ABOUT the Student Environmental Ambassador Program
The Student Environmental Ambassador (SEA) Program consists of three actionable toolkits that will guide high school and college students today on how to better the environment tomorrow in their Business community through the expansion of #reducebyrequest, Local community with town cleanups, and School community through ocean conservation presentations and environmental curriculum. The pilot program in Lavallette and Point Pleasant Beach NJ has reduced 6,600,000 single-use plastics from entering the environment while saving restaurants $165k, educated 625 students and faculty, and conducted 44 town cleanups mobilizing 1,640 volunteers to reduce 1,780 lbs. of litter. The SEA program will inspire other students and provide them with a playbook to join the fight against plastic pollution, ensuring that future generations can enjoy the serenity and power of the ocean. Together, we can create a brighter tomorrow where the beauty and vitality of our ocean are preserved for all to enjoy.
Founder's Story
Hi, my name is Landon Hoberman and I am a proud resident of the Lavallette community and a Point Pleasant Beach High School student (class of 2027).
In 8th grade, I participated in my school’s STEAM Tank Challenge where I combined my passions for baking and sustainability to attack the issue of single-use plastic when enjoying one of my favorite foods: ice cream. I attempted to create a biodegradable and edible spoon for ice cream shops, which proved very difficult. While continuing to find an alternative for plastic spoons at ice cream shops, I sought other ways to reduce single-use plastic waste and recognized that I would need to intervene upstream.​
One of the ideas I had came from working in a local restaurant. After surveying customers, I learned that most to-go and delivery orders go to homes and businesses where reusable utensils were available. This insight led me to launch my #reducebyrequest campaign which eliminates the automatic inclusion of plastic utensils in delivery and to-go orders. I also started participating in Beach Sweeps and was asked to Co-chair our town Environmental Club. Through my involvement with Clean Ocean Action as a Student Environmental Advocate Leader (SEAL), I collaborated with peers through bi-monthly training sessions to learn the basics of community grassroots activism and advocacy and how it can be achieved in my own community. I applied these learnings to the Lavallette School Community Connections group, where I partnered with local educators to deploy my ocean conservation presentations to students and inspire them to make a difference.
As I worked to drive awareness of ocean conservation and reduce the use of single-use plastics, it became clear to me that most students want to help but they don't know what to do or how to get started. I have seen first-hand in my presentations how empowered students feel when they can make a difference, or how happy local businesses are to make an environmental impact through #reducebyrequest, or how a town cleanup fosters a sense of pride and collaboration towards a shared goal. Therefore, I created the Student Environmental Ambassador (SEA) Program to put students at the center of environmental change. SEA bridges the gap between passion and action, equipping students with the tools to lead confidently and make a tangible impact!