Ocean Challenge
2018 - 2019
More than 1,000 teams in 40 countries participated in the Ocean Challenge, making it one of the largest campaigns in our 10-year history! Student generated donations helped nine nonprofit organizations train coastal youth in ocean conservation and coral restoration.
Waves of support for our ocean and coastal communities.
The world’s ocean and the people who live closest to it face urgent environmental challenges—but the actions of young people made a collective wave of support. Students made over 250,000 sea creatures which were each matched with a donation from the Bezos Family Foundation. In total, $500,000 was donated to ocean conservation and programs training coastal youth in ocean conservation.
Why the Ocean Challenge?
Motivation
The ocean sustains us. It’s time to return the favor.
Warming temperatures, overfishing, and pollution are negatively affecting ocean waters and marine life, and those effects will touch all of us worldwide.
In particular, coastal residents and those with low incomes are disproportionately affected. These communities contribute the least to damaging the ocean, yet experience the brunt of the problems that result.
Students create to turn the tide.
Learning about the issues facing the ocean and how they impact us all, over 100,000 students mobilized to help reach our goal of making 250,000 sea creatures! Many used recycled materials and create fun and unique creations. Each was matched with a $2 donation from the Bezos Family Foundation.
A flourishing finish!
The donations generated by student-made art funded youth-focused, science-based programs in partnership with The Nature Conservancy and other deserving organizations. Young people gained valuable education and practical job skills as they monitor and evaluate local waters and help restore endangered coral reefs. These programs impacted over 3,500 coastal youth.
Students artwork was put on display at the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago During the summer of 2019.
How to Participate
The ProcessLearn
Explore resources like lesson plans, art guides, and videos that help students explore who they are – their traits, experiences, and stories – and reflect on the shared humanity between individuals, cultures, and communities.
Create
Encourage students to express their vision for a more united world through their choice of literary, media, performing and visual arts, or STEM.
Share
Submit students’ creative works to Students Rebuild. Each submission or student engaged raises $5 to support organizations worldwide that foster connection and champion collaborative change, up to $1 million.
Get Started
New to Students Rebuild?
Quick Start GuideCheck out our Quick Start Guide, which walks you through how to participate step by step and lists all the resources available to you.
What's in it for you?
Aside from raising money through your creative works, every team or participant who submits artwork receives a downloadable Certificate of Participation. You can also request a detailed letter for service learning hours by emailing [email protected].
Mark your calendar!
All creative work must be submitted by May 31, 2019 11:59pm PDT. Ready to make a difference through creativity? Sign up or sign in today!
Ocean Challenge Progress
$500,000
raised of $500,000 goal
We’ve reached our donation goal!
271,189
creative expressions
Every creative work generated raises awareness of the importance of empowering youth and building bridges! Submit now!
110,956
youth engaged
Choose a Medium
Creativity has the power to change the world, and it’s something that all of us can do. Explore the 5 mediums you can use for your Students Rebuild project.
Literary Arts
Short stories, essays, and poetry.
Performing Arts
Dance, theater, and music.
Media Arts
PSAs, films, and videos.
Visual Arts
Graphic design, drawings, paintings, photography, and memes.
STEM
Robotics, digital design, and games.
The programs your art helps fund
For each Students Rebuild annual Project, we partner with high-impact organizations working on the ground to help strengthen communities worldwide—many of them household names. The funds we donate transform student work into immediate, on-the-ground progress for carefully vetted programs that are evaluated according to the outcomes they produce. In addition to extending our reach and helping our funding make more of a difference, our partners also inform the resources we provide to teachers and students.