Nurturing Ocean Advocates: Youth Leaders on Summer Sea Camp
For ten years Marine Conservation Philippines (MCP) has worked hand-in-hand with communities to protect our most vital resource—the ocean. Beyond the daily scientific monitoring and data collection we do to assess the effectiveness of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs), we firmly believe that lasting conservation must be rooted in the people who live closest to the sea. Real change begins when the community, especially its youth, is empowered to take the lead.
This belief inspired the launch of our three-day MCP Summer Camp, (link to facebook post, with picstures a video) a space designed to ignite a deeper understanding of marine conservation and cultivate the next generation of ocean advocates. The goal? To find and nurture young leaders in Zamboanguita who share our passion and can carry the torch forward.
We received an overwhelming response—50 applicants in total. From those, 25 were pre-selected, and in the end six final candidates were picked. While the numbers were small, the energy, curiosity, and commitment they brought were immeasurable, and the camp will help serve as inspiration for the much bigger Summer Camp in a few weeks.
Day 1: Learning from the Experts
The camp opened with a series of engaging talks from our in-house team, whose experiences span various fields in marine science. We were also honored to welcome Dr. Aileen Maypa, a marine biologist and professor from Silliman University, whose insights left a lasting impact on the participants. Discussions centered around the significance of MPAs, the ecological threats facing our oceans—both local and global—and the unique role youth can play in crafting community-based solutions.
Day 2: Immersion and Discovery
Experience is the best teacher, and our second day was all about immersion. Campers explored the intricate web of coastal ecosystems during a mangrove boardwalk tour, followed by hands-on mangrove planting, connecting theory to action. The day’s highlight? A chance to scuba dive and witness the underwater world firsthand—an unforgettable experience for many and a powerful reminder of what’s at stake.
Day 3: Reflect, Create, Inspire
The final day was devoted to introspection and innovation. Equipped with knowledge and experience, the campers were challenged to brainstorm actionable projects they could implement within their own communities. The ideas they shared—ranging from community clean-up drives to educational outreach programs—offered a glimpse of the potential that lies in youth-led initiatives.
“The youth of today are the leaders of tomorrow.” — Nelson Mandela
This quote resonated deeply throughout the camp. What started as a simple call for applications became a transformative journey for six passionate individuals who chose to show up. And sometimes, that’s all it takes—showing up, being present, and committing to the cause.
As we move forward, MCP remains committed to nurturing these young leaders, supporting their ideas, and ensuring that this is just the beginning of their conservation journey. Because in the fight to protect our oceans, everyone has a role to play—and the Zamboanguita youth are already making waves.
