Since the Ocean Heroes Bootcamp program was co-founded by Lonely Whale and the Captain Planet Foundation in 2018, Big Blue & You trained more than 500 kids ages 11 to 18 on communications strategies to fight plastic pollution. Unfortunately, this program was shuttered due to the pandemic, but we hope to contribute again when it is revived!
The 2018 Ocean Heroes Bootcamp convened existing and emerging youth leaders both virtually through Ocean Wise and at the Audubon Aquarium of the Americas in New Orleans, providing them with the opportunity to collaborate with each other and learn how to make a difference in their communities through the permanent reduction of plastic pollution.
During the bootcamp, youth participants celebrated the designation of Netflix and Nickelodeon actor Aidan Gallagher as the youngest ever UN Environment Goodwill Ambassador for North America; learned the tools of building a successful impact campaign to rid of single-use plastics in their own communities; and teamed up with leading youth environmental activists to create their unique campaign concepts.
On the last day of the program, youth participants had the chance to pitch their campaigns to actor, UN Environment Goodwill Ambassador and Lonely Whale Co-Founder, Adrian Grenier, and received feedback from him directly. A select group of Ocean Heroes Bootcamp participants also shared their campaigns virtually to the G7 Summit leadership team to encourage world leaders to join them in the fight against plastic pollution.