Our story

Sea Smart’s mission is to get youth excited about our ocean and empower them to be ocean heroes!

Who we are

In a world where environmental problems can feel overwhelming, Sea Smart is bringing hope and action to youth. Led by passionate marine biologist Dr. Elaine Leung, Sea Smart is a charity dedicated to educating and empowering youth to keep our blue planet alive through engaging programs including school workshops, summer camps, online courses, and shoreline cleanups. 

Since our inception in 2016, Sea Smart has harnessed the power of innovative education to inspire over 43,000 people in person across Metro Vancouver and over 1,000,000 online, spanning more than 45 countries. Through solutions-based, action-oriented education programs, we teach about the diverse threats our ocean faces and empower youth by teaching tangible actions they can take to protect our marine ecosystems and make a positive difference in the world. 

A group of children holding buckets and doing a shoreline cleanup.

At Sea Smart, we firmly believe that empowering youth is the key to combating climate anxiety by fostering optimism and leadership within communities. We are committed to inclusivity and diversity, ensuring that our programs are accessible to all. We proudly offer free programs to inner-city schools and underserved communities, including at-risk, Indigenous, and racialized youth. Sea Smart is committed to preserving our ocean and securing a brighter future for our blue planet.

Children sitting in a classroom watching a presentation and learning.
Dr. Elaine Leung smiling in front of a beach.

Sea Smart was founded by marine biologist, Dr. Elaine Leung, an international speaker and expert on ocean issues who’s inspired waves of change in the hearts and minds of people worldwide.

Meet our team

Meet our team of marine biologists and environmental educators who are passionate about educating people of all ages about current ocean issues and environmental sustainability.

Sea Smart's summer camp educators smiling and jumping in the air at Kitsilano Beach.

Stronger Together

Thanks to your generous donations, we’ve been able to make a huge impact o protect our ocean and empower over 1,000,000 youth across the world to become ocean heroes. When you donate to Sea Smart, 100% of your donation goes directly to inspiring youth, families, and communities in need to become sustainability champions and waves of change worldwide.