Clean Ocean Action’s First Class of Student
Environmental Advocates and Leaders Graduates
BY LORI DRAZ
TheJournalNJ.com | JULY 2021 43
This past May, 10 Monmouth County high
school students graduated from Clean
Ocean Action’s Student Environmental Advocates
and Leaders (SEAL) program. The SEAL
program was made possible by grant funding
from Impact 100 Jersey Coast with the goal of
empowering students to become mindful and
resourceful leaders, with a focus on local, current,
environmental issues.
SEAL students and their friends and family gathered
in person since the fully virtual program
began in October 2020. Each student’s community
project was announced before they received
SEAL Projects 2020-21 covered a wide variety
of topics including ways to help local businesses
make an eco-friendly switch, submitted
by Jackie Rogers, of Little Silver; posting “No
Littering” signs to reduce litter on local beaches,
submitted by Thomas Baron, of Middletown;
and developing ways to educate younger generations on local environmental
issues through curriculum-based environmental lesson plans
and resources for teachers by William Franznick, of Middletown.
-
luted storm water runoff, to establishing and planting a community
garden, to designing and placing educational signs at local beaches
about litter impacts – these SEAL students made a splash,” said Cindy
Zipf, executive director of Clean Ocean Action. “Their hard work, determination
and passion for a cleaner future will make our community
better. We are immensely thankful to the incredible women at Impact
100 Jersey Coast for making this program possible.”
Clean Ocean Action had to pivot the program to a virtual pro-
-
ronmental issues and solutions. Instead, a variety of experts in environmental
issues were brought to the SEAL students via Zoom. Guest
speakers included Brian Thompson from NBC News 4 New York; Atlantic
Highlands Councilwoman and Impact 100 member Lori Hohenleitner;
and local surfer, advocate and long-time COA volunteer
Tyler Thompson. Laura McBride (Deal Lake Watershed Alliance), Greg
Remaud (NY/NJ Baykeeper), Joe Reynolds (Save Coastal Wildlife), David
Hussey (Red Bank Regional High School), Clare Ng (Marine Academy
of Science & Technology) also served in advisory roles to students
Clean Ocean Action is now recruiting eligible high school students
for the upcoming academic year. Students from Asbury Park, Raritan,
Henry Hudson, Keansburg, Keyport, Long Branch, Neptune, Monmouth
Regional, Middletown North, Red Bank Regional and Ocean Township
are eligible. Interested students should visit CleanOceanAction.org
and complete the SEAL Student Interest Form. They may also contact
Kristen Grazioso at 732-872-0111 or education@cleanoceanaction.org.
Go on an Enviro-Quest
This Summer
This summer, seek out some nature fun by joining the Monmouth
County Park System for Enviro-Quest! Meeting each week at a different
county park, this nature program is fun, easy and free. Start in
the parking lot and follow the Enviro-Quest signs to where the Park System
Naturalist is waiting. Once there, join in mini nature lesson, activity
or walk for 30 to 60 minutes of nature-based fun. Activities may include
knickknacks.
• Thursday, July 15 at 11 am: Huber Woods Park, Middletown - Meet
in the Environmental Center parking lot.
• Thursday, July 22 at 11 am: Shark River Park, Wall - Meet in the Shelter
Building parking lot.
• Thursday, July 29 at 11 am: Big Brook Park, Marlboro - Meet in the
dock parking lot.
• Thursday, Aug. 5 at 11 am: Freneau Woods Park, Aberdeen - Meet in
the Visitor Center parking lot.
• Thursday, Aug. 12 at 11 am: Crosswicks Creek Park - Meet in the
Province Line Road parking lot in Allentown.
• Thursday, Aug. 19 at 11 am: Clayton Park, Upper Freehold - Meet in
the Emley’s Hill Road parking lot.
• Thursday, Aug. 26 at 11 am: Perrineville Lake Park - Meet in the
Agress Road parking lot in Millstone.
/TheJournalNJ.com
/CleanOceanAction.org
link