Coastal Ecosystem Learning Centers
NOAA
About the initiative
Youth engagement is a major priority for many network members. The CELC strategic plan calls on the network to develop and support opportunities for aquarium youth to engage in stewardship actions for ocean and coastal conservation.
Every 2-3 years, participating aquariums select and support teams of teens that develop and carry out action projects related to climate and conservation in their communities. The CELC network brings these teams together at a summit where they engage with leaders in climate, community resilience, and conservation fields and brainstorm action projects. They complete their projects over the following year and share their results during a virtual meeting. This effort is supported by the eeBLUE offsite link partnership between NAAEE and NOAA.
Aquarium teens in action
Past summits
2024 Youth Summit
Hosted by South Carolina Aquarium offsite link
Sponsored by NAAEE offsite link in partnership with NOAA
On July 24-27, 2024, teams of teens representing aquariums from the CELC network met at South Carolina Aquarium offsite link to participate in the first in-person CELC Youth Summit. The Youth Summit kicked off a year-long effort that included developing and carrying out projects to address local environmental issues. The teams heard from a variety of speakers on a range of topics including climate action, building community resilience, and science communications. Teams developed skills to help them perform action projects in their communities. Attendees participated in a local conservation project and received tours of NOAA facilities in the surrounding Charleston area. When they returned home, the teams conducted community needs assessments and developed action projects around their communities’ needs.
Youth Planning Team for the 2024 Youth Summit:
- Janet Ani – Aquarium of the Pacific
- Kiersten Smith – Audubon Aquarium
- Alice Chen – New York Aquarium
- Asees Khaira – Shedd Aquarium
- Arianna Madlock – Shedd Aquarium
- Ophélie Legars-Tousignant – Ocean Wise
- Ava Casey – South Carolina Aquarium
- Nevaeh Thomas – South Carolina Aquarium
- Linda Garzeria – South Carolina Aquarium
- Reagan Ramsey – South Carolina Aquarium
- Breyanna Brown – South Carolina Aquarium
2021 Virtual Youth Summit
On August 6-8, 2021, teams of high school students associated with our 25 partner aquariums came together for the 2021 CELC Virtual Youth Summit. This exciting weekend featured virtual interactive workshops from leaders sharing how they are making a difference for the ocean through a variety of means — art, social media, writing, advocacy, and more — and teaching the summit participants how they can do the same. After the summit, each group of teens left with new skills, new connections, and a plan for how they will take action in their home community to protect coastal and marine ecosystems. Additionally, the CELC network continued to support participating teens’ continued professional development after the summit through monthly professional development webinars.
Our partners
CELC Youth Summits are supported by eeBLUE offsite link, a partnership between NOAA Office of Education and the North American Association for Environmental Education (NAAEE). We also work alongside our Youth Planning Team, a group of young leaders from across our partner aquariums who organize and coordinate the summit. We would also like to acknowledge the external organizations that provided us with resources, guidance, and summit models that helped shape this program, particularly the following groups:
- The Wild Center’s Youth Climate Program offsite link
- Earth Force offsite link
- Youth Environmental Action Summit offsite link
- Youth Ocean Conservation Summit offsite link
How to get involved
If you are interested in getting involved with the CELC youth initiative, the first step is connecting with a CELC institution in your area. See our members list to find out if there is an institution near you.