Martha's Vineyard students pass bylaw to ban intentional release of helium balloons.

3 Ways Martha’s Vineyard Students Became Ocean Heroes

Through our Ambassador grant program, Brock Callen uplifted three stories about young ocean heroes from his hometown of Martha’s Vineyard by working with The Martha’s Vineyard Film Festival (MVFF) on a special video series. The short films feature young Islanders who have a personal connection to the ocean, which surrounds their hometown, and highlights how these students have become leaders in their community through their commitment to restoring ocean health. 

MVFF’s mission is to produce community events, educational programs, and films that spark discussion, debate, and action. The organization also aims to create dialogue around ocean health and engage its community through local events and educational programs that are open to the public.

Video below: A group of 7th graders, fed up with seeing plastic all over their local beaches on Martha’s Vineyard, decided to take action. The students came together to pass a bylaw that would make the intentional release of lighter-than-air balloons illegal on their island. Here is their success story.

https://www.facebook.com/TMVFF/videos/626920794458215/

 

Video below: Martha’s Vineyard local and kiteboarder Felix Colon, 15, shares his story about growing up on the water, how it shaped his view of the world and inspired him to help improve the health of our ocean through conservation and preservation. Check out a behind-the-scenes look at Felix’s life on the water:

https://www.facebook.com/TMVFF/videos/368036367221256/

 

Video below: Marine Biologist Shelley Edmundson, and high school Senior Victoria Scott innovate ways to help the Whelk (sea snail) population of Martha’s Vineyard thrive in the ever-changing ocean landscape. Here is their story:

https://www.facebook.com/TMVFF/videos/2463607670591503/

 

For more about events, education, and to get involved visit TMVFF.org.

Header image: Students holding up the balloons they collected from local beaches on Martha’s Vineyard. Credit: The Martha’s Vineyard Film Festival