Thank you to our partners for your incredible support!
Action Sport Rental’s generous partnership allows Ocean Connectors to provide action-oriented eco tours on Mission Bay. Kayaking and Stand-Up Paddleboards are just the start. They have boat and watersport rentals located at resorts throughout Mission Bay that allow us to provide adventurous group tours!
Amazilias, Red de Observadoras de Aves en México is a collective made up of more than 100 women interested in bird watching located in 23 states. The network was formed in 2019 and since then it has incorporated educational and local development projects into its activities, as well as promoting among its members the formation of local groups of women bird watchers, the strengthening of capacities for participation in environmental projects and even the formation of their own projects with them as leaders.
The California Coastal Commission distributes funds from sales of the WHALE TAIL® License Plate to promote activities that curb ocean plastic pollution, restore habitat for animals, support beach access, and teach children to become coastal stewards. The WHALE TAIL® Plate provides funding for nonprofit groups such as Ocean Connectors that are doing important education and conservation work in the state of California.
Chula Vista Watersports provides equipment for our Eco Tour program. Growing up in Chula Vista, California, the owner realized there were few opportunities for residents of the South Bay to participate in coastal recreation. He founded Chula Vista Watersports in 2018 with a mission to provide not only fun recreational watersports but also to educate the local community about marine life of San Diego Bay.
The Conrad Prebys Foundation is committed to improving the lives of and providing opportunities for all San Diegans. Consistent with the legacy of Conrad Prebys, The Foundation is dedicated to meeting community need through impactful grantmaking and strategic initiatives in the focus areas of visual and performing arts, higher education, youth development, healthcare, and medical research.
Ocean Connectors receives funding from the County of San Diego Community Enhancement Program to support our youth educational programs and Eco Tours around San Diego Bay, which in turn stimulates coastal tourism, promotes economic development, and creates jobs and a better quality of life for people throughout San Diego County.
San Diego’s finest fleet has been supporting the waterfront community for over 100 years, since 1915. Flagship Cruises & Events provides Ocean Connectors students with an incredible whale watching field trip opportunity aboard the Marietta. Ocean Connectors students and Eco Tour guests get an up-close view of migrating gray whales, sea lions, dolphins, and more with San Diego’s most experienced crew.
The General Atomics Sciences Education Foundation has been actively involved in improving K-12 science and engineering education since 1992 by providing outreach support to employees, funding STEM nonprofit organizations, and developing educational resources. Funding is used to obtain educational supplies and materials that have a significant impact on enhancing Ocean Connectors student skills related to critical thinking, observation, technology, and STEM subjects.
The Grupo de Investigación de Mamíferos Marinos (GRIMMA) is a Mexican nonprofit organization made up of professionals focused on the study and conservation of marine mammals. GRIMMA shares their marine mammal expertise to support the development of our Ocean Connectors programs and the education of our students based in Nayarit, Mexico.
Living Coast Discovery Center, a nonprofit organization and living museum located on the shores of San Diego Bay, has been a close partner of Ocean Connectors since our founding year, serving as an ideal field trip destination for our students and their families to observe sea turtles, interact with native plants and wildlife, and explore the trails of the surrounding Sweetwater Marsh Wildlife Refuge.
National School District provides school bus transportation for Ocean Connectors field trips, educational supplies and materials, professional development opportunities for our staff, and a dedicated workspace inside District headquarters in National City. This long-standing partnership demonstrates the District’s commitment to supporting the education of local students through hands-on marine science education.
Located in the Riviera Nayarit of Mexico, Nauka is a resort that integrates nature and luxury in a unique beachfront development. Nauka is the primary field trip destination for our Ocean Connectors students in Mexico, who visit their on-site sea turtle camp, aviary, and native plant nursery for an unmatched coastal education experience.
Sea turtle scientists from the NOAA Southwest Fisheries Science Center in La Jolla, California were integral to establishing the original Ocean Connectors program focused on the green sea turtles of San Diego Bay. Our students received special behind-the-scenes access to the NOAA sea turtle research site and to real marine life experts. These scientists are still involved with our work today.
Novo Brazil Brewing Company is an international, award-winning brewery based in Southern California. Their Imperial Beach brewery, tasting room, and restaurant embody their “Fun by Nature” motto and add an ocean-friendly aspect to the San Diego craft brewing scene. Novo graciously provides beer, kombucha, and non-alcoholic beverages to Eco Tour guests. Novo Brazil Brewing Company is an international, award-winning brewery based in Southern California
Olivewood Gardens & Learning Center inspires youth and adults to be healthy and active citizens through organic gardening, environmental stewardship, and nutrition education. Ocean Connectors and Olivewood Gardens & Learning Center work together to provide a holistic educational experience for all our students in National City, through coordinated efforts to support each other’s messaging around recycling, sustainability, and environmental health.
Paradise Creek Educational Park was formed in National City in 1999 as a nonprofit organization committed to habitat restoration and improvement of water quality, and to providing educational and participation opportunities to the communities that surround local wetlands and waterways. Paradise Creek Educational Park and Ocean Connectors work together on the restoration of Paradise Creek and on the creation of environmental education programs.
The Port of San Diego is one of our original partners that provided the initial funding to help Ocean Connectors grow. The Port’s award-winning Environmental Education Program helps educate students, teachers and community members about pollution prevention, environmental championship, healthy ecosystems, and natural resources connected with San Diego Bay. Ocean Connectors works with the Port on our youth education and Eco Tour programs.
Red Tortuguera is a Mexican nonprofit organization made up of a network of sea turtle camps from the states of Jalisco and Nayarit. The camps work together as a team to protect sea turtles throughout the region. Red Tortuguera provides support to our Ocean Connectors youth programs in Mexico, including access to sea turtle educational activities and data.
Recreational Equipment, Inc. (REI) believes in the transformational power of nature. Through top-quality gear and apparel, equipment, and inspiring outdoor experiences, REI has helped to awaken a lifelong love of the outdoors for all since 1938. To support Ocean Connectors, REI provides gear and equipment for our students and staff, and funding to support our work in the community.
With a commitment to environmental sustainability and community welfare, the San Diego Futures Foundation is in the business of improving lives through technology.
We believe we can fuel San Diego’s workforce and economic development by providing resources that assist individuals and communities navigate our digital world with repurposed computers and educational programs that promote digital literacy.
For more than a decade, San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) has invested in organizations that demonstrate a strong commitment to community-based environmental education and enhancement. SDG&E’s Environmental Champions initiative supports nonprofit organizations like Ocean Connectors, whose programs work to improve our local environment through climate literacy, clean transportation, habitat restoration, and environmental education.
The San Pancho Bird Observatory was formed in 2014 to promote the conservation of wild birds and their habitats in the Bahía de Banderas region of Mexico. Their work is conducted through environmental education, community outreach, nature tourism, and scientific monitoring and research. San Pancho Bird Observatory supports Ocean Connectors with access to local knowledge and birding expertise.
Sand Cloud is a San Diego-based company on a mission to save marine life. Sand Cloud offers a wide variety of sustainable clothing, towels, and beach lifestyle products that incorporate recycled plastics and support ocean conservation efforts, with 10% of profits going toward marine conservation. Sand Cloud provides support to Ocean Connectors through funding and product donations for our students.
Saving Ocean Wildlife was formed to protect the ocean wildlife that reside or transit through the Pacific Ocean off the West Coast of North America. Ocean Connectors is partnering with Saving Ocean Wildlife to engage our audience in citizen science through marine mammal data collection. The data is provided to NOAA to help government officials make management and policy decisions to protect wildlife.
Shore Buddies creates plush toys including whales, dolphins, seagulls, seals, and sea turtles, all made out of recycled plastic and accompanied by educational messaging to help reduce ocean plastic pollution. Six plastic water bottles are used to make each toy. Shore Buddies donates $1 from the sale of each plush to organizations working on animal rehabilitation, conservation, and education.
The Coastal Conservancy is a State agency established in 1976 to protect and improve natural lands and waterways, help people access and enjoy the outdoors, and sustain local economies along the length of California’s coast and around San Francisco Bay. Through the Explore the Coast grant program, the Coastal Conservancy funds a wide range of programs that bring people to the coast.
The Ocean Foundation is a nonprofit organization with a mission to support, strengthen, and promote those organizations dedicated to reversing the trend of destruction of ocean environments around the world. As the fiscal sponsor of Ocean Connectors, The Ocean Foundation provides vital operational support including project oversight, financial management, accounting, legal compliance, and grant administration.
The San Diego Foundation is a community foundation that inspires enduring philanthropy and enables community solutions to improve the quality of life in this region. Through the Opening the Outdoors program, The San Diego Foundation connects, protects and increases equitable access to the outdoors across San Diego County, especially for San Diegans in underserved and park-deficient communities.
The Volgenau Foundation was established in 1994 to foster the conservation of natural resources and the education of children. The Volgenau Foundation believes that preservation of the environment is essential to the survival of life on our planet and that people are inspired and enriched by nature. Their funding spans conservation, classical music, and education, including the Ocean Connectors youth education programs.
Tree Myriah jewelry offers simple, refined pieces for the modern free-spirit. With delicate designs and natural embellishments, Tree’s handmade jewelry reflects sophisticated style and an adventurous spirit. Tree believes in a world that encourages curiosity, discovery and exploration. In support of this, she donates 10% of all profits to Ocean Connectors to help catalyze the next generation of environmental stewards and outdoor adventurers.
With a mission to connect people and ideas to live to our fullest potential, Trident Coffee is an excellent Eco Tour partner in Imperial Beach. Trident provides brewery tours and tastings that showcase how they source coffee to create a life cycle accountability that is transparent, organic, and sustainable. We appreciate their scientific approach to brewing that captures different tasting notes and experiences with each cold brew to showcase that coffee is truly a craft beverage. They believe that “good tasting” and “healthy” belong in the same sentence.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is the premier government agency dedicated to the conservation, protection, and enhancement of fish, wildlife and plants, and their habitats. The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service has supported Ocean Connectors every year since our founding year with habitat expertise, student mentorship, funding, and equipment to support our youth-led habitat restoration programs around San Diego Bay.
