Laura Sitterly
Social Media & Comms. Assistant
Portland, ME
she, her, hers
How do you spend your days? What are your passions? What is your occupation?
I try to spend as much time as I can in nature: swimming, hiking, and exploring. If I’m not outdoors, you can find me reading.
Currently, I specialize in digital communications at the Maine Legislature and freelance as a climate reporter when interesting stories come up. I also coordinate comms. for a local environmental non-profit devoted to retrieving marine debris from the Gulf of Maine.
I’m passionate about using my skills to help mission-driven organizations shine (like Saltwater Classroom!).
Explain your connection to the ocean. How does it influence your life?
I’m lucky enough to live by the ocean in Portland, and in all its moods – sparkling waves and heavy fog – I’m enamored. People forget that half the oxygen we breathe is produced by phytoplankton. The ocean is our life force! Whenever I feel disconnected, I know I just need to find my way back to the water.
The mission of Saltwater Classroom is to bring together young students, as well as learners of all ages, through an innovative approach to ocean education. How does this apply to your experience?
Curiosity is one of the most important qualities we can encourage in children. Turning over rocks in search of small critters cultivates empathy; paying attention teaches us to care, and asking big questions about the ocean strengthens critical thinking.
People protect what they love. It all comes back to that.
What are your earliest ocean memories?
I grew up in Upstate NY, so when we’d go to Maine in the summer, it was always a treat. Collecting shells in Boothbay, my brother and I are getting chased by my dad pretending to be a shark, and taking naps in the shade, listening to the waves – there was a magic I felt, even then, at such a young age.
If you had to pick one thing, what is your favorite aspect of the ocean? We know, it's a broad question.
How it quiets my mind. I always leave with a sense of “knowing” – nothing I could put into words, but a feeling that wisdom was given and received.
I also love how the tides and the moon are connected. That cyclical pattern we so often see repeated in nature is something I resonate with.
Is there a dream ocean destination on your list? Where would you travel to next?
Visiting the Indo-Pacific is high on my bucket list. I’d love to travel to the Andaman Coast and explore the Tubbataha Reefs!
Anything else to add?