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The Miami Waterkeeper Junior Ambassador program is a year-long program that develops a cohort of high school students into young environmental leaders. Through this program, South Florida students become community leaders by gaining an understanding of issues impacting Biscayne Bay and the surrounding watershed. Junior Ambassadors receive training in civic engagement and advocacy, share their acquired knowledge with diverse audiences, and help to organize interactive volunteer events.

This program helps students become versed in the complex relationship between social, environmental, governmental, and economic issues that are central to cultivating a culture of environmental awareness and advocacy in South Florida–which is relevant worldwide. The program is offered at no cost to participating students. 

Want to read about what past Junior Ambassador groups have accomplished? Click here to read about our 2022-2023 year in review!

Why Should I Apply?

As a Miami Waterkeeper Junior Ambassador, students develop personal and professional skills that will help them throughout high school, college, their career, and beyond. The program is specially designed to teach leadership, communication, civic engagement, and advocacy skills that cannot be learned in a classroom. As ambassadors, students:

Program Overview

Junior Ambassadors explore various topic areas through advocacy trainings, meetings, hands-on service projects, and outreach events. Miami Waterkeeper’s Junior Ambassador program runs for one school year and approximately 35-40 Junior Ambassadors are selected annually. The program consists of four mandatory advocacy trainings, at least four service events, and one final project. Participation in the Junior Ambassador program will fulfill the service hours requirement for the Florida Medallion Scholars and Florida Academic Scholars under the Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program.

Advocacy Trainings

Advocacy trainings are mandatory workshops where ambassadors receive training on scientific issues, governmental frameworks, policy objectives, and communication skills. The workshops are held throughout South Florida and facilitated by Miami Waterkeeper leadership and staff, covering the following topics:

1. Pollution Identification & Reporting
2. Government Agencies & Environmental Advocacy 
3. Environmental Stakeholders & Citizen Science
4. Communicating Science & Public Speaking

Service Events

One of the founding pillars of Miami Waterkeeper is community engagement. As such, we expect our Junior Ambassadors to be engaged in the community. Ambassadors will be expected to participate in community service events such as volunteer clean-ups and habitat restoration efforts.

Who Can Apply?

This program is directed at high school students, grades 9-12, in Miami-Dade and Broward counties. Applications for the 2024-2025 cohort open March 1st 2024!

Junior Ambassador Leadership Board

Questions?

If you have further questions, please email our Education and Outreach Manager, Erin Cover, at [email protected] or visit our FAQ page.

This program is made possible by the generous support from:

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