Empowering young people to chase their dreams and advocate for their beliefs is a significant approach for parents to promote autonomy, stimulate learning, and highlight the positive influence they can have on their communities and the world.
The Ocean Heroes Bootcamp is an annual global summit aimed at empowering youth aged 11 to 18 to engage in environmental activism and combat plastic pollution. This event spans a weekend filled with workshops, inspiring speakers, and campaign development sessions that guide participants in creating their own initiatives to tackle plastic pollution and implement their ideas effectively.
Organized by the Captain Planet Foundation, Lonely Whale, and the Point Break Foundation, and supported by over 10 additional partners, the second Ocean Heroes Bootcamp occurred in June in Vancouver, bringing together youth from 20 countries for a weekend rich in workshops, brainstorming sessions, campaign crafting, and friendship building.
The Experience
Twelve-year-old Taylor Wheeler, son of Ellen Wheeler from The Windows Club, had the privilege of attending this year’s Ocean Heroes Bootcamp, a dynamic three-day program focused on media literacy, global plastic policy, science education, effective campaigning, “artivism,” and incubating innovative ideas.
The bootcamp featured experienced squad leaders who mentored newcomers throughout the event while sharing their journeys. Squad leaders Hannah Testa of Hannah for Change and Olivia and Carter Ries of One More Generation expressed their enthusiasm for inspiring the next generation of activists committed to addressing plastic pollution.
As Hannah Testa explained, “The goal is to cultivate activists like myself. It took considerable time to reach this point, and I want to aid other youth in bypassing those hurdles by providing guidance on policy, campaigning, and social influence. We have the potential to mentor them so they can reach their goals more swiftly.
Olivia Ries, a young activist, urges adults and educators to contribute. “I absolutely adore the Ocean Heroes Bootcamp. It brings together youth globally to collaborate and strategize for change. However, we also need the support of adults.”
Creating a sense of community and encouraging interest in change and advocacy is a significant way to empower our children as they develop, teaching them that their voices are important. To discover more about the Ocean Heroes Bootcamp and learn how to participate in next year’s event, visit oceanheroes.blue.
What is Artivism?
In addition to launching their own campaigns, Taylor Wheeler and his fellow participants engaged in various artivism activities, blending creativity with activism.
Taylor expressed his feelings for the sea in love letters, highlighting the stark contrast between its beauty and the harm inflicted by humans. He poignantly wrote, “the ocean fills with trash beside a stunning sunset while the sea cries, ‘please help me.’”
A Look at Bootcamp Workshops
As part of the #sharksquad, Taylor Wheeler participated in workshops such as:
- Citizen science led by Litterati, an app aimed at mitigating litter and pollution
- Plastic science with 5Gyres
- Media training with The Big Blue & You
- Campaign and pitching strategies with Captain Planet, Lonely Whale, and Erin Shrode, a remarkable activist who ran for Congress at the age of 25
