Ocean Heroes Caribbean Bootcamp

Ocean Heroes Bootcamps (OHBC) are trainings for youth activists committed to working for a healthy ocean and clean seas. For two years, OHBC has been an in-person, annual event of the broader Ocean Heroes Network, with a mission to empower existing and emerging youth leaders to create their own campaigns to take action against ocean plastic pollution and other ocean health crises. The campaigns created by Ocean Heroes support the achievement of UN SDG 14.1 by 2025.

Due to the current pandemic, we have moved the Bootcamp experience online and into a virtual format.

The goal of Ocean Heroes Bootcamp is to bring together youth from around the world who are passionate about ocean health, and empower them with the knowledge, skills, network, and resources to become effective advocates and champions for the ocean and their own communities.

Ocean Heroes regional Bootcamp - Caribbean (OHrBC-Caribbean) has been specifically created and curated for Youth of Caribbean nations to help create collaboration and solutions to ocean health issues that affect their home communities, but are common across their shared sea. This is an exciting opportunity, allowing Caribbean Ocean Heroes to learn about region-specific issues affecting the Caribbean Sea, while still connecting them to the larger, global Ocean Heroes Network.

OHrBC will kick-off with an introductory session on Sunday, December 6, 2020. There will be a four-day break during which attendees will watch OHBC Daily Dives to learn the basics of Ocean Heroes skills and campaigns. In-person activities will resume on Friday, December 11th  through Sunday, December 13th, 2020. OHrBC activities will span one week.

Yes, youth ages 11 to 18 can participate in Ocean Heroes regional Bootcamp - Caribbean.

If you live in the Caribbean, have an interest in the Ocean or a hope to create that connection -  then OHrBC is the place for you! There are no education, experience, or achievement requirements to participate in OHrBC. Any person, of any experience level or background, is welcomed and encouraged to apply!

Nope! Our top priority is to keep Ocean Heroes Bootcamp accessible to any person who wants to participate. All you need is access to the internet and an internet-enabled device to join the OHrBC.

OHrBC will be right here, online! Ocean Heroes who register (including having their guardian submit the Participant Waiver) will be granted access to a password protected, unpublished website where all activities and tools will be accessible and safe for youth.

• Internet-enabled device: A computer or laptop would be best, but most content and tools are also accessible on a smartphone. Please check out the list of apps/tools below that we’ll be using, to make sure your phone can access their features.
• Internet access: Again, please reference the set of tools we’ll be using [below], to make sure your internet will support their features.
• Webcam (optional): Having video access will best support your participation in Squad Meetings and Mentor Meet-ups on the Zoom app. But a phone number will also be supplied for you to participate by phone.
• Writing utensils, paper, art supplies
• Email address: An email address will be needed to sign up for most profiles or accounts you’ll need to access
• Apps: We’ll also be using some online tools that you may be asked to download and/ or create an account for the following for the best OHrBC experience. These will likely include:
  • Slack - https://slack.com (embed links in text for this list)
  • Zoom - https://zoom.us
  • Litterati - https://www.litterati.org/
  • Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/

Ocean Heroes regional Bootcamp will take place over the span of a week with in-person sessions occurring on four (4) days. Each day, there will be opportunities to meet with your Squad and compete in challenges for points and prizes, to engage with interesting videos, lectures, and fun activities. These experiences will help you develop your Ocean Heroes Campaign Plan, participate in live-streaming Q&As, and attend watch parties, etc. Throughout, you will have a chance to interact with youth all around the Caribbean who have a common passion for helping the ocean and becoming a part of the Ocean Heroes Network.

Some of the content for the OHrBC, namely the recorded training modules, will be available on-demand throughout the week for you to work through when you have time. There will be a recommended schedule for your Squad, but if you have time constraints, it’s not a problem! Other online events like Squad meetups and live stream events will be scheduled for certain days and times with the hope that most people can make it. Other activities will take place offline - in your home, yard, at the beach, or in your community. We are trying to keep the time you would be expected to be online (because we are ALL tired of screens) to about three hours per day, though you can certainly spend more!

You register independently for OHrBC, but you have the opportunity in the registration form to name a friend that you want to be in a Squad with. Any participants wishing to be assigned to the same Squad should be sure to submit each other's names in their registration forms. We’ll do our best to assign friends to the same Squad.

At OHrBC, Ocean Heroes are assigned to a Squad with a peer mentor called a Squad Leader. Squads are teams that support each other as they complete group challenges, engage in group discussions, help each other complete their campaign planners, and compete for cool prizes.

Not to worry! While you will miss out on a stellar opening ceremony, this content will be available to stream online after the event wraps. You should connect with your Squad Leader as early as possible to communicate your availability, so they know what’s up. You can also review Ocean Hero Campaign Planner details here, to prepare yourself for the work to come!

Missing out on a day or two is fine, but you will miss out on live streamed content and Squad meetups. Your Squad will rely on your participation for some challenges and group activities, so be sure to communicate your availability to the best of your ability. Live streamed content will be recorded and made available to watch at your leisure.

You can still become an Ocean Hero even if you can’t attend OHrBC-Caribbean. There will be additional opportunities to complete the Ocean Heroes Basic Training in 2021! Stay tuned to social media for more information to come soon. Sign up for the Ocean Heroes Network Newsletter and Bootcamp waitlist HERE to stay informed.

Yes! There is a Guardians page on the Ocean Heroes HQ site full of useful resources and videos. We also have a helpful Facebook group for guardians - Raising Ocean Heroes - that you can join.

OHrBC participation will be limited to 300 youth from around the Caribbean, so be sure to register early!

Bummer! If you have registered for OHrBC and then find you aren’t unable to attend, please notify us as quickly as possible at hello@oceanheroes.blue so we can invite other young people to fill your spot.

Stay tuned to @oceanheroeshq across all social media for updates. You will also receive updates once you have registered for the event. If you haven’t already, subscribe to OHHQ email updates here!

We can’t wait either! Check out the action other Ocean Heroes are taking to curb single-use plastic pollution worldwide, right here! Learn more about Ocean Heroes Campaigns here and maybe even get to work crafting your campaign ideas and strategy. We are so excited to meet you in December!

Yes! The safety of all Ocean Heroes is our top priority. All forums, including Zoom rooms, Slack Channels, Whatsapp group chats, Crowdcast events will be monitored and moderated by staff and partners of Ocean Heroes Network affiliate organizations. Please review the OHN Code of Conduct below and be sure to reach out to seek clarification, if necessary.

The OHN Privacy Policy can be found right here.

The Ocean Heroes Network and affiliated Ocean Heroes regional Bootcamp is intended to connect young people from around the world who are passionate about ocean health and provide them with the training, tools, and network to become effective champions and advocates for the health of our oceans and planet. In the spirit of that goal, all Participants and facilitators of the OHrBC are expected to conduct themselves before, during, and after the event with respect and integrity. Participants who raise concerns among other Participants or facilitators for their online conduct will be removed from the event channels and tools. Examples of activities that could result in the removal of the Participants include but are not limited to:

• harassment of any individual or entity
• posting content that, in the sole opinion of Young Heroes, LLC, is offensive, hateful, threatening, libellous, or pornographic; incites violence; or contains nudity or graphic or gratuitous violence
• activities that violate other users’ privacy, including the release of private personal
• activities that further commercial or other personal financial gain
• use that can be confused with official communications from Young Heroes, LLC., OHrBC, or any affiliated partner organization
• activities that are illegal or fraudulent under US law

Send us an email at hello@oceanheroes.blue