WANT TO BE A CHAMPION FOR OUR OCEAN?

Are you passionate about protecting our ocean and looking to make a difference? We often hear that the ocean is in trouble or that it’s too late to act, but we want to show you that just one person can make a difference.

The Inland Ocean Ambassador Training Program is a 5-session, 5-week online program offered twice per year that prepares individuals to take action to protect our ocean and waterways.

While we know that our ocean is in trouble, it’s also not too late to act. According to a major recent scientific review, our ocean can be restored to its previous bountiful state, but only with a redoubling of conservation efforts. We’ve already seen dramatic improvements in many areas. In 2000, less than 1% of our ocean was protected; now it is almost 8%. Many whale, sea lion, and other marine animal populations are increasing and good things are happening because people are more aware and taking action.

A big part of turning things around will include getting more people involved around the country and across the globe, and not just those who live on the coast.

 

TRAINING DETAILS

The virtual IOA Training Program is designed to prepare individuals with the skills and tools to be powerful advocates for ocean and watershed health. Over five weeks, Ambassadors from all over the country learn from top ocean advocates, scientists, and policymakers, and network with other Inland Ocean Ambassadors and partner organizations to expand their ocean and water expertise. Ambassadors gain experience in community engagement and advocacy and get the tools needed to be effective ocean and water champions in their communities.

The training covers watershed health, plastic pollution, the ocean as a solution to climate change, marine protected areas, fisheries management and sustainable seafood, the power of storytelling, how we are Heartwired to love the ocean, and much more. 

We accept applicants who want to be effective ocean and watershed advocates and be actively involved in our Inland Ocean Network. This training is designed to be interactive and participants will be expected to engage with the group throughout the five weeks. 

 

INLAND OCEAN NETWORK (ION)

After completion of the Inland Ocean Ambassador Training Program, participants will become members of the Inland Ocean Network (ION). ION is a network of Ambassadors spanning across the nation and serves as a hub for ocean protection initiatives, problems, solutions, and calls to action. Through ION, Ambassadors have access to engagement activities including call-in days, nationwide cleanup days, campaign involvement, and more.. ION provides resources, forms relationships, connects members, and catalyzes movement actions to create a more just and equitable representation of the inland ocean movement. 

Since the ocean is not only a coastal issue, ION will grow the involvement of inland communities, unite inland and coastal communities, and grow the actions and measures taken to protect and restore our ocean.

US Ambassador Map

World Ambassador Map

US states and countries represented by Inland Ocean Ambassadors

Ocean Ambassadors Trained
290
US States Represented
38
Countries Represented
38
Trainings
10

This Season's Guest Speakers

Sarah Winter Whelan

Healthy Ocean Coalition
Sarah is a Midwest native who fell in love with the ocean at an early age. For over fifteen years Sarah has worked to protect the ocean as a lawyer, advocate, and researcher. Today, she’s happy educating and engaging people in positions of power by raising and amplifying the voices of ocean lovers who know why it is so important that we protect the ocean from the worst impacts of climate change. Since trading cornfields for coastlines, Sarah has lived in South Carolina, Florida, Vermont, Oregon, and now calls Boston home alongside her husband and two children. Sarah has her Juris Doctorate and Masters in the Study of Environmental Law from Vermont Law School and Bachelor of Science in Marine Science from the University of South Carolina. When Sarah isn’t working to protect the ocean, she’s exploring New England beaches with her family - yes, even during winter - reading chapter books with her kids, surviving a global pandemic, and contemplating her next ocean tattoo.

Seth Watkins

Compassion in World Farming
Seth is the fourth generation of his family to care for Pinhook Farm. Located in Southwest Iowa, the farm was established by Seth’s great grandfather in 1848. Today Pinhook Farm is home to a herd of Angus cattle, several hives of honey bees, a few chickens, and a recently acquired flock of Katahdin sheep. Seth attributes Pinhook Farm’s success to prioritizing stewardship over production by striving to build a system that works with nature. In addition to caring for livestock, Seth is a TedX speaker, serves as a United Nations Food Systems Champion, serves on the Iowa USDA Farm Service Agency State Committee, and is a part of a National Science Foundation funded program called BlueGAP that is working to help communities address nitrogen pollution. Seth has been an advocate for watershed health and has appeared on a panel at Capitol Hill Ocean Week about protecting the ocean from inland regions.

Nick Kemble

5Gyres
Nick, having grown up near the New Jersey coastline, has held a lifelong admiration for the oceans and marine ecosystems and is an advocate for environmental protection and conservation. He joins 5 Gyres after completing internships with the US House of Representatives, the United Nations, and the Green Climate Fund, where he helped advance international sustainability initiatives and development. Nick is eager to support 5 Gyres by engaging with partners and stakeholders and providing programmatic support to help limit the impacts of plastic pollution on the oceans, ecosystems, and environmental and community health.

Mark Haver

Sustainable Ocean Alliance
Mark is Sustainable Ocean Alliance’s North America Regional Representative. Mark was the inaugural chair of SOA's Youth Policy Advisory Council, where he built out SOA's youth policy campaigns for the Global Blue New Deal and a Deep-sea Mining Moratorium. Mark was an integral member of SOA's COP26 and COP27 teams, where he represented SOA and its position on deep-sea mining on several panels, including with the Government of Chile and the UN High Level Climate Champions. With partner member organizations of the Deep Sea Conservation Coalition, local student groups at UBC, and a global network of online activists and social media influencers, Mark led the organization of the demonstration against deep-sea mining and The Metals Company on Saturday outside IMPAC5. He is also a partnership coordinator for Deep Rising, the Sundance-nominated deep-sea mining documentary, narrated by Jason Momoa and directed by Matthieu Rytz.

Dr. Craig Downs

Haereticus Environmental Laboratory
Craig Downs Ph.D. is a forensic ecotoxicologist, environmental chemist, and stress physiologist. His research program “sleuths” the culprits that cause ecological degradation or environmental diseases in vulnerable populations. His work has contributed to banning almost a dozen pesticides in dozens of countries, as well as mitigation measures for pregnant persons and mothers for reducing their exposure to pollutants that can result in miscarriages and birth defects. He is most famous for his work on sunscreen and coral reefs, and has been interviewed by a broad range of media outlets, such as the New York Times, Vogue, Rolling Stone, The Hollywood Reporter, Glamour, and Consumer Reports. He has waged successful campaigns for industry to adopt “paraben-free” and “oxybenzone-free” cosmetic and sunscreen formulations. Dr. Downs is Executive Director of Haereticus Environmental Laboratory, a nonprofit organization that conducts scientific research to preserve healthy ecosystems and consumer choices for a healthy lifestyle. He has held positions as research professor at University of Hawaii’s School of Medicine and Sweet Briar College, and is currently a visiting professor at Sorbonne University in France. Dr. Downs received a B.A. in philosophy and biology from Hiram College, a M.Sc. from Syracuse University in biology, and a Ph.D. from the John A. Burns School of Medicine, University of Hawaii in cell and molecular biology.

SAMPLE TRAINING TIMELINE

Module 1: Course Intro and the Power of Storytelling (September 7th 2023)

  • Introduction and course overview
  • Guest Speaker: Wallace J Nichols, author of Blue Mind
  • The power of storytelling: how we are Heartwired to love the ocean
  • How the ocean impacts our lives

Module 2: Watershed Health and Empowering Your Voice (September 14th, 2023)

Module 3: Getting involved with an Emphasis on Plastic Pollution (September 21st, 2023)

  • Guest Speaker: Maya Rommwatt from Defend Our Health 
  • Plastic pollution and climate 
  • How to perform brand audits

Module 4: Deep-sea Mining and Engaging with Legislative Leaders (September 28th, 2023)

  • Guest Speaker: Mark Haver from the Sustainable Ocean Alliance    
  • Deep-sea mining and the International Seabed Authority 
  • Advocating for a healthy ocean and watersheds

Module 5: Supplements and Introduction to the Inland Ocean Network (October 5th, 2023)

  • Inland Ocean Ambassador Graduation Ceremony
  • Inland Ocean Network and next steps as an Ambassador

TESTIMONIALS

“I am so happy and grateful for being guided to take part in the Inland Ocean Coalition Cohort. Through this program, not only have my eyes been opened to the problems surrounding our oceans but also ways to educate and reach out to people around the nation on solutions for future generations! I feel I have grown as a student and leader in my community through this program and I recommend anyone interested in learning about problems existing in our natural world to take part.” -DaRon Shavers

“The IOA program is an inspiring experience full of people who encourage each other to put their best fin forward for the ocean!” -Tabitha Birdwell

“The IOA training is knowledge-packed, inclusion-focused, and action-forward! It left me feeling inspired to work with my new colleagues and friends to apply what we learned to protect our ocean and land – starting with the 30×30 campaign.” – Angie Joerin

“I truly loved hearing from all the speakers, learning all the different ways that we can help, and knowing there are ways to get involved in our communities on so many different levels. I’m excited to start doing my part to help save our ocean and to spread the word of how everyone can help!” – Suzi Fowler

“I liked the topics studied. Real issues, how to address them. Also, the real life opportunities that follow the training. I signed up because I wanted to make a difference in my community. We got together, learned and now it’s time!” – Priscila

“I most liked getting to hear from different speakers and all the resources that were shared with us each week. I also really loved making friends through this process.” – Michelle