Ocean Heroes Boot Camp

Ocean Heroes Bootcamp is creating a global army
of youth environmental activists fighting plastic pollution

Nearly 10 environmental organizations joining forces for the first time ever
to empower youth participants to take action against single-use plastics

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Ocean Heroes Bootcamp

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NEW ORLEANS (May 21, 2018) – A youth revolution for combating plastic pollution is coming, and it’s starting in New Orleans.

From June 2-4, Ocean Heroes Bootcamp is bringing together nearly 1,000 youth activists ages 11-18, both virtually through Ocean Wise and onsite at the Audubon Aquarium of the Americas in New Orleans, to provide 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.

Captain Planet Foundation, an organization that sits at the nexus of youth empowerment, environmental action, and K-12 science learning, is known for its national Project Learning Garden and Small Grants programs that have been supporting and funding youth action since its inception in 1991. CPF is thrilled to be an organizing member of this inaugural Bootcamp.  In addition to the critical work of empowering the next generation of environmental ocean heroes, the Bootcamp will feature several of CPF’s Young Superhero winners and Atlanta natives as “Squad Leaders”, including: Carter & Olivia Ries, Hannah Testa, and Sophia Albelita & Liam Burns.  Squad Leaders will bring their plastic pollution success stories and know-how to share out to their up-and-coming peers.

Post Bootcamp, young Ocean Hero participants will be able to build their local campaigns to fight single use plastics and marine debris using the Ocean Heroes Action Toolkit on the Project Hero platform, created by CPF.   Content for the Toolkit has been provided by the national environmental organizations making Ocean Heroes Bootcamp possible including: Lonely WhaleUN EnvironmentCaptain Planet FoundationThe 5Gyres InstituteOcean WiseLitteratiAlgalitaPoint Break FoundationLove Letters to the SeaBig Blue and You, and many more.

For more information on Ocean Heroes Bootcamp, visit www.oceanheroes.blue. You can also connect with Ocean Heroes Bootcamp on TwitterFacebook and Instagram.

About Lonely Whale
Lonely Whale is an award-winning incubator for courageous ideas that drive impactful market-based change on behalf of our ocean. Founded in December 2015 by Adrian Grenier and Lucy Sumner, Lonely Whale is inspired by the power of community to create the change needed to ensure a healthy planet. Lonely Whale is working towards a new era of radical collaboration, together facilitating the creation of innovative ideas that push the boundary on current trends in technology, media and advocacy that positively impact the health of our ocean. Lonely Whale’s work has been recognized by Fast Company’s World Changing Ideas, the Shorty Awards, and the ADDY Awards. Lonely Whale is a proud supporter of the UN Environment’s #CleanSeas campaign. To learn more and support, visit www.lonelywhale.org or follow @LonelyWhale.

About UN Environment
UN Environment is the leading global voice on the environment. It provides leadership and encourages partnership in caring for the environment by inspiring, informing, and enabling nations and peoples to improve their quality of life without compromising that of future generations. UN Environment works with governments, the private sector, the civil society and with other UN entities and international organizations across the world. www.unenvironment.org / www.worldenvironmentday.global

About Captain Planet Foundation
Based on the animated series Captain Planet and the Planeteers, Captain Planet Foundation (CPF) was co-founded in 1991 by media mogul Ted Turner. Since then, CPF has played a critical role empowering the next generation of business leaders and policy makers to be environmentally literate citizens who leverage technology and information to protect the air, land, and water upon which all life depends.

As a grant-making foundation, CPF has funded over 1.2 million children to directly participate in environmental restoration projects with schools and non-profits in all 50 U.S. states and in 25 countries internationally.  In addition to its Small Grants Program for educators, the Captain Planet Foundation also operates Project Learning Garden (providing schools with onsite learning laboratories and healthy food access), Project Hero (web-based and project-based learning platform for students to save locally endangered & threatened species), and the Institute (science education initiatives that promote the intersections between technology, innovation, the environment and personal action).  For more information: www.captainplanetf.wpengine.com

About 5 Gyres Institute
Since 2008, the 5 Gyres Institute has researched plastic pollution in all of the world’s oceans. In 2014, the organization published the first global estimate of surface pollution, finding 5.25 trillion particles weighing in at 270,000 tons of “plastic smog” worldwide. The 5 Gyres study on microbead pollution in the Great Lakes inspired a two-year collaborative campaign, which culminated in the 2015 law that made these plastics illegal in the United States. In July, the NGO will embark on its 19th Expedition, to research microplastic pollution and zero-waste solutions in Indonesia. 5 Gyres is a science-to-solutions focused non-profit dedicated to a planet free of plastic pollution. More information is at www.5gyres.org.

About Ocean Wise
Ocean Wise is an international non-profit conservation association with a vision of a world in which oceans are healthy and flourishing. Our mission is to inspire the global community to become Ocean Wise by increasing its understanding, wonder and appreciation for our oceans through research, conservation and education initiatives. We are committed to promoting the highest standards of education and creating a real awareness across all ages of the conservation issues our world is facing. To learn more visit www.ocean.org.

About Audubon Nature Institute
Audubon Nature Institute operates a family of museums, parks and research facilities dedicated to celebrating the wonders of nature. Through innovative animal habitats, education programs, and scientific discovery, Audubon makes a meaningful contribution to preserving wildlife for the future. Audubon Nature Institute flagships include Audubon Park, Audubon Zoo, Audubon Aquarium of the Americas, Entergy Giant Screen Theater, Audubon Butterfly Garden and Insectarium, Audubon Louisiana Nature Center, Freeport-McMoRan Audubon Species Survival Center, Woldenberg Riverfront Park and Audubon Wilderness Park.

About Costa
As the leading manufacturer of the world’s clearest polarized performance sunglasses, Costa offers superior lens technology and unparalleled fit and durability. Still handcrafted today in Florida, Costa has created the highest quality, best performing sunglasses and prescription sunglasses (Rx) for outdoor enthusiasts since 1983. Born on the water, Costa works hard to protect the waters it calls home. Through programs like its Kick Plastic campaign, where the brand seeks to raise awareness about the growing plastic pollution problem threatening oceans worldwide, to serving as a long-term partner to shark research organization OCEARCH, Costa encourages people to help protect the Earth’s natural resources in any way they can. Find out more on Costa’s website.

About Klean Kanteen
A leader in BPA-free, stainless steel drinkware and food transport, Klean Kanteen is family owned and operated, with distribution in 40-plus countries worldwide. With environmental stewardship and fair labor central to the company’s philosophy, Klean Kanteen is in Business for Good™. A 1% for the Planet member, Klean is committed to donating at least 1% of net revenue to qualified nonprofit organizations focused on environmental work, and has donated $2.1 million to date. For more information, please visit www.kleankanteen.com.