Ocean Challenge
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.
Get Your Students Engaged
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 It Works
Students Rebuild empowers young people ages 5-25 to take direct action and see firsthand how they
can make a difference. The project is adaptable and can be scaled from a single lesson to a full year. We
provide free resources to help you teach within whatever time and space you have.
Sign Up
Educators or youth leaders sign up their group or class for the project.
Explore
Use our free resources to teach students about the issue.
Create
Select a creative medium – visual art, writing, performance, digital media, or STEM – and have students express their ideas, thoughts, and solutions.
Share
Submit students’ work. Each creative work or student engaged unlocks a $5 donation to global charities, up to $1M.
Impact
Creative submissions help raise funds for local and global solutions.
Types Of Creative Work Accepted
Literary Arts (Short stories, essays, and poetry), Performing Arts (Dance, theater, and music), Media Arts (PSAs, films, and videos), Media Arts (PSAs, films, and videos), Visual Arts (Graphic design, drawings, paintings, photography, and memes), STEM (Robotics, digital design, and games)
Help Ocean Challenge
Help us reach our goal of raising $1M for . These organizations are working on the ground to care for the air, land, and water around us.
$500,000
Raised of $500,000 goal
271,189
Creative expressions
110,956
Youth engaged
Learn more about the partner organizations these funds are helping support.
Frequently Asked Questions
Have questions before signing up?