UGA Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant is hosting the third annual Youth Conservation Summit (YOCS) on Saturday, Jan. 28, at the Marine Education Center and Aquarium on Skidaway Island. The summit, one of several taking place across the country, empowers middle and high school students with the knowledge and skills necessary to implement ocean conservation projects in their communities.
The workshop will comprise skill-building exercises, brainstorming sessions and citizen science presentations. At the end of the day, students will work together to develop and present ideas for conservation efforts that they could lead in their local communities.
“I am excited to see our youth take on roles and responsibilities as future leaders,” says Mark Risse, director of Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant. “Rather than waiting for others to step up, these young adults are creating the future they want. It is empowering and something I am glad we are helping to nurture.”
Keynote speakers include Clayton Louis Ferrara, executive director of IDEAS For Us, and Carter and Olivia Reis, co-founders of One More Generation.
The workshop is being organized by the 2016-2017 Georgia Sea Grant Marine Education Interns Kira Krall, Hannah Kittler, Hannah Edwards and McKenna Lyons.
Online registration opens Dec. 5, 2016, and closes Jan. 18, 2017. To register, complete the online registration form and payment available on the Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant website http://marex.uga.edu/yocs/.
IDEAS For Us is a non-profit and United-Nations-accredited charity organization with a presence in over 20 countries around the world. IDEAS For Us helps people create innovative solutions and fund local action to advance sustainability by addressing problems locally.
One More Generation focuses on the conservation of animals, the conservation of the environment, and the importance of empowering and educating youth about conservation practices and efforts to ensure their involvement in the conservation movement. Watch Carter and Olivia Reis’ TedxYouth talk about launching One More Generation here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mjIckXtHIhs.