Sarasota Bay Watch prioritizes youth outreach, environmental education, and hands-on learning. By integrating conservation experiences and leadership development, we shape future marine stewards. Youth are encouraged to participate in all our projects like marine debris cleanup, shellfish and vegetative restoration, and outreach activities. They can gain community service hours through supervised fun and safe educational opportunities. For high school students seeking a deeper environmental experience, we offer a Youth Leadership Program. Our Youth Leadership Cohort follows the school year calendar (August–May), but applications are accepted year-round. Our Youth Leaders play a vital role in teaching an afterschool marine camp for elementary students, fostering a passion for marine conservation in the younger generation.
Youth Leadership ’25 – ’26 Cohort
Click on the images to learn more about our 2025-2026 Youth Leadership Cohorts!
This is my second year with the Sarasota Bay Watch Youth Leadership program, and I’m thrilled to see what exciting opportunities this year will bring! Outside of the program, I’m passionate about soccer and Latin and ballroom dancing. I also love traveling and exploring the world’s oceans, as marine life fascinates me. Being outdoors brings me joy, and I’m eager to participate in more cleanups and contribute to keeping our environment healthy and thriving!
I'm a senior at Sarasota High School, co-president of the Sailor Bay Watch Club, and a member of the school’s soccer team. I’m passionate about the outdoors, learning about marine life, and participating in environmental clean-ups. I love animals and aspire to become a veterinarian. This is my second year with Sarasota Bay Watch’s Youth Leadership Program, and I'm thrilled to continue making an impact in our community!
I’m a senior at Sarasota High School and co-president of our Sailor Baywatch Club. This is my second year as a youth leader with Sarasota Bay Watch, and I’m passionate about outdoor activities like camping, scuba diving, sailing, skiing, and sports. Being part of Sarasota Bay Watch is an exciting opportunity to help clean up and restore our community and bays!
I’m a junior at Pine View, and this is my third year in the Leadership Program. I’m proud of the work I do in coastal conservation with birds and insects. As the Jim Neville Bird Monitoring Project coordinator, I measure the impact of our long term restoration efforts. Outside of SBW, I’m a cellist in the Youth Philharmonic, a bird naturalist with Sarasota Audubon, I run the nature club at my school, and I’m on the RC Car Senior Executive Committee at Fab Lab.
I'm a sophomore at Pine View School and thrilled to be part of the Sarasota Bay Watch Youth Leadership Program this year! My interests include playing soccer, diving into a good book, going on long walks, listening to music, and biking. I’m also passionate about STEM and its potential to positively impact the world. Through this program, I look forward to supporting our environment alongside my fellow Youth Leadership Cohorts!
I'm a student at Booker High School, and this is my first year with Sarasota Bay Watch. I have a deep love for nature and spend as much time outdoors as possible. My passion for the environment began at a young age and has remained a guiding force in my life. I also volunteer as a bird naturalist with the Sarasota Audubon Society and am an active member of the Manasota Fossil Club and the Florida Young Birder’s Club.
I’m a senior at Riverview High School, and growing up in Sarasota has given me a deep appreciation for Florida’s natural landscapes, especially its beaches. Spending time on the water from a young age sparked my interest in marine biology. I’m thrilled to be part of the Youth Leadership Program, where I aim to strengthen my leadership skills and make a meaningful impact on our community.
I am a senior at Riverview High School and I'm in the IB program and am currently in the career path for Marine Science. I am thrilled to be part of this program and can't wait to help our marine environment with the Baywatch crew. Outside of school and the program, I like to spend my time going to the beach, going to church and i love going to the gym.
I’m a junior at Pine View School and a first-year member of the Sarasota Bay Watch Youth Leadership Program. My love for nature began with family hikes and exploring Florida’s unique ecosystems, eventually growing into a passion for environmental protection. Outside of this program, I enjoy playing soccer, performing on the violin, volunteering in my community, and exploring the medical field. I’m excited to contribute to Sarasota Bay Watch and help make a positive impact on our local waterways.
This is my first year with the Sarasota Bay Watch Youth Leadership Program, and I’m excited to be part of such an inspiring initiative. I’m currently in the Marine Biology career path at Riverview High School, where I’ve been able to explore my passion for the ocean and environmental science. I love spending time outdoors, exploring new places, and being around wildlife. I’m looking forward to making a difference through cleanups and contributing however I can to protect and preserve our environment.
I’m a sophomore at Riverview High School and a second-year member with the Leadership Program. My love for the outdoors began in childhood, growing up hunting, fishing, camping, and exploring nature. These experiences sparked my passion for environmental protection and marine life. I enjoy playing football, wrestling, weightlifting, fishing, and giving back to my community. Through this program, I’m excited to help protect our environment and take advantage of the opportunities it brings.
I’m a rising senior at Riverview High School, part of the IB Marine Science, a Stars to Starfish intern, and an officer in the Marine Club. Growing up in Florida has given me a deep appreciation for its unique wildlife and natural habitats—from the Keys to Lake Okeechobee and the state’s many springs. After attending a cleanup at Jim Neville, I was inspired to get more involved. I enjoy going to the gym, youth group, and playing/watching sports with friends.
I’m a rising senior at Riverview High School and part of the Marine Science Pathway through Stars to Starfish. I’m proud to be involved in Sarasota County’s incredible marine community and excited to be a member of the Sarasota Bay Watch Youth Leadership Program. Growing up fishing and hunting, I’ve been surrounded by marine and wildlife species my whole life. Taking part in cleanups and helping restore our ecosystems has been an inspiring and rewarding experience.
I am a senior at Riverview High School and this is my first year with Sarasota Bay Watch. I am an intern for the Stars to Starfish program, as well as part of the IBCP Marine Science pathway. Growing up, I have always been on the water, especially out on the boat fishing. These experiences are what sparked my immense interest in our oceans and passion to protect it. I am super proud to be a part of this program as I aim to protect our waters the best I can whilst bettering my connection with my peers.
I’m a sophomore at Venice High school and this is my 1st year in the Leadership Program. I am a member of FBLA and Key Club, and I play soccer at Venice Falcons. I am passionate about many things and working with others to help the environment is one. I love traveling, soccer, animals, and meeting new people. I’m very excited to make a difference with SBW this year!
I'm a sophomore at Riverview High School, where I have the privilege of being part of the IB Marine Biology program. This is my first year with Sarasota Baywatch. My passion for marine biology and conservation drives me to learn as much as I can about our oceans and the incredible life within them. In my spare time, I love fishing because it connects me with the environment I am so passionate about. I believe in the importance of protecting our marine ecosystems, and I hope to make a positive impact in the field of conservation in the future.
As a sophomore in the Pre-IB program at Venice High School, I stay active through competitive softball, a proud member of Drug-Free Youth and Fellowship of Christian Athletes. I joined SBW to learn how local action can protect our marine ecosystems. Whether I’m volunteering, attending The Bridge Church, participating in Sarasota Cotillion, or being a big sister to two amazing girls, I’m passionate about living with purpose, integrity, and making a positive impact.
I am a Senior at Riverview and in the IB program. This is my first year in the leadership program and I am super excited to be apart of this community! My career path for IBCP is marine biology so this really helps me connect and learn with it. I have always loved marine life and helping all that I can since I was little. Animals have always been apart of my life. Outside of school I enjoy going to the beach, riding horses, and spending time with my family. I am super excited to help and preserve our environment contributing however I can!
I’m a freshman at Sarasota High, and this is my first year in the youth leadership program. I grew up on St. Simons Island in coastal Georgia and moved to Florida two years ago. I am deeply passionate about protecting the ocean and marine environments here in Sarasota and everywhere else. Outside of the program I enjoy running cross country, reading, hiking, surfing, and scuba diving. I’m very excited to be a part of this program and to get involved in the opportunities it presents.
I am a sophomore at Sarasota High School and this is my first year in the youth leadership program. I am vice president of Sailor Baywatch and part of my school's cheer team. I also enjoy scuba diving, sailing, traveling, snowboarding, being outdoors, and learning about marine life and the oceans. I am so excited to be a part of this program and for the opportunities it will bring me to help the environment!
This is my first year working with the Sarasota Bay Watch Youth Leadership program. I am in 11th grade and I attend the Out of Door Academy. I am eager not only to participate in beach clean-ups but also to help teach marine science to elementary schoolers. I am passionate about sustainability, and I plan to study architecture and sustainable design. Outside of school, I enjoy listening to music, working out, and going to the beach.
I am a senior at Pine View High School, a cross-country athlete, a scuba diver, and a boater. I am a Florida native from a family of captains and dive instructors who has been on the water about as long as I can remember, and I look forward to helping take care of our marine ecosystem as well as educating others about it. It is always important to keep Sarasota Bay healthy!
I'm a sophomore in the IB program at Riverview high school. I have a passion for marine life, environmental science, and engineering. I grew up handling both saltwater and freshwater fish, hence my love of the water and the outdoors. This is my first year on the youth leadership team, I am excited to get started and make a difference. Whether on the water or in the community, I am committed to sustaining the natural beauty and health of our Sarasota Bay.
I'm in 8th grade at Pine View School. Outside of school I do piano and competitive dance. This is my first year doing the Youth Leadership Program and I am very excited about this amazing opportunity. My family has been in Sarasota for many generations, and I have grown up next to the water my entire life. I love volunteering and helping the community, and I'm very glad I can do something hands on with SBW.
I go to school in Manatee County. I love riding horses and compete in English show jumping. I hope to go to school to be a veterinarian in the future. I want to be a part of the Sarasota Bay Watch because I really like marine animals and going paddle boarding. To me the Sarasota Bay Watch sounds like a fun way to see the wildlife and plant life while also being able to learn more about them in an interactive way. Another thing that I really like is that while learning about our environment you are also helping to keep it clean.
I am a sophomore at Riverview High School, and this will be my first year as a Baywatch Youth Leader. I'm a part of my school's Marine club and Conservation club, and I have always had a love for animals and the environment. Participating in Baywatch's events and other conservation efforts has shown me that my efforts can make a difference, and I'm excited to make a greater impact through this program.
This is my first year with the Sarasota Bay Watch Youth Leadership program, and I am so grateful that I have the opportunity to take part in a program like this. Outside of the program, I have been sailing for 3 years, play the guitar, and love to paint or draw. Part of being a sailor is navigating the waterways and observing the sea life, which drives my passion and love for all marine life. I love helping out and can't wait to see what exciting opportunities appear throughout the year!
I go to suncoast polytechnical high school and I am in 10th grade there. I am part of the Venice High School sailing team and I also volunteer at the Venice Youth Boating Association for summer camps. I also enjoy playing the guitar. Overall, I love the water because there are so many things you can do with it. From swimming to sailing.
I am in 10th grade at Riverview Highschool. I have always had a passion for preserving wildlife and I'm excited to be able to make a hands-on difference through this program. I'm part of marine club at my school and I am planning on being a part of the marine biology IB career path next year. This will be my first year as a youth leader and I am so excited to be able to make a change through this program!