FINAL REPORT

Table of Contents
I. Introduction
II. Methodology
III. Results
IV. Discussion
V. Recommendations for Future SEA Camps
VI. Quotes from SEA Campers

INTRODUCTION

Rationale
The Philippines is one of the 17 megadiverse countries
of the world because of its high biodiversity and
endemism. Globally, the Philippines ranks fth in plant
diversity and fourth in bird endemism. While the extent
of its marine biodiversity is unknown, available
information has prompted scientists from the California
Academy of Sciences to describe it as the center of
the center of marine biodiversity.
The Philippines high poverty incidence, increasing
population, pursuit for economic growth, and impacts
of climate change have put unprecedented pressure
on its natural resources. One of the strategies being
employed to curb biodiversity loss by both public and
private sectors is environmental education.

Rationale
Environmental education programs
targeting youth are especially crucial
because they are the future generations
leaders, voters, and consumers. Moreover,
many young people have been at the
forefront of environmental movements all
over the world, demonstrating capacity of
youth to be agents of change.

About the SEA Camp

The Sea and Earth Advocates (SEA) Camp is
an environmental education program that
brought together 88 promising Filipino youth
(18-24 years old) who were identied as
potential leaders and changemakers in the
eld of conservation.
The SEA Camp is a project of Save Philippine
Seas (SPS) and the U.S. Embassy-Manila.

Objectives
Increase environmental knowledge,
attitudes, and behavior;
Develop practical skills that can be used
to achieve sustainable use of the marine
and coastal environment; and
Build a nationwide network of Filipino
youth pursuing environmental initiatives.

SEA Camp Team

Project Director:
Anna Oposa
Operations Manager:
Kimberly Lao
Social Media & Communications Ocer:
Jean Lau Wang
Administrative & Finance Ocer:
Dineth Larsen
Photo & Video:
Kay Arias, Star Sabroso, Miguel Bernal,
Jeremiah Pea
Volunteers (on-site and online)

METHODOLOGY

Sites and Dates

About the SEA Camp Sites

Situated near Marine
Protected Areas
(MPAs)
Sites of the Ecosystems
Improved for
Sustainable
Fisheries(ECOFISH)
Project, an initiative
funded by the U.S.
Agency for
International
Development (USAID)

Selection of Participants
Applications were received via email and
post from October-December 2014.
Three SEA Camp sta members
individually evaluated each application
and submitted a shortlist of 150
applicants (50 per region) to the U.S.
Embassy-Manila for their evaluation and
comments.
The SEA Camp sta made the nal
evaluation, considering gender and
diversity of aliation and home location.

Criteria for Selection

previous participation in volunteer
activities or leadership roles in
organizations (20%);
knowledge of environmental issues in
the community (30%);
skills/potential skills that could make
him/her an eective conservationist
(30%); and
capability to reach target beneciaries
of their proposed projects (20%).

Factors Measured
Environmental Knowledge
This section assessed
participants knowledge on
Philippine marine biodiversity,
impacts of household items on
marine life, benets and
challenges of MPAs, coastal
marine ecosystems, and ability to
dene environmental terms.

Attitude towards ProEnvironmental Behavior,

Subjective Norm, and Perceived
Behavioral Control
These are the three determinants
of behavior according to the
Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB)
by I. Ajzen (1991).
Pro-Environmental Behavior
This section had 12 items that
focused on environmental
activism, non-activist political
behaviour, and consumer
behaviour.

Rationale

Activities

Increasing environmental
knowledge can arouse interest
and concern in environmental
issues.

Lectures from conservation

professionals; games; and
outdoor activities.

According to the TPB, people are

more likely to perform a specic
behaviour if they evaluate it
positively, feel social pressure to
perform it, and have sucient
degree of control over it

Interaction with local

government ocials and
conservation professionals, and
outdoor activities

Participants were asked how

often they performed a
particular behaviour with
examples to quantify frequency
(e.g., Sometimes: out of the 10
chances, I do it 4-6 times.).

Factors Measured
Civic Attitudes and Skills
These items were adapted from
the Civic Attitudes and Skills
Questionnaire (Moely et al 2002)
and had subscales measuring
Leadership Skills, Social Justice
Attitudes, Interpersonal Skills,
Civic Action, and Political
Awareness.

Entrepreneurial Orientation
These items were adapted from
questionnaires by HermansenKobulnicky & Moss (2004) and
Knight (2007) and had subscales
measuring need for
achievement, autonomy, risktaking, innovativeness, and
proactiveness.
Reexive Thoughts

Rationale

Activities

Environmental responsibility
requires an active, engaged,
informed, and competent
citizenry and widespread civic
competence (Orr, 1992, p. 84).

Multi-stakeholder meeting
simulation, where participants
were grouped into stakeholders
to debate about a hypothetical
environmental and political
issue, and a workshop on writing
letters to leaders. Participants
were then required to write a
letter to a leader in any eld
(e.g., government, civil society,
corporation, university).

EO focuses on characterising
and distinguishing key
entrepreneurial
processes (Lumpkin & Dess,
1996, p. 136). Because the SEA
Camp would support 30
participants to lead and
implement environmental
projects, the study found it
appropriate to measure EO.

Project management workshop,

where participants learned to
write project proposals and
budgets, and project pitching,
where participants were
required to propose an
environmental project in front of
panelists.

Reexive thoughts are not often

assessed in environmental
education programs. These are
helpful in understanding
complexities of issues and
processes behind change in
attitudes and behavior.

Writing in the reection sheets

and focus group discussions with
SEA Camp facilitators

Factors Measured
SEA Camp Network
Participants were asked how
often they communicate with
fellow participants and
collaborations that have
emerged from the SEA Camp.

SEA Camp Evaluation

Participants were asked to
evaluate the entire SEA Camp
and how it has made an impact
on their lives.

Rationale

Activities

To sustain positive behaviors and

attitudes, it is necessary to build
and establish a network of
support.

N/A

N/A

N/A

Methods of Evaluation
All assessments were
unannounced so the
participants could
not prepare for it.
Quantitative
Pre-test: Day 1
Post-test: Day 6
Delayed post-test:
6-8 weeks after the
SEA Camp

Qualitative

Reection sheets
Focus groups

RESULTS

Profile of Participants

Gender

Number

Male

40

45

Female

47

53

Transgender

Number

18-19

24

27

20-21

38

43

22-24

26

30

Number

Natural Sciences

39

44

Social Sciences

16

18

Arts & Humanities

14

16

Law & Medicine

Engineering & IT

10

Business & Economics

Age

Course in University

Profile of Participants

Familys Annual Income

Number

PhP1,857,000 (26,528)

PhP1,200,000 (17,143)

10

11

PhP603,000 (8,814)

21

24

PhP191,000 (2,728)

20

23

PhP62,000 (886)

13

15

I dont know.

21

24

Environmental Knowledge

Environmental Knowledge
significantly increased after the SEA
Camp (p <0.001).
Environmental Knowledge
40
35
30
25
20

37.84

15
10

22.46

5
0

Pre-Test Knowledge

Post-Test Knowledge

Quotes from participants

Sentiments after the pre-test

I felt dumb after doing [the pre-test].
I wasnt ready for [the pre-test]. I
thought I was, but I really wasnt, and I
severely lack knowledge.
[The pre-test] made me doubt 14
years of education.

Quotes from participants

Sentiments after the pre-test

New ideas or misconceptions [were]
claried like the fact that corals are not a
stone but an animal.
I learned the many forms of habitats like
corals, seagrass, and mangroves. I also
realized that I have a lot of learning to
be a conservationist.
[My biggest realization was] knowing
that a starsh was not a sh.

Pro-Environmental Behavior

Pro-Environmental Behavior
significantly increased after the SEA
Camp (p <0.001).

Quotes from participants

During the SEA Camp: Intent for ProEnvironmental Behavior

When buying groceries, Id choose products that
are more environment-friendly.
These activities will remind me to use less trash.
Less trash means a better world for our sea critters.
I realized the consequences of the actions Ive
been doing, such as using [soap] that produce
microbeads, which dont dissolve in seawater. I
also learned about how sulfates in some shampoos
can aect sh, when it sticks to their scales.

Quotes from participants

After the SEA Camp: Use of Social

Media for Social Change
I became active [on] social media and started
[reading about] environmental issues. I lessen posting
about my personal life and started sharing educational
facts.
My current Facebook timeline compared to my
Facebook timeline prior to the SEA Camp contains
more news/clips/photos/posts about conservation.
Now I feel that I am sharing more relevant issues and
information than I did before SEA Camp.
I am taking advantage of the digital and social
media space to share my advocacy and hopefully
inspire other people.

Quotes from participants

Pro-Environmental Behavior & Civic Action:

Influencing social circles
I started convincing my friends not to use
straws. I shared the things that I learned during
SEA Camp, especially about the use of beauty
products that may harm our seas.
My mother now uses reusable bags when
going to the [market].
In our oce, we used to use plastics and
paper plates when we take our lunch. For one
month now, we are using washable/reusable
utensils and wares to reduce wastes.

Environmental Attitudes

Attitudes toward Environmental

Behaviour significantly improved
after the SEA Camp (p < 0.05).
Environmental Attitudes
80
70
60
50
40
30

69.15

73.49

20
10
0

Pre-Test Attitude

Post-Test Attitude

Environmental Attitudes

Based on the reection sheets, the

improved attitudes were inuenced by
the following:
i. Framing of conservation as an
interdisciplinary eld;
ii. Value of individual responsibility;
iii. Outdoor activities.

Quotes from participants

Since the participants came from dierent

backgrounds, it made me realise that marine
conservation or conservation in general does not
necessarily include only one eld, but it is possible even if
people come from dierent elds.
I realised that there is no need to be [in] the eld of
environment in order for me to be a conservationist. As
long as I have the passion to save our environment, I can
be a conservationist in my own way.
Marine conservation is a huge job that requires a lot of
cooperation from dierent levels in the community. In
order for us to bring or do anything signicant, we need
to understand and accept that we can never do it
alone or as a science. We need everyone.

Quotes from participants

With the experience I had today, it made me more

passionate and I was motivated to be an advocate of
not just marine conservation but the whole environment
as well.
I realized that if all people [have] the ability to see
whats under the water, maybe they [would] be
[convinced] enough to stop doing things that can harm
our nature.
Experience is a powerful key to make people change
their perspective in marine conservation (and life) and
see how important it is to all of us. The ocean gives us so
much and we have to give back and take care of it.

Entrepreneurial Orientation

Entrepreneurial Orientation significantly

increased from pre-, post-, and delayed
post-test (p <0.05).

Civic Attitudes and Skills

Civic Attitudes and Skills significantly

increased from pre- and post-tests (p <0.01)
and had a similar result in the delayed
post-test.

Quotes from participants

I did not think, before SEA Camp, that

I could directly ask or write to people
in the position to voice out my opinion
or ask for support. I was cynical about
even getting a response but the
people in SEA Camp showed me that
it could be done.

Quotes from participants

I talked to our school administration and

I was able to convince them not to use
plastic utensils in our cafeteria including
stirrers and straws.
I discouraged organizations to use
plastic balloons in their events. Im
currently writing a resolution to [ban] it in
our school.
I proposed to procure trash bins to be
detailed in dierent areas within the
compound of our oce.

SEA Camp Network

Have you directly communicated with the SEA Camp

organizers?
80%
70%
60%
50%
40%
68.8%
30%
20%
31.3%
10%
0%

Yes

No

SEA Camp Network

Reasons for communication

Asked advice about SEA Camp
projects
Asked advice about non-SEA Camp
initiatives, campaigns, and projects
Personal reasons (e.g., meet up,
share stories with)

SEA Camp Network

Have you communicated with the resource speakers

since the SEA Camp?
80%

70%

60%

50%

40%
68.8%
30%

20%
31.3%
10%

0%

Yes

No

SEA Camp Network

Reasons for communication

Discussed potential collaborations
Wrote fanmail
Volunteered for organizations/events
of resource speakers
Invited Visayas SEA Camp resource
speaker to be a resource speaker for
a project
Personal reasons (e.g., took resource
speaker out on a tour in hometown)

SEA Camp Network

Have you directly communicated with your fellow

participants?
50%
45%
40%
35%
30%
25%

46.3%

20%
15%
25.0%
10%

23.8%

5%
5.0%
0%

Yes, some (1-10 people)

Yes, a lot (11-20 people)

Yes, most (21 or more)

No

SEA Camp Network

Reasons for communication

Helped each other with projects as
consultants, volunteers, participants,
co-organizers, graphic designers,
and facilitators
Discuss ways to replicate each
others projects in their respective
communities
Personal reasons (e.g., meet up,
travel together)

SEA Camp Evaluation

Biggest contribution of the SEA Camp (rst choice)

45
40
35
30
25
20

39

15
10
5
0

19
10

Expanded my
Expanded my personal Gained information
professional network
network
and skills for
conservation

6
Inspired me to nd my
purpose

Gave me an
opportunity to travel

SEA Camp Evaluation

Biggest contribution of the SEA Camp (second choice)

35

30

25

20

30

15

10

19

17
11
3

Expanded my
Expanded my personal Gained information
professional network
network
and skills for
conservation

Inspired me to nd my
purpose

Gave me an
opportunity to travel

DISCUSSION

The signicant
increase of scores in
the factors measured
and the participants
self-reported actions
taken since the SEA
Camp demonstrates
the need for a local
environmental
education program
that goes beyond
teaching facts and
empowers young
people to take action.

The SEA Camp shed

light on what schools
and society have
failed to teach: the
importance of marine
ecosystems, marine
conservation, proenvironmental
behavior,
entrepreneurial
orientation, and civic
attitudes and skills.

Emphasis on individual responsibility also

positively aected the participants attitudes.
Focusing on an individuals capacity and
unique strengths to eect change can avoid
the psychology of despair and instead bring a
sense of hope and gratication.

Outdoor activities
played a powerful
role in inspiring proenvironmental
behavior. The
Philippines, with its
high biodiversity
and species
endemism, provides
a promising
opportunity for
young people to
build an anity with
nature.

The SEA Camp did not only develop

environmental responsibility, but also
fostered civic responsibility. The participants
self-reported civic actions related to proenvironmental behavior in the delayed
post-test (e.g., writing letters to leaders,
promoting pro-environmental behaviour in
their schools and workplaces) exhibited
their capacity to proactively contribute to
community transformation and
development.

One of the biggest

challenges in evaluating EE
programs is that the extent
of their impact and ability
to change someones life is
dicult, if not impossible, to
measure. There are other
outcomes, such as
friendships built among
participants, and personal
and professional
relationships that formed
between organizers and
participants, that have had
positive impacts beyond
the scope of environmental
knowledge, attitudes, and
behavior.

In sum, the SEA Camp helped young people become aware

of their untapped potential, oered opportunities to lead their
own environmental initiatives, and provided a personal and
professional network to nurture and sustain their activities. The
Philippines, a country with some of the most abundantand
most pollutednatural resources in the world would benet
highly from prioritizing environmental education that empowers
young people.

RECOMMENDATIONS
FOR FUTURE SEA CAMPS

Application Process
The number of SEA Camp participants
should be reduced from 30 to 20, and
grant recipients from 10 to 5. These
numbers will be easier to manage, make
the selection process more competitive,
and decrease project cost drastically.
Application forms should be in an online
spreadsheet for easier tabulation and
assessment.
Applicants must already submit a
headshot, answers to the questionnaire,
and sizes for the shirt/photo.

Application Process
Applicants may be interviewed
over Skype or the phone if the
decision was not unanimous.
Waitlisted applicants must be
informed that they have been
waitlisted.
Promotions must reach schools and
youth groups outside capital cities.
Future SEA Camps should involve
SEA Camp alumni in the selection
process of the shortlist.

Program
Extend number of days from 6 to 7
and have fewer activities per day.
Activities generally began at 8AM
and ended at 10-11PM, which was
exhausting for both organizers and
participants.
More outdoor activities (e.g., nature
walk around SEA Camp venue,
stargazing, meditation, morning
workout)
Participants should write their letters to
leaders during the Camp instead of
after.

Program
Speakers must send their presentations at
least two days before the start of the
camp (not two days before their talk) to
check length and content, and test
compatibility with the laptop being used.
The allotted time of 20 minutes per
speaker will be maintained, but additional
time to be provided for questions.
Project Director will deliver the project
management talk and workshop to ensure
same information and template will be
used instead of inviting dierent speakers
per camp.

Program
There must be at least a week in
between SEA Camps to give
organizers ample time for ingress and
egress.
The SEA Camp proper must begin at
least ve (5) months before the end of
the grant contract instead of four (4)
to ensure that liquidation of grant
recipients are turned over before the
projects grant deadline.
Deadline of grant recipients nancial
and narrative report must be within a
week after project implementation.

Personnel
A project assistant should be hired for
the SEA Camp. The SEA Camp
organizers and documentation team
had to perform tasks beyond the
scope of their work due to lack of
personnel.
For future SEA Camps, SEA Camp
alumni of the region can be invited
as volunteers.
Personnel per diem should be
increased to PhP600 to cover meals.

Logistics & Comms

Visayas and Mindanao SEA Camps
should be relocated to venues with
reliable mobile signal, water supply,
and electricity.
Open Facebook groups earlier and
require participants to join the group
in the acceptance letter.
Settle list of media with partners
before the camps start.

QUOTES FROM SEA

CAMPERS

SEA Camp made my nd my perfect avenue of advocacy. SEA

Camp has to be implemented more. There has to be another batch
because the program opens a lot of opportunities to youth leaders .
Hoping for SEACamp 2. This is by far my best and most loved youth
program I have attended.
I just wish there will be a SEA Camp v2.0.
Very well prepared! Hoping for a SEA Camp 2!
The SEA Camp experience was denitely a life-changing event.
Although my project did not get the funding, I was not discouraged
from pursuing conservation works in the future. Something within me
has been awaken and I want this ember to keep burning inside me
awwww haha! I P.S. I hope there will be SEA Camp II! Such a beautiful
initiative! :)

THANK YOU is not enough to express how grateful I am to be part of

the SEA Camp. For a youth leader like me who is in the age of
discovery and dreams, SEA Camp moved me that in our own little
way, we could make a change for preserving, protecting and
conserving our environment. I was inspired and empowered to meet
and hear the stories of our speakers in their own elds. I am blessed to
meet hardworking and supportive Titas and Titos. Though SEA
Camp, I met new awesome and crazy but passionate and promising
people whom I can call my SEAblings. Above all, SEA Camp was a
life changing experience and I will always and forever be a proud
Filipino SEAtizen, SEA Camper and Caretaker of the Philippines! Once
a MERKID, always a MERKID
I can't live my old life again because of the SEA Camp. It messed my
life dude! and now I nd it hard to ignore environmental issues and
give up on my advocacy!!! Talking to some people about my
advocacy is hard and sometimes I just feel like giving up but I just
can't!!! For the love of the Philippines Seas and the people living in
coastal communities :D :D Thank you, I found my direction :)

I wanted to say thank you very much Titas and Titos and the US
Embassy Manila for giving us the opportunity to experience this very
fun, exciting and jawsome experience. I am hoping that this will be
the rst to many more SEA Camp in the future. Thank you so
much. :D
I really love how SEA camp was initiated, I am in a eld very far from
environmental or marine conservation. It was a program that I did not
feel out of place. And in my views is an eective program where you
get to replicate or do a project based on the needs in your locality
and it is one way of identifying if the participants did learn in the
activity. I am hoping for another SEA Camp, so that others may
experience what I had experienced and get inspire and to aspire a
job/work/passion that is not-so-related from what you have taken up
in college.