Celebrating 2 Years of Saving the Seas!

This month marks a meaningful milestone for Saving the Seas: our two-year anniversary. What began as a small team with a shared vision has grown into a developing global movement for youth ocean education, conservation, and community action. As a nonprofit with a very small Board of Directors, we have poured our own time, resources, and energy into building this organization from the ground up. The journey has been challenging, inspiring, and deeply transformative and we could not be prouder of what has taken shape.

From the beginning, Saving the Seas was founded with one clear purpose: to create programs that empower young people to understand, protect, and feel connected to our oceans. Today, we are honored to reflect on the progress we’ve made, the partnerships we’ve formed, and the communities we’ve reached along the way. This is only the beginning, and the future ahead is bright.

Our Ocean Literacy Program: The Heart of Our Mission

The Ocean Literacy Program remains the core of everything we do. In just two years, this initiative has expanded beyond the United States and reached classrooms around the world. Through free downloadable lessons, educator resources, and ongoing support, we’ve equipped teachers, librarians, and families with tools to bring meaningful ocean education into their learning spaces.

As part of this program, founder and educator Elle Jimenez collaborated with Saving the Seas to create Mermaid Elle: Saving the Seas, a chapter book that introduces children to conservation themes through storytelling. The book has resonated deeply with young readers and has helped open the door for teachers to begin conversations about marine life, pollution, and stewardship. Our lesson plans, developed with educators, marine biologists, and conservationists, connect directly to the book and have already been used in classrooms, libraries, homeschool communities, and international programs.

Arts in Conservation: Our Developing Eco-Art Program

Another exciting branch of our work is the Arts Program, which is currently in development. Through this initiative, STS partners with teachers and creatives to develop eco-art guides for use in classrooms and homes. These guides help children learn about conservation through hands-on creativity, using simple art projects to deepen understanding of ocean issues.

We have already collaborated with several schools and educators to pilot these guides, and we look forward to continuing this program’s expansion in the coming year.

Educational Entertainment & Community Engagement

Our Entertainment Program brings Saving the Seas to life through in-person experiences. Led by Mermaid Elle, these educational performances combine the magic of mermaiding with meaningful environmental education. Through school visits, public library readings, and community events, children meet Mermaid Elle and learn about ocean conservation in an engaging, memorable way.

Most of these public events have been free for families, offered specifically to expand awareness of our mission. These appearances allow kids to learn directly from a professional mermaid while connecting emotionally to the importance of protecting the ocean, a combination that has proven deeply impactful.

Our Entertainment program extends beyond the in-person reach with our virtual hub, STS Kids Club at stskids.org where children can learn, watch videos and play ocean-themed games on their free time.

Youth Voices and Storytelling: The STS Magazine

Over the past two years, we have also nurtured youth participation through the STS Magazine, a blog-style initiative where students share their thoughts, research, and writing about the ocean. These young contributors bring fresh perspectives and passion to our digital platform, and we look forward to expanding this program as more students express interest in participating.

Ocean Heroes & Community Cleanups

One of the biggest highlights of our second year has been the growth of the Ocean Hero Program. This initiative encourages volunteers to take action through community beach cleanups and individual efforts on their own time. We hosted our first official STS Community Beach Cleanup on World Oceans Day, and we are already planning future cleanups for the coming year.

In addition to organized events, our Ocean Hero Kits empower volunteers anywhere to clean their local beaches, rivers, and lakes while representing Saving the Seas. These kits have traveled far, helping families, students, and teachers take conservation into their own hands.

The Work Behind the Scenes

While our in-person programs receive much of the attention, a significant portion of our impact happens virtually. Our team collaborates daily with teachers around the world to bring ocean education into the classroom. These relationships allow Saving the Seas to extend far beyond our local community and establish a presence in schools that may never have ocean access.

We are continuously expanding our library of lessons, activities, and educator resources. Each piece of content requires research, development, collaboration, and care, and we are honored that so many teachers trust us to support their classrooms.

Honoring Our Volunteers and Donors

Saving the Seas would not be where it is today without our incredible volunteers and donors. From teachers implementing our lessons, to students writing for the STS Magazine, to community members joining beach cleanups, to families helping spread the word, your support has shaped every accomplishment.

We are deeply grateful to every person who has believed in our mission and contributed in any way. Your commitment helps us continue growing, adapting, and creating meaningful change.

Looking Ahead: Year Three and Beyond

As we reflect on our first two years, one thing is clear: this is only the beginning. Our programs are still evolving, and our reach continues to expand. The global challenges facing our oceans are immense, and the next generation will play a crucial role in addressing them. Saving the Seas exists to ensure that children have the knowledge, tools, and confidence they need to protect the planet they will inherit.

We believe wholeheartedly that our Wave Makers and Ocean Heroes are the leaders of tomorrow. With continued support, we can equip even more young people to become changemakers in their communities.

Join Us in Creating a Brighter Future

As we step into our third year, we invite you to support the mission of Saving the Seas. Every donation directly funds our programs, from free educational resources to eco-art guides, school collaborations, youth engagement, and conservation efforts. Your contribution helps us continue offering these initiatives to communities at no cost.

If our work has inspired you, we hope you will consider contributing today. Together, we can build a future where children feel empowered to protect our oceans and restore balance to our planet.

Make a donation today: savingtheseas.org/getinvolved

Thank you for being part of our journey, and for saving the seas with us!