Are you passionate about ocean conservation and storytelling?
Apply for the Urban Ocean Story Lab experience to discover our urban wild, gain hands-on experience in the field, and share local stories right here in Long Beach!
Application Deadline: Monday, June 15, 2026
EXPERIENCE OVERVIEW
Urban Ocean Story Lab is a 5 week summer experience where youth connected to the Long Beach community will investigate environmental issues, build filmmaking skills, and work alongside mentors to create original short documentaries exploring Long Beach’s urban ocean, uncovering stories about our urban waterways, wildlife, pollution, stewardship, and community connection.
WHAT WE’LL BE DOING
- Learn documentary filmmaking skills alongside industry professionals
- Explore Long Beach’s urban ocean through hands on field experiences
- Visit Catalina Island to experience a less urbanized coastal ecosystem and compare environmental systems firsthand
- Capture footage in the field alongside mentors
- Collaborate with fellow students to develop original documentary projects
- Learn how storytelling can build community understanding and inspire change
- Share your work with the community during a public screening at the Aquarium of the Pacific theater
- Have your films shared with educators and students across Long Beach Unified School District to help inspire future environmental stewardship
THE DETAILS
Program Schedule
Tuesdays and Thursdays
July 14, 2026 through August 13, 2026
10:00 AM to 3:00 PM (lunch included)
Community Film Screening at Aquarium of The Pacific
August 15, 2026
Time TBD
All program days will begin at Algalita’s Learning Center (120 N. Marina Dr., Long Beach, CA 90803), located at Alamitos Bay Landing. From there, participants will head into the field to explore Long Beach’s urban ocean and surrounding community spaces through hands on experiences, filming opportunities, and storytelling investigations.
WHO SHOULD APPLY
Students entering grades 9 through 12 for the 2026-2027 school year who are curious, creative, interested in storytelling, environmental issues, filmmaking, journalism, advocacy, or community impact.
No prior filmmaking experience is required.
This program is open to youth who live, attend school, work, play, worship, OR regularly spend time in the Long Beach community.
“Algalita has helped me realize what I want to do with my life. I want to become a marine biologist and protect wildlife.”
– Student
“I love that Algalita creates an environment where students experience a community in which awareness and caring about plastic impacts is the “normal” thing rather than a weird thing that they are always having to explain to people.”
– Teacher
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COMMUNITY
We are community members, educators and students moving towards a world where plastic pollution is unthinkable!
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