Bluecology is committed to assisting students with a desire to experience marine conservation in the field.   The purpose of youth  scholarship is to immerse promising future leaders in programs that make a difference in ocean conservation,

Our Field Sites: 

Micronesia

Bluecology in collaboration with  One People One Reef is inspiring and developing future leaders in ocean sustainability.  The Micronesia scholarship fund supports Outer Islands youth and underserved  US mainland students the opportunity to participate in the Ulithi Youth Project by offsetting field site expenses.

The Youth Action Project is the only one that involves young people from the US and Micronesia in hands-on science and cultural immersion to experience for themselves the value of combining local knowledge and traditional management with modern science when addressing environmental challenges and potential solutions. US mainland students and Ulithian youth are paired to learn about local and  global issues such as climate change and plastic pollution. Around 60% of the participants in the Youth Action Project are local Outer Islands residents. Through this international exchange, youth  engage in new ways with questions of coral reef management and conservation, and their own role in  their community’s future.

Hawai’i

 

 

Hawai’i

In Hawai’i, Bluecology works closely with partner Hawai’i Wildlife Fund a conservation organization protecting native wildlife in Hawaiʻi since 1996, focusing on coastal and marine wildlife species species in the Hawai’ian Islands, including the hawksbill sea turtle (honuʻea) and the Hawaiian green turtle (honu).  Activites include conservation research, marine debris removal, habitat restoration, sustainable farming, and advocacy campaigns.

Youth groups from around the world join us in a remote valley of West Maui’s mountain rain forest to get hands-on experience with traditional taro and fish farming practices.  Volunteers visit  a remote, off-the-grid farm where traditional management is practiced based in Hawaiian values.

The Green Turtle Basking project involves monitoring  honu (green sea turtles) who come ashore to bask, a rare behavior in which Hawaiian green sea turtles come ashore for reasons other than nesting. Youth photo-document facial and flipper scute patterns, along with other features, which help identify and track individuals.  With Hawksbill Turtle Project youth assist Hawai’i Wildlife Fund researchers monitor beaches for female nesting turtles, and once located work in shifts round-the-clock to protect each hawksbill nest during the hatching period.

Policy work in action is another component of the Hawai’i project where students learn about community based conservation,  as well as the role of lawsuits to achieve specific conservation outcomes.

SCHOLARSHIP FUND
We have created a scholarship fund to support underserved high school and college youth pursuing hands-on marine conservation learning experiences.  The natural world urgently needs our support to advance enduring ecosystem protections.

Join our team of partners committed to ocean sustainability, including foundations, corporations, high schools and colleges.  For more information contact:  reiremo@bluecology.org

 

Please donate to the Scholarship Fund