Announcing our 2025-2026 YOCS Mini-Grant Recipients

Congratulations to our 2025-2026 Youth Ocean Conservation Summit mini-grant recipients! We are honored to support and celebrate this inspiring group of young ocean leaders who are developing innovative, community-driven projects to protect marine and coastal ecosystems around the world. From mangrove restoration and marine debris cleanups to environmental education and youth leadership initiatives, these projects reflect the creativity, determination, and impact that define the YOCS community.

A special thank you to the Johnson Ohana Foundation, The Island Vet, and supporters of our YOCS annual auction fundraiser for helping make this grant program possible. 
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Take a moment to learn more about this year’s incredible recipients and the impact they are creating in their communities:

Calliope Kauffman’s Ocean Blooms project works to reduce toxic runoff entering Florida waterways by planting native swamp sunflowers that act as hyperaccumulators for pollutants. Through community planting events, school partnerships, and youth leadership initiatives in the Sarasota area, Ocean Blooms is creating accessible and hopeful pathways for youth engagement in ocean conservation.
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​As part of her Bubbles of Hope Florida initiative, Coco Claypoole is mobilizing teen SCUBA divers to remove marine debris from local waters around Sarasota, Florida. After already removing more than 500 pounds of trash in 2025, the team will use grant support to expand cleanup efforts through the purchase of collection supplies and equipment to better document the impact of their work.

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Emma Wilson plans to use her mini-grant to publish her fourth book, Expedition: Everglades. The project focuses on educating readers about the environmental impacts of industrialization in the Everglades while highlighting iconic and threatened wildlife species including the Florida Panther, American Crocodile, Roseate Spoonbill, and American River Otter.
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Gabrielle Bohager’s Mangrove Model Tank project demonstrates how mangroves stabilize shorelines, filter water, and provide habitat for marine life. Through this interactive educational model, Gabrielle hopes to help students better understand the critical importance of mangrove ecosystems and inspire greater engagement in local conservation efforts.

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Through Pails Against Pollution, Hannah Aguilar is creating an educational beach cleanup installation featuring collection buckets and informational signage designed to encourage community members to properly dispose of waste and better understand the impacts of litter on marine ecosystems. Her project highlights how small individual actions can collectively create meaningful environmental change.
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Isaac Nelson and the Eco Scouts will use grant funding to help build a mangrove nursery and vertical oyster garden curing station at the Jupiter Lighthouse in Florida. The project combines habitat restoration, environmental education, and hands-on stewardship to strengthen coastal ecosystems and engage youth in marine conservation.

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Jacinta Ukaegbu’s Our Heritage Conservation Project works directly with students in coastal communities to promote ocean conservation and cultural heritage protection. Through environmental clubs, awareness sessions, and community cleanup activities, students are empowered to become young environmental leaders advocating for healthier waterways and marine ecosystems.

Kristalyn Wright’s Coastal Care initiative is focused on researching, educating, and addressing ocean acidification through the restoration and promotion of aquatic plants, with a focus on seagrass ecosystems in Florida’s Indian River Lagoon. The project aims to equip youth with knowledge and tools to take action for their local environment.

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Lee Lopin is leading the restoration of Riverview High School’s Eagle Native Plant Nature Trail. The project will remove invasive species, restore native habitat, and install educational signage to create a long-term learning space that promotes appreciation for Florida’s native ecosystems and biodiversity.
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Manal Chatri’s Ripple Effect: The Litter Leaders Community Marine Debris Initiative addresses waterfront pollution by combining scientific data collection with community engagement. Working alongside scientists from Mote Marine Laboratory, Manal will identify litter hotspots through water and sediment sampling while collaborating with students to design eye-catching recycling bins that promote environmental awareness and behavior change.

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Neville Agesa is leading a project that combines scientific restoration methods with Indigenous ecological knowledge to restore mangrove ecosystems and strengthen coastal resilience in Kenya. Through youth training, community engagement, and nature-based aquaculture practices, the initiative supports biodiversity conservation, climate adaptation, and sustainable livelihoods.
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Selone Nuah’s Education for Change initiative in Liberia seeks to make ocean science more accessible to local youth while addressing the stigma faced by fishermen and fishmongers within coastal communities. Through this work, Selone hopes to inspire a deeper understanding of the ocean as both a vital resource and an important part of cultural heritage deserving protection.

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Steve Misati’s Mangrove Eco-Restoration Project focuses on restoring degraded mangrove ecosystems along the coast of Kenya while empowering local communities through education and stewardship programs. Building on previous restoration efforts, Steve will organize workshops and school programs designed to inspire long-term protection of mangrove habitats among youth and community members.

​Through her grant funded project, Zoe Friman will expand large-scale community led marine debris removal projects in south Florida. During a recent cleanup, Zoe and volunteers removed more than 2,400 pounds of trash from a small stretch of shoreline, including hundreds of discarded fishing buoys and marine debris items that threaten wildlife and habitats.
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We are continually inspired by the passion, innovation, and leadership demonstrated by this year’s recipients. These young changemakers are protecting marine and coastal ecosystems and shaping a more sustainable future for communities around the world.

Stay tuned for updates throughout the year as these inspiring projects continue to grow and make an impact and follow us on Instagram @YOCSummit and Facebook for more!

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