Junior SeaKeepers Workshop 5: Community Engagement and Leadership with Lillian Engelhard

Overview

On Monday, January 22nd, The International SeaKeepers Society hosted the fifth Junior SeaKeepers Program workshop for 2023-24 cohort students. Junior SeaKeepers workshops are aimed at personal and professional development for students throughout the year-long program, and we were thrilled to host students and give them a crash course in community engagement and leadership skills with SeaKeepers Community Engagement Associate, Lillian Engelhard.

We started the workshop by discussing what makes a community and the different challenges that might face a community based on the people and environments that connect it. This included an introduction to local community engagement projects that help make valuable, low-cost, and positive impacts on ecosystems and communities. Lillian also was able to discuss with our Junior SeaKeepers the different community engagement projects that she leads as a part of the SeaKeepers team, many of which our JSKs participate in monthly. In addition to community engagement, we also chatted with students about the values of leadership and what can be done to gain leadership qualities and experience, regardless of age. The information they received as a part of the January Workshop will not only be helpful for the program but also for their futures as informed and engaged citizens.

Outing Goal

By attending workshops with the SeaKeepers team, our Junior SeaKeepers have the opportunity to develop personal and professional skills that will aid them in their advancement in STEM studies and careers. We hope that our workshops give students a glimpse into how much they have to gain out of this unique extracurricular program!