Ocean Action Grant program will award up to $5k to young people combatting climate change locally

Think you’ve got a plan to tackle climate change? Here’s your chance to make it real!

The Ocean Wise Ocean Action Grant is back, giving youth across Canada up to $5,000 to help launch projects that make a genuine environmental impact.

If you’re between 15 and 30 years old and a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or someone granted refugee status in Canada, you’re eligible to apply. Projects can be individual or collaborative, so team up with a friend or a whole crew if you like!

What’s it all about

At its core, the Ocean Action Grant is about trusting young people to lead. “Youth are changemakers. They often recognize gaps in their communities, develop new ideas, and propose solutions to issues impacting the environment and society,” says Brittany MacLean, Youth Manager at Ocean Wise. “By providing youth across Canada with access to funding, we can help support communities that may never have had access to these resources.”

So, what kind of ideas are we talking about? Pretty much anything that helps protect the environment, either directly or indirectly. That could mean reducing reliance on single-use plastics, restoring habitats, or improving access to sustainable seafood.

It could also look like helping people reconnect with nature, making environmental spaces more inclusive, or tackling climate anxiety through art, education, and community-building. Basically, if it moves the needle toward positive change, Ocean Wise wants to hear about it.

Real projects, real impact

Past Ocean Action Grant recipients have done some seriously cool things.

Take Ema Gelber, for example. Her project, I Am River, helps children build a personal connection with the St. Lawrence River by letting the river tell its own story. What started as a children’s book and environmental education project grew into hands-on workshops and a beautiful short film shot across Québec. By inviting kids to see the river as a living thing, Ema’s work shows how storytelling can spark care, responsibility, and long-term stewardship for vital ecosystems.

Then there’s Jacob Gerard, who focused on the wetlands many kids live near but rarely learn about. Through his project, Wetland Edu-Kits, distributed to schools, libraries, and community organizations, children get hands-on tools like wildlife ID guides, magnifying glasses, and binoculars.

With support from the Ocean Action Grant, Jacob has already created 300 kits and is expanding their reach across the Durham Region, helping young people build more meaningful connections with nature right in their own backyard.

Why it’s important

“Half of the air we breathe comes from the ocean. We are surrounded by it, and our world relies on it to keep us healthy and thriving, so we need to return the favour,” MacLean explains. “Every waterway leads to the ocean. Even if you live in a landlocked area and don’t feel directly connected, the ocean is still vital to our planet’s ecosystems. It supports essential needs such as food security, livelihoods, and overall environmental balance.”

Environmental challenges can sometimes feel overwhelming, but grants like this give youth the tools, resources, and confidence to move from ideas to action, proving that meaningful change is possible.

Apply today

So if you’ve got an idea that won’t leave your brain alone, this might be your sign.

“Never think that you couldn’t be the person to bring an amazing project to life. No idea is too big or too small, and our team is here to support you every step of the way,” says MacLean. “How lucky are we to live in a world where youth can receive funding to pursue what they’re passionate about, without the pressure of a final grade, just the freedom to explore, create, and give back to their communities.”

View the full rules and regulations and apply for the Ocean Wise Ocean Action Grant, bring that idea to life, and be part of the next wave of youth-led environmental change.

The Ocean Action Grant Program is funded in part by Canada Service Corps.