Who we are

Ocean Youth Academy is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization founded by a group of polar expedition guides, marine biologists, and outdoor educators who have first hand experience with the transformative power of immersive education and connection with nature. Our team believes connection leads to action and conservation, our mission is to make ocean education available to as many children as possible. We are committed to providing the next generation with the stories and educational tools to connect with and protect the magic of our natural world. ​

“In the end we will conserve only what we love; we will love only what we understand; and we will understand only what we are taught.”
— Baba Dioum, 1968
Beluga whales swimming through a fjord. Svalbard, Norway.

Meet the Team

  • Woman outdoors dressed in winter gear including a purple beanie, sunglasses, and a black jacket with blue accents, with a radio clipped to her jacket.

    Amanda Hunter

    FOUNDER & CEO

  • Woman in outdoor gear smiling, wearing a blue cap, sunglasses, and a red life jacket, near icy water and rocks with icebergs in the background.

    Gaby Pilson

    FOUNDER & PRESIDENT

  • Black and white close-up photo of a man wearing a Patagonia cap, outdoor jacket, and sunglasses hanging around his neck, looking to the left with a beard and serious expression, outdoors in nature.

    Phil Hunter

    FOUNDER & VICE PRESIDENT

  • Close-up of a smiling woman with wavy hair, wearing glasses, standing against a beige brick wall.

    Alyssa Bjorkquist

    BOARD MEMBER & EDUCATION COORDINATOR

  • A woman with long blonde hair smiling and turned slightly to the side, standing on a rocky shoreline with water and rocks around her, wearing a navy blue sweatshirt with a white emblem on the back and carrying a camera around her neck.

    Zosha Wiktor

    BOARD MEMBER & OUTREACH COORDINATOR

  • Two people taking a selfie inside a capsule with a mirror-like reflection of themselves.

    Michael Gamerl

    ADVISORY BOARD MEMBER

  • A young woman smiling and holding a camera, wearing a gray beanie and colorful outdoor clothing, crouching on a rock by a snowy river with evergreen trees in the background.

    Anna Campbell

    MULTIMEDIA PRODUCTION MANAGER

  • A woman with short dark hair smiling, wearing a red dress with floral embellishments near the collar, standing indoors with a wooden door and some papers pinned on the wall behind her.

    Gladys Mwaka

    MARINE SCIENCE EDUCATOR