Our People

"I am inspired by a sustainable future for our planet, driven by a deeper love and appreciation for our oceans. The first step is education, and that is where Saltwater Classroom comes in."

"The more one learns about the ocean, the more one is able to directly connect themselves to it, no matter where in the world you live. Once there is a personal connection established, there is a curiosity to learn more and protect the incredible resource."

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"I think learners like me, such as those who traditionally haven’t had experience and access, would be great to target for ocean education and relating it to environmental justice is good for those in inland and more urban communities."

"To me, the power of Saltwater Classroom is its ability to inform and empower young people with a simple idea: the world isn’t set in stone."

"Every second breath we take comes from the ocean. This message is so important, let's spread it far and wide. There are 170 trillion pieces of plastic in the ocean, and every wave washes some of these pieces ashore."

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"Favorite thing about the ocean is the people who enjoy it and appreciate it and care to help make it healthier for themselves and others. And all the critters. Beluga whales. Horseshoe crabs. Mako sharks. Top 3 critters."

"I feel so at home in the water and lucky to live near it. It is a source of joy, calm, and ferocity that makes me feel connected to the world."

"I believe there is hope to address the issues our ocean is facing, ones that humans have vastly created, but that hope lies with younger generations."

"Once I got SCUBA certified and went diving, my world completely changed. My love for the ocean drives my daily activities and also efforts in doing what I can to protect it as much as possible."

"My earliest memories of painting plein air were at 10 years old with my father on the rocky New England coast, easels perched on rocks so we could paint the wild grey waves of the Atlantic."

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“Being nearby or on the ocean gives me life and freedom. The ocean influences my life primarily by teaching me to be humble, aware, patient, direct, honest, and gentle.”

"The human body is 70% saltwater; a small ocean carried in each of us. The ocean is also our home; where we all came from. Being on or in the ocean is a homecoming for me."

"I started surfing around the age of 13 and that's when my passion for the ocean really became an integral part of who I am today. Years later I found a love for saltwater flyfishing while living in Savannah, GA and exploring the coastal marshes there."

"There is such complexity to the ocean, and you can always learn something new about it... pretty wicked if you ask me!"

"I'm a big advocate and practitioner of hands-on education, and the ocean, as our largest and most important natural resource, is an essential tool and educational resource..."

"I have been fortunate to be both a student and teacher in ocean settings and believe in the fundamental power of ocean education, and the civil responsibility of its stewardship."

"Ocean education, like the work I do in promoting sustainable tourism and community-driven initiatives, emphasizes the importance of protecting natural resources for future generations."

“Education around sustainability needs to start with phrases like environmental justice, circular economy, and outbound vs. ocean-found plastic at early stages in our youth’s development.”

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"After moving to Maine in 2017, the ocean took on a new meaning for me. It is the place I go to feel solace and it represents connection to myself and others. Every time I stand in front of the ocean, it reminds me that is our duty to nurture the ocean like it nurtures us."