A select group of sixth grade students form the Wetland Ambassadors. These students hard work and leadership skills enable them to be community and school leaders. They weekly sample air and water quality from around the Corpus Christi Coastal Bend area. While conducting scientific measurements they run trash cleanups, teach younger students, organize nurdle patrols, and champion many more community projects. Their goal is teach others how simple changes and mindful effort can contribute to the health of the ocean. In the past year they have helped pass legislation to create a new county park, hike and bike trail, and even remove invasive species. They are currently working hard to raise awareness about ocean acidification.
Read below to learn about each ambassador or click on the buttons to read about all their involvement with ocean acidification around their local area.
Kadence
Kadence is a competitive cheerleader. Her favorite thing to do is compete with her squad or spend time with her family. In her free time she enjoys hanging out with her friends and going shopping. Her favorite ocean animal is the sea urchin. Her favorite subject in school is math. The ocean is very important to her because it is where life on our planet started. She wants everyone to know that they can help the ocean by burning less fossil fuels.
Aiden
Aiden wishes all students knew that they can both help and harm the ocean. Simple things such as picking up trash and not littering have a huge positive effect on the ocean especially cities near the water. Trash from hundreds of miles away can be brought to the ocean by the wind. We need to protect the ocean for animals and humans to have a future. When not helping the ocean Aiden likes to take five mile jogs, listen to music, and research his favorite animal, the Portuguese man-o-war.
Alayna
Alayna’s favorite things are playing with her dog, watching movies, and all things dolphins. She wishes everyone knew that ocean acidification is a big problem. People need to protect the ocean or animals such as dolphins will go extinct. Small things such as recycling and picking up trash help protect the animals living in the ocean.
Cade
Cade is an avid surfer. His favorite animal is the jellyfish even though he sometimes is stung while surfing. His favorite subject is science because he learns about all the animals in the ocean. He wants all students participating to never stop trying or caring. Sometimes it looks sad and its hard to do the right thing, but never give up!
Benjamin
Benjamin has a jammed pack schedule. He loves acting because it is always fun to convey different emotion onstage while portraying different characters. The most rewarding part is the applause that comes at the end from doing a good job. His favorite animal is the blobfish. Benjamin says the ocean has a special place in his heart. He believes students from across the country can make a difference in the ocean by donating to different sea charities and spreading awareness of the various problems that are plaguing our ocean.
“It is wonderful that students have opportunities to fight against ocean acidification. To all of the students reading this, I just want to say thank you for being the example that shows kids can accomplish amazing feats.”
Bethany
Bethany is excited to be able to work with all the students and classrooms participating in this grant. She wants everyone to know that the ocean still has many mysteries and it needs to be protected. Like her favorite animal the sea turtle, the ocean is mysterious and needs to be studied. In her free time time she plays volleyball and practices cheerleading.
Liam
Liam enjoys fishing, building things, and conducting science experiments. He wants students around the US to know that ocean acidification can seem scary and hard to understand, but keep trying to improve the planet.
Ari
Ari loves adventures and field trips. Her favorite animals are the seahorse and dolphin. In her free time she enjoys drawing. The ocean is important to her because of all the food it provides.
Zoe
Zoe is a strong athlete and excels in swimming, volleyball, and karate. She wants everyone to remember to take care of the Earth because it is the only home we have. Any damage we do will be very hard to fix. The ocean is important to her because it is a vital ecosystem with many sea creatures including her favorite animal the bottlenose dolphin.
Thomas
Thomas is a huge outdoor person. He enjoys going to the beach with his family. While at the beach he always tries to pick up any trash he sees. It is important to help even if you didn’t make the mess.
Ady
Ady’s favorite thing to do is play volleyball. Her favorite subject in school in ELAR. The ocean is important to her because she loves the outdoors. She wants everyone to have respect for the ocean animals.
Amira
Amira’s favorite animal is the shrimp. Even though it it small, it is one of the most important animals in the ocean: it can walk, it can swim, and it can feeds millions of creatures. Amira knows that even people live far from the ocean are still connected it to.
Olivia
Olivia used the data collected from this grant and competed in the school science fair. Her and her partner, Alayna, made it all the way to the state level. They won first place at regional, received an award from NASA, and won $2,000 from the Port of Corpus Christi. They want students to know that small things can lead to big positive changes.
Taylor
Taylor is the cheerleader for the group. She always has a smile and a kind word to keep everyone motivated. She works hard and is excited to make a positive different in the world.
