.
This patch and all program supplies are available from our partner site MakingFriends®.com.
Suggested Prerequisite
Completing the Sea Life Protector Patch Program® is a suggested prerequisite for earning your Sea Life Advocate Patch. Your volunteer experience will help provide you with the knowledge needed to advocate for the welfare of sea life. You can also opt to complete the Sea Life Protector requirements during the time you earn this advocate patch.
—————————————-
Requirement 1: Research It!
Discussion Points:
- Learn what marine species are now threatened or endangered. Helpful link: Species Directory
- Are there threatened or endangered marine species in your area? Helpful Link: U.S. Threatened or Endangered Species by County
- What causes a species to go extinct? Helpful link: How does extinction happen?
- Learn about marine souvenirs: Helpful Link: 5 Souvenirs to Never Buy
- Find out about marine poaching. Helpful Link: Illegal Activities on the Ocean
- Learn more about local sustainable seafood. Helpful Link: Seafood Recommendation
- Learn more about the trash in the ocean: Helpful Links: Where does marine trash come from? How long does it take for trash to decompose?
- Find out about the water quality in your nearby waterway: How’s my Waterway?
- Learn how to reduce your community’s carbon footprint. Helpful Link: Reduce your community’s carbon footprint.
—————————————-
Requirement 2: Do It!
Choose a sea life issue to advocate for. Some ideas:
- Reduce the use of plastic in your neighborhood.
- Get more volunteers for a cleanup.
- Raise money for a sea life issue (your organization may not allow you to raise funds, check first.)
- Educate people about the waterways in your area.
- Advocate for water testing in your area.
Who do you want to reach? Some ideas:
- Your Family
- Neighbors
- Politicians — Helpful link: How to Contact Your Elected Officials
- Classmates
- Your Fellow Worshipers
- Other Groups or Organizations
How will you reach them? Helpful link: How to Advocate for Your Cause
Some Ideas:
- Talk to them. Consider wearing a button as a conversation starter.
- Hand out flyers. Consider setting up a booth to collect donations if allowed.
- Hang tags on doors and mail boxes.
- Make posters.
- Reach out with social media such as Facebook.
- Send a press release to your local newspaper or school newspaper. Helpful link: How to write a press release.
—————————————-
Requirement 3: Review It!
Always remember to thank those who helped with your advocacy program.
Ways to say Thank You:
- Personally thank individuals and businesses who helped. A hand written letter is always nice. Helpful Link: How to write a thank you letter.
- Thank the community as a whole with posters.
- Create a follow up press release and include the names of individuals and businesses who participated. Helpful link: How to write a press release.
- Thank the community as a whole on social media.
- Give certificates of appreciation.
Discuss Your Advocacy Project
- Do you think your advocacy project advanced the preservation of sea life?
- Will you continue?
- What else can you do to promote sea life in your community?
Congratulations you have earned the Sea Life Advocate patch! The patch can be purchased from our partner site MakingFriends®.com.
You can become an Animal Welfare Advocate by earning all 5 animal advocate level patches.
Find out more about becoming a Sea Life Delegate.
See all our current Advocate level Patch Program®s:
Related Fun Patch Ideas:
Note: Many of the links provided to assist with completing our Patch Program®s are external and do not imply an endorsement or recommendation. At the time of publication, external content was vetted to the best of our ability. Your views and ideas may vary and we do not intend for you to substitute our opinions for yours. Research the topic thoroughly before beginning a project. As always, make sure children access the internet only under safe-surfing conditions.
©2019 youthsquad.makingfriends.com