Who we are

Ocean Youth Academy is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization founded by a group of polar expedition guides, marine biologists, and outdoor educators who have first hand experience with the transformative power of immersive education and connection with nature. Our team believes connection leads to action and conservation, our mission is to make ocean education available to as many children as possible. We are committed to providing the next generation with the stories and educational tools to connect with and protect the magic of our natural world. ​

In the end we will conserve only what we love; we will love only what we understand; and we will understand only what we are taught.
— Baba Dioum, 1968
Beluga whales swimming through a fjord. Svalbard, Norway.

Meet the Team

  • Amanda Hunter

    FOUNDER & CEO

  • Gaby Pilson

    FOUNDER & PRESIDENT

  • Phil Hunter

    FOUNDER & VICE PRESIDENT

  • Alyssa Bjorkquist

    BOARD MEMBER & EDUCATION COORDINATOR

  • Zosha Wiktor

    BOARD MEMBER & OUTREACH COORDINATOR

  • Michael Gamerl

    ADVISORY BOARD MEMBER

  • Anna Campbell

    MULTIMEDIA PRODUCTION MANAGER

  • Gladys Mwaka

    MARINE SCIENCE EDUCATOR