Sea The Change
“We cannot protect something we do not love, we cannot love what we do not know, and we cannot know what we do not see. And touch. And hear.” – Richard Louv
What is
Sea The Change?
"This changed how I
see the ocean.
I want to protect it now"
13 year old participant
Sea the Change is Stand Up To Trash’s signature floating classroom, an immersive,
no-cost sailing experience that brings ocean education directly to at-risk and underserved youth.
Now in its 5th year, we've taken over 500 students on transformative sails.
Whether it’s their first time on a boat or their first time seeing the ocean, every child leaves connected to the ocean.
What Happens On Board
More Than a Sail
It’s a Mission
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Guest Speakers: Marine Biologists, Scientists and Naturalists
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"The Ocean Starts at Your Front Door" Curriculum
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Trash Collection and Citizen Science Data Logging
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Real-world Conservation Experiences (like seeing NOAA disentangle a whale!)
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Discussions on the Water Cycle, Plastics, Marine Debris and Environmental Action
The Program
Five years ago, we launched Sea The Change for the Underserved with a simple but powerful vision: by teaching the water cycle, we help students understand that we are part of the ocean and that every action we take has a ripple effect.
Through this program, we take students sailing, not just for the experience, but to empower them as ocean stewards.
Our hands-on curriculum, The Ocean Starts at Your Front Door, teaches students
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How the water cycle connects us all
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What a watershed is and how it functions
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How neighborhood waste travels through storm drains to rivers and ultimately the ocean
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The journey of plastic to the gyres
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The dangers of marine debris and animal entanglement
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The health risks of single-use plastics—for marine life and for people
Then, they get to see it all firsthand.
With a naturalist or marine biologist on board, students experience the magic of sailing while learning about marine ecosystems and taking part in real ocean cleanups—removing plastic pollution with their own hands.
”What a beautiful day we had cleaning the ocean aboard
the Stand Up To Trash boat!
Being out on the water made the experience even more powerful. Not only did I feel like I was making a real difference, but I also learned so much about marine debris and its impact on wildlife.
It was eye-opening, empowering and honestly one of the most rewarding experiences I've had.” Parent
Let’s Sea the Change Together
Whether you’re a donor, educator, volunteer or ocean advocate, there’s a place for you on board!
Help us continue turning sails into lifelong ocean stewardship.