06/09/2026
Who says ocean advocates have to live by the ocean?
In Des Moines — nearly 1,000 miles from the nearest coast — more than 3,500 students and community members showed up to listen to Dr. Erika Woolsey, Explorer and Founder and Chief Scientist of The Hydrous, talk about coral reefs, climate, exploration, and the future of our blue planet.
She asked who had visited the Great Barrier Reef, a surprising number of hands went up.
The passion is here. The curiosity if here. The ocean champions are already here.
The question isn’t whether landlocked communities care about the ocean. It’s how we create more portals to the ocean through education, storytelling, immersive experiences, and opportunities to connect.
Because protecting the ocean starts everywhere.
Photos by Melissa Pappas and Jones Pfeifer at Des Moines Performing Art
