Image by Rich Johnson

Image by Calah Couzens

Image by Rich Johnson

We all depend on the oceans, but too few of us get the chance to explore and appreciate its beauty firsthand. Parley Ocean School seeks to change all that, offering participants an immersive approach to environmental education and marine conservation.

To date, Parley has hosted pop-up Ocean School programs in Jamaica, Mexico, the Maldives and even aboard a ship off the coast of Miami. Now, in partnership with big wave surfer Frank Solomon and his organization, Sentinel Ocean Alliance, we’re proud to unveil our first permanent school in Hout Bay, South Africa. The forty-foot former shipping container will host educational sessions dedicated to deepening a physical, scientific and cultural understanding of the marine environment through engaging materials, activities and workshops. While focused on youth, the school is open to all.

“Parley is committed to inspiring, educating, and empowering the next generation of Ocean Guardians,” explains founder Cyrill Gutsch. “By providing access to the tools and equipment necessary to learn and immerse these future leaders in the oceans, we give participants the skills and inspiration to act on their learnings, and to help them use their power to create change.”

The road to a permanent space in Hout Bay began when Frank Solomon founded Sentinel Ocean Alliance in 2017 to create ocean-based opportunities and educational programs for the youth of South Africa. It all started with the “Waves for Change” program, offering local youth the opportunity to experience the oceans through surfing. Solomon soon expanded the program by creating the Hout Bay Surf Life Saving Club, an initiative that teaches Cape Town locals about life saving skills and supports participants as they pursue their own careers as lifeguards.

The Parley Ocean School is the newest initiative on the site and, together with a network of locally-based organizations and ocean leaders, will focus on youth communities in Hangberg and Imizamo Yethu. Together, these programs aim to engage hundreds of kids on a monthly basis.

”We are grateful for the partnership with Sentinel Ocean Alliance and the strong network of community in Cape Town that will create lasting impact,” says Mike Long, Director of Field Operations at Parley. “The new Ocean School in Hout Bay is a critical step as Parley continues its programs and initiatives throughout South Africa.”

This image and header image by Nick Muzik

“There are a lot of opportunities within the ocean industry,” explains Solomon. “But if you're not from an ocean environment, accessing a job or lifestyle in the marine industry may seem unattainable. The biggest hurdle we have found thus far is actually swimming. So one of our programs is firstly teaching every kid to swim, to give them a possible entry into the ocean economy.”

As Solomon sees it, the newly expanded site offers everyone the chance to progress and learn from the oceans. A young kid, say from a township like Hangberg, is introduced to the sea and first learns to swim with Sentinel Ocean Alliance, at around 5 to 7 years old. He or she can move on when older to join the Waves For Change program and learn how to surf and gain confidence in the ocean. They can then become a surf instructor or lifeguard, and get a job anywhere in the world. Those keen to work on ocean protection can join and even teach sessions at the Parley Ocean School to take a deeper dive in ocean education and collaborate on solutions.

“Some of the people who go through the Waves For Change program and go on to possibly become lifeguards still don't understand pollution, waste management or looking after the environment,” adds Solomon. “This is the final piece of the puzzle – and the central pillar of the Parley Ocean School.”