Interview with Toni Lohroff - Educational Outreach Manager at SeaKeepers

We’re back with another nonprofit-staff interview, this time with a member of the newest Planet Presents organization, SeaKeepers! Planet Presents believes that the best way to get to know a nonprofit organization is through the words of its own staff, so we’ll continue to bring you these interviews to connect the public with hardworking environmental nonprofits.

Toni Lohroff (she/her) is the Educational Outreach Manager for the global non-profit organization The International SeaKeepers Society. As such, she connects with students, educators, and citizen scientists via floating classrooms, educational workshops, and the Junior SeaKeepers program. In this position, Toni is able to apply her vast knowledge of marine research toward inspiring students of all ages from all over the globe to have a passion for ocean conservation.

*This interview has been edited for length and clarity

What is SeaKeepers’ mission, and what steps does it take to execute that mission?

SeaKeepers facilitates oceanographic research, conservation, and education through direct involvement with the yachting community. Through the DISCOVERY Yacht Program, we accomplish our mission and goals through Scientist-Led Expeditions, Citizen Science, Educational Outreach, and Community Engagement. With the help of our donated DISCOVERY Vessels, SeaKeepers supports researchers, citizen scientists, students, educators, and community members who aim to learn more about the ocean through hands-on experiences across global marine ecosystems. My job, specifically, is to work with boat owners and fellow marine experts to provide hands-on field trip experiences to students and educators worldwide, particularly here in South Florida. 

How did you get started at your organization? Did you have a passion for the environment when you were younger?

I joined SeaKeepers after completing my master’s degree in animal biology with a focus on Aquatic Fish Conservation from the University of California, Davis in 2022. I am originally from Michigan, but I spent my childhood visiting my family full of elementary educators on the northern coast of Baja California, Mexico, where I quickly fell in love with the ecosystems of the rocky intertidal zone and saw, firsthand, how they were negatively impacted over time by an unregulated fishing industry. Since then, I have only expanded my love for the environment and marine ecosystems by learning all that I can and now, having the opportunity to share with others what makes nature so valuable to us. 

How could a $10 donation help SeaKeepers? $20? $50? $100?

Donations of any kind are welcomed at The International SeaKeepers Society! No matter how small, your donation helps students, educators, and research scientists all over the world gain access to marine ecosystems. Whether it allows a Title I student from Miami-Dade County to see the ocean for the first time, supports a scientist collecting data about endangered species in remote corners of the world, or helps our team remove marine debris from global coastlines, we will feel the impacts of your generosity.

What are your organization's most urgent needs in terms of supplies, support, etc.?

SeaKeepers is always looking for new partner vessels to help expand our programming capabilities. If you or someone you know owns a marine vessel anywhere in the world – whether a 20’center console or a 200’ superyacht – and you are interested in supporting students, educators, or research scientists, please reach out to us to get involved. The more vessels that we have in our DISCOVERY network that are willing to host partner researchers for our Scientist-Led Expeditions, students and educators for our Educational Outreach day trips, or remotely collect data on their own for scientists, the more progress that we can make in understanding and conserving marine environments globally. 

Can individuals (especially kids) help/engage with SeaKeepers without donating money? If so, how?

Education is one of our main priorities here at SeaKeepers, so we love it when students and educators get involved with us! All our educational programming, from boat-based field trips to classroom presentations to ambassador programs for high school students, are completely free for participants and aim to equip them with information and resources to make them better long-term ocean stewards. At SeaKeepers, we believe that providing educational resources and hands-on marine science experiences for students is the primary focus for ensuring the future well-being of our planet.

How does your organization involve the local community?

SeaKeepers’ Educational Outreach and Community Engagement programs aim to work with the local community in each of our chapter locations to inform citizens about environmental issues facing each community as well as empower them to make a positive difference with their individual actions. In Miami-Dade County, we host marine debris cleanups at least twice each month in public spaces at Morningside or Margaret Pace Parks and regularly remove 100+ pounds of debris from coastlines with the help of volunteers. We aim to engage different demographics in the community by also holding partner cleanups around the region, including SCUBA and kayak cleanups for areas that need additional in-water attention. In doing so, not only are community participants directly improving the health of the environment by removing debris, but they also are given the opportunity to learn how they can reduce the incidence of marine debris at the source, i.e. the consumer, and reduce their overall impact on marine environments. 

What’s an environmentally-conscious gift you love to receive and/or give?

Since the best way to reduce your environmental impact is to reduce personal consumption, my favorite way to gift in an environmentally-conscious way is to thrift or make gifts for people, as I love to create reclaimed artwork. However, if you need a new gift to give or someone is looking to purchase something new, I always go for unique products that aim to take something less sustainable out of circulation. Metal water bottles, reusable straws, and kitchen supplies are often a first thought, but some companies focus on repurposing materials that are traditionally wasted into things like textiles, accessories, and even electronics! Cotopaxi is one of my favorite brands that uses leftover materials to create hiking gear like jackets and bags that are made to last. 

What advice would you give to a young person who wants to work in your field?

As a marine biologist, it is a common misconception that you need highly specialized training or education to get into fields in environmental science – this isn’t true! Students interested in working in this field from a professional, technical, or even volunteer position should work on gaining skills in problem-solving first and foremost, as working in environmental science is notably unpredictable and requires adaptability. Depending on what area of environmental science is of most interest, sometimes practical skills like emergency preparedness training, boating licenses, or animal husbandry experience are highly desirable, as well. 

What is the best way for people to get to know your organization better?

If anyone wants to learn more about The International SeaKeepers Society, they can check out our website for past and present projects at seakeepers.org or follow us on social media (@seakeepers) to stay up-to-date on opportunities to get involved.

SeaKeepers preserves the ocean through yacht donations that go towards our mission. Learn more about the Yacht Donation Program here.  If students or educators want to learn more about how to get involved, they can visit the SeaKeepers website at here.