation by October 17th, 2014! Up to four people per room. Special rate applies for the nights of Friday, November 7th and Saturday November, 8th. Be sure to call-in your reservation and mention youre with the Youth Ocean Conservation Summit in order to receive the discount!

____________________________________________________________ Groups of youth and adults traveling from out of town may also consider learning more about local ecosystems in the area by camping at one of the following state parks. For campground information/reservations visit: www.floridastateparks.org

Oscar Scherer St. Park 1843 S. Tamiami Trail Osprey, Florida 34229 (941)-483-5956

Myakka River St. Park 13208 State Road 72 Sarasota, Florida (941)-362-6511