APPLY FOR OCEAN BRIDGE
APPLICATIONS FOR OCEAN BRIDGE 2020 COHORTS ARE NOW CLOSED.
Ocean Bridge connects Canadian youth and young professionals from coast to coast to coast empowering them to make a difference towards ocean conservation. Each Ocean Bridge cohort brings together 40 youth from rural land locked towns, northern communities, coastal urban cities and anywhere in between to form a national team. These ocean ambassadors engage in co-creating and delivering service projects for their home communities and for two immersive expeditions to take action and address Ocean Health and Ocean Literacy in Canada. This year, 160 youth and young professionals will form four cohorts, each learning from one of the following unique and awe-inspiring marine regions of Canada: the Pacific, the Great Lakes, the St. Lawrence River and the Atlantic.
What is Ocean Bridge?
Ocean Bridge is an ocean conservation experience comprised of three key elements to support youth as they adopt a culture of service:
1. Community & Capacity Building
Ocean Bridge Ambassadors join 39 other youth and young professionals to form a national team, connecting with one another and the broader ocean conservation community through regular video conference sessions and an interactive online environment. Leading into two immersive expeditions, the team identifies ocean conservation priorities and ensures collaborative co-creation of their service projects by working with members of the communities they will be visiting.
As individuals, Ocean Bridge Ambassadors, build capacity as leaders in ocean conservation in their home communities and bring ocean service projects of their design to life. The Ocean Bridge team supports Ambassadors on their journey through individualized weekly mentorship and coaching sessions focused on project management, and personal and professional development.
2. Ocean Health Immersive Service
In the spring or summer, Ocean Bridge ambassadors meet their 39 peers for the first time during a 10-day immersive wilderness expedition to deliver marine conservation service projects. The national team spends the months leading up to this extended service co-creating their project with the local community and each other. By living, working and reflecting as a team in an iconic natural setting, the youth and young professionals will develop social capital, respect for diversity and a heightened sense of responsibility and pride in the natural environment, themselves, and one another. Ambassadors will return home to their communities with a deepened understanding of the important role of National Marine Conservation Areas and Marine Protected Areas in protecting ocean health.
May 2020: Pacific
June 2020: Great Lakes
July 2020: Atlantic
August 2020: St. Lawrence River
3. Ocean Literacy Immersive Service
The Ocean Bridge experience culminates with this immersive 5-day urban expedition to a leading nature connection institute in one of Canada’s major urban centers. Prior to the expedition, Ambassadors reflect on their Ocean Bridge experience and work in teams to conceptualize and plan innovative and engaging service projects to advance ocean literacy, raise awareness of ocean issues, and inspire action among other Canadians. This expedition serves as a celebration of all that the Ambassadors have achieved throughout their year with Ocean Bridge and the projects are an opportunity for them to share their skills and stories in their words and in ways meaningful to them. The end of the urban service expedition signifies the end of the ambassadors’ year with Ocean Bridge, and a transition into the Ocean Bridge alumni community through which continued engagement opportunities are available.
November 2020: Vancouver
January 2021: Ottawa
February 2021: Halifax
March 2021:
Montréal
Who can participate?
Each year Ocean Bridge recruits 160 youth and young professionals 18-30 years old to form four national cohorts of 40 youth each. Cohort participants are selected to represent the cultural, social, economic and geographic diversity of Canada. Whether you are from a rural land locked town, northern community, coastal urban city or anywhere else in between we want to hear from you! The program will cover travel expenses including transport, accommodation and meals for both immersive service expeditions. Additional support is available on case-by-case basis to cover childcare during the immersive service, internet connectivity, and adaptive technology. All participants will have access to mental health & wellness support.
Questions?
See our Frequently Asked Questions. If you have specific questions about the program please contact us at oceanbridge@ocean.org.
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