MERITO Foundation
Committed to protecting the ocean by facilitating education, conservation, and scientific research opportunities to youth and their communities.
Our Vision / Nuestra Visión
Our vision is a healthy ocean cared by diverse coastal communities who live in an environmentally responsible manner regardless of native language, economic status, cultural beliefs, or ethnic background because we all share one ocean.
Nuestra visión es un océano saludable cuidado por diversas comunidades costeras que viven de manera responsable con el medio ambiente, sin importar el idioma nativo, el estado económico, las creencias culturales o el origen étnico, porque todos compartimos un mismo océano.
Our Mission / Nuestra Misión
To protect the ocean by engaging multicultural youth and their communities in transformative experiences in environmental education, scientific research, outdoor recreation, marine conservation & entrepreneurship.
Nuestra misión es proteger el océano al proveer experiencias transformativas en educación ambiental, conservación marina, recreación al aire libre, y emprendimiento verde y sostenible a jóvenes multiculturales, y a tráves de ellos, a sus comunidades.
OUR WAVES OF IMPACT
As of July, 2026
758
Educators Trained
12,670
Students sponsored education trips to Channel Islands
33,670+
4th-12th grade students immersed in ocean and climate education
718
Hands on conservation, recreation and/or citizen science field experiences
935
Project proposals authored by students to reduce their school carbon footprint
$77,850
Disbursed as cash and in kind prizes to students authors of best projects
10+
School campuses that have implemented student-designed methods for carbon footprint reduction
61,603
Engaged adults through outreach events and public forums
OUR 4 STRATEGIC PILLARS: How we engage diverse communities in ocean protection
Community Engagement
Outreach, Public Forums & Assessments
Capacity Building
Climate, Ocean & Energy Literacy
Youth & Community Participation
Scientific Research &
Habitat Restoration
Outdoor Recreation, Leadership, Career Pathways & Green Entrepreneurship
"I am so lucky to have experienced being a MERITO Steward, it has taught me so many valuable lessons in leadership as well as about how we can preserve marine life and keep our oceans clean and thriving. I feel grateful for all I have learned and am so grateful to MERITO for making my experience with this program something that I will never forget."
Evelyn, MERITO Foundation's Outdoor & Environmental Steward (2024-2025)
Recent News
