Ocean Matters

07/22/2025

The Ocean Matters community is heavy-hearted to hear of the passing of Dr. James "Buddy" Powell, our partner in our Florida Marine Ecology expedition. Buddy, as he preferred to be called, was much like the manatees he devoted his entire career to researching and protecting: a gentle giant of man. Our hearts go out to his wife Maureen and daughter Morgan. We will forever be grateful for his enormous generosity in co-creating an experience for young people that could spark in the words of Outward Bound founder Kurt Hahn: "a passion for rescue."

by Laura Parker RoerdenIt is with deep sadness that we share that Dr. James "Buddy" Powell, age 70, has passed away from cancer. Our Ocean Matters Florida Marine Ecology Expedition was born from a dinner our director of dive instruction and board president Laura McCallion and I had with Dr. Powell i...

01/08/2025

Join us in a moment of appreciation for one of our founding directors: Peter Yarrow of Peter, Paul & Mary, who has passed into the ages.

Peter gave himself so selflessly to so many causes over his 86 years. We were grateful to be one of them.

This reflection is from our founder Laura Parker Roerden about her 25 years of work with Peter and his support for Ocean Matters.

by Founder and Executive Director Laura Parker Roerden I first met Peter Yarrow in 1998, when I attended a launch meeting at McGraw Hill in New York City for Operation Respect, an international anti-bullying program that Peter had just founded. I would be representing Educators for Social Responsibi...

12/31/2024

"My humble request for the coming year is that we make time to listen to the quiet."

This video is so beautiful and worthy of your time to wrap up a very LOUD year with a reminder of the antidote. From the EO Wilson Foundation.

Join us on Team Ocean to find ways to become involved in protecting the fabric of life that sustains us. (Link to the Ocean Matters website signup in comments).

https://vimeo.com/1040534218/c8ff01452b?fbclid=IwY2xjawHg8qVleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHXOEe6bh3BVNMHdOzNbNUceIPfQ-Bu9mt4yrRHAhPmWr0xaNYj98O0mYjA_aem_EuMYnTMQUJugH9RSUO9Apw

This is "Listening to the Quiet with Harrison Ford" by EOWilson Biodiversity Foundation on Vimeo, the home for high quality videos and the people who love…

06/22/2024

Ocean Matters is proud to welcome Cadey Ryce, who was previously a member of our Ocean Matters Team Ocean, to a new role mentoring and supporting our current Team. Here are some of Cadey’s reflections on her journey thus far.

"One thing about me is I love to gain experience and then teach those around me about what I learned. That is why I am so excited to help Ocean Matters students how to be strong leaders in the realm of marine science. Specifically, in my written work I have touched on, and for my masters thesis, I have emphasized the need for stewardship in youth, especially women in STEM." - Cadey

Ocean Matters is proud to welcome Cadey Ryce, who was previously a member of our Ocean Matters Team Ocean, to a new role mentoring and supporting our current Team. Here are some of Cadey's reflections on her journey thus far. by Cadey Ryce I am so excited to be joining the Ocean Matters team again!

06/16/2024

A bright blue light just moved heavenward.

We are heartbroken to hear that our watery plane has lost Dr. Wallace J. Nichols. J. was a big supporter of Ocean Matters over the years and a true pioneer, founding the BlueMind movement at a time the world so desperately needed the healing of fresh and deeply authentic voices, just like his. J was one-of-a-kind in a world where that is rare.

Several years ago our founder Laura Parker Roerden was fortunate to present at BlueMind 3, the annual conference led by J. that explores the poetic question, "Why do we love water?"

The answer to this question over the past 10-years has only become more relevant and is definitely getting traction in health care circles, because there is legitimate science now to back up the claim: time spent in nature is healing. We sincerely think a lot of what ails us is because we are too disconnected from the power and integrity of nature, which helps us reflect both in our own lives

We're grateful forever for J's incredible work, but more so for the way he walked in the world---committed to live his truth that water held the key to so much. His gentle manner and love for all has ripples that will never end.

But he will be deeply missed.

Our hearts goes out to his wife Dana and his two daughters and his many, many dear loved ones.

WIshing you water, friend.

06/09/2024

Thanks to Rarefied Creative for this beautifully inspiring design for our Team Ocean young people and for your support over the years. We love this shout out about our Team Ocean's conservation work for World Oceans Day and we love you all, too.

03/08/2024

On we absolutely love this message from Ocean Matters Team Ocean leader Sophie (then age 15).

"What I really believe is important is that you're not small in this world. You might think you are small. But you can actually do something that can change the world."

Yes. Yes, you can.

10 seconds · Clipped by Laura Parker Roerden · Original video "We Need YOU on Team Ocean! Join Ocean Matters teens in rising for the sea!" by Laura Parker Ro...

08/08/2023

What a night it was! Thank you to everyone who supported our Team Ocean teens by coming out to hear them present with Emmy-award winning photojournalist and founding director Brian Skerry at our partner for the event's beautiful venue in Brewster: the Cape Cod Museum of Natural History. The ripples from that evening will continue radiating out for a long time.

Please join us by making a Team Ocean pledge for an action you'll take to support healthier seas. Because. . .it takes everyone.

Ocean Matters Teens, Brian Skerry, and Stories about Whales Remind Us of the Power of Communal Action by Arcadia Davies, Ocean Matters Teen Advocate Leader I just want to thank everyone for coming out and making that night as wonderful and special as it was! Just by showing up you all are making the...

07/22/2023

Meet our dedicated, youth-leaders presenting with Emmy Award winner Brian Skerry at our joint event on Thursday July 27, at 6pm!

🌊Jack hails from Boston and is currently a rising sophomore at Loyola Marymount College. In addition to being on our Team Ocean Youth Leadership Council, he is interning with Ocean Matters for the summer.
🌟“Without our ocean, life on our would not be sustainable, thus, it is our duty to protect the ocean from threats like climate change and pollution.”

🌊Team Ocean teen leader Cheyenne, age 17, is from our Florida project has found connection and meaning in the ocean her whole life. She exemplifies why youth leadership is important and how the ocean matters.
🌟”The ocean has always been more than just a place to go swimming. I feel it in my veins and a connection like no other. I find it almost hard to put into words except to say it is my grace and spiritual place that I can turn to at anytime. It soothes and calms me to watch the tides roll in and out.”

🌊17-year old Alena is from Ohio and is a passionate about protecting the marine environment. She serves on the Ocean Matters Team Ocean Youth Leadership Council.
🌟”My unique perspective comes from my passion for the environment and specific environmental issues. Because I have this passion, I have taken advantage of many opportunities, such as Ocean Matters, to further educate myself on conservation issues. My curiosity is constantly fueled by the knowledge I already have, with new questions constantly arising that I want to find the answer to.”

🌊18-year old Isabella (Isa) is from Florida and was with Ocean Matters this past summer doing coral restoration work in Key Largo for our Ocean Matters Florida Marine Ecology Expedition. Isa is passionate about marine biology, ocean conservation and its intersection with art.
🌟”My passion for the ocean has definitely been shaped by my perspective as an artist. I love science immensely, but I also love art and all things creative, which has greatly shaped my view of the ocean. I find that I’m most passionate about the more poetic and artistic things within the ocean.”

🌊Join Ocean Matters and the Cape Cod Museum of National History for an unforgettable evening full of inspiration and hope!

🌊Get your tickets here!
https://www.simpletix.com/e/an-evening-with-brian-skerry-tickets-136709