Register for the 2016 Youth Ocean Conservation Summit

Registration is now open for the 2016 Youth Ocean Conservation Summit which will take place on Saturday, December 10 at Mote Marine Laboratory in Sarasota, FL! Attendees at this year’s event will be inspired by dynamic speakers, including a keynote address by Chris Fischer, OCEARCH Founding Chairman and Expedition Leader! Participants will learn from students leading ocean conservation programs in their communities, have the opportunity to develop plans for their own ocean conservation projects, and take part in workshops and trainings designed to give them the skills needed to ensure the success of these projects. Participants will also get the chance to network with conservation organizations, and other young people who are passionate about ocean conservation!

To register for the Summit visit www.yocs.org and complete the online registration form by November 18, 2016. The registration fee for the event is $13 per participant, and includes lunch, snacks, and program materials. Participants can also purchase a limited edition Youth Ocean Conservation Summit t-shirt designed by world-renowned marine artist, Wyland. On the site you can also view the complete Summit program where you can learn more about the sessions and speakers featured at the event. 

​Community Ocean Conservation Film Festival: 
Join young ocean conservation leaders, special guests and members of your community on Friday, December 9, to celebrate ocean conservation and 100 years of the National Park Service as we kick off the 2016 Youth Ocean Conservation Summit weekend! This year’s event will feature a variety of short films highlighting ocean conservation, and a special presentation - Songs and Stories from our National Parks! National Parks are best known for wildlife and scenery, but the reasons our parks matter go far beyond the tangible. From Yellowstone to Hawai’i Volcanoes, Gettysburg to Biscayne - national parks are powerful places that impact people in extraordinary ways. At this year’s event, Biscayne National Park Ranger, Gary Bremen and South Florida troubadour, Grant Livingston will celebrate the National Park Service Centennial by blending music and storytelling to share deeply personal experiences from national parks across the country. This journey winds through a full range of emotions, from laughter to tears, and will leave you uplifted, proud, and anxious to create your own memories in your national parks.
 
The event will also feature a showcase of student-led ocean conservation projects, ocean conservation films produced by young people, a special screening of the Khaled bin Sultan Living Oceans Foundation Film – Coral Reefs: Trouble in Paradise, and a silent auction/raffle fundraiser with marine themed artwork and other items. Proceeds will support the Youth Ocean Conservation Summit program. Admission to this event is free, however due to limited seating an RSVP is required. Attendees can RSVP using the form at www.yocs.org.  
 
The event will take place in Mote Marine Laboratory’s WAVE Center. Doors open at 6:00pm for our silent auction and showcase of student conservation projects. 
 
2016 Youth Ocean Conservation Film Competition: Through this competition, students will highlight ocean conservation issues by creating short films to raise awareness of these topics. Winning films will be shown to the public at the community film festival on November 13! This competition is open to all students in grades PreK-College. Submissions are due October 31, 2016. Full contest details and entry information are available at: www.yocs.org.