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Learn more about and sign up to the activities we're running to connect local people to the ocean.

The Ocean Connection Programme

We’re delivering a range of exciting activities between July 2024 and January 2025, and we'd love for you to join us!

What is the Ocean Connection Programme?

The Ocean Connection Programme is full of nature-based, indoor and virtual activities and opportunities, from beach cleans and wildlife surveys to arts and crafts and documentary screenings.

Our free, local activities will support people to better understand our influence on the ocean, and the ocean’s influence on us. Local people will have the chance to learn new things, develop skills, take action to make a difference locally, and engage in activities to support health and wellbeing.

The Programme was designed with the One Ocean Forum, a group of local people from Prestatyn, Rhyl, Kinmel Bay and Towyn who lead the HYYM project by advising the core project team. Read more about the One Ocean Forum.

One Ocean Forum meeting in January 2024

Credit: Mark McNulty

Who is the Ocean Connection Programme for?

The Ocean Connection Programme is for people living in Prestatyn, Rhyl, Kinmel Bay and Towyn. We will be running some virtual activities throughout the Programme which will be open to anyone.

If you aren’t from the project area or are reading this after January 2025, explore some other ways to get involved.

How does the Ocean Connection Programme work?

The Programme activities will be split into three key themes: learning, taking action and wellness. These themes will be the main focus of each activity:

  • Learning activities will focus on supporting people to gain new knowledge or skills.
  • Taking action activities will focus on supporting people to take positive action for the environment and the ocean.
  • Wellness activities will focus on supporting people health and wellbeing.
Katie and Jess the dog HYYM forum members at the Halloween Beach clean

Credit: Ciara Taylor, 2024

If you complete one activity from each theme, you will ‘unlock’ a special activity. This will be an exciting activity that is exclusive to people who have completed activities in all three themes!

How do I take part in the Ocean Connection Programme?

You can take part in the Programme by:

  • Taking part in activities
  • Volunteering with us
  • Collaborating on delivery.
HYYM Marram Grass planting in Horton's Nose Nature Reserve in Rhyl

Credit: Ciara Taylor, 2024

Read on for more information on each of these ways of taking part.

Taking part in activities

To register for our free, local activities, check out our HYYM ocean connection Programme on Eventbrite.

Complete one activity in each theme to unlock a special activity! When you take part in a HYYM activity, you will receive a loyalty card (like the one below) which you can use to track your involvement in activities of different themes.

Each Eventbrite page includes accessibility considerations for the specific event. If you have any questions relating to accessibility of our events, if you require any adjustments or are interested in a private booking, please get in touch with us at hyym@mcsuk.org.

Ocean Connection Programme loyalty card

Credit: HYYM Project Team

Learning

Examples of our learning activities include:

  • Outdoor educational sessions
  • Surveying and ID skills
  • Beach safety training

For questions relating to accessibility or private bookings, get in touch at hyym@mcsuk.org.

Seaweed search

Credit: Ffion Mitchell

Wellness

Our wellness activities include:

  • Play sessions for families
  • Beach yoga
  • Creative sessions

For questions relating to accessibility or private bookings, get in touch at hyym@mcsuk.org.

Starfish Ysgol Maes Owen Environmental art event

Credit: Natalie Lewis, 2024

Taking action

Our taking action activities include:

  • Beach cleans
  • Seaweed surveys
  • Understanding local policy

For questions relating to accessibility or private bookings, get in touch at hyym@mcsuk.org.

HYYM Halloween beach clean Rhyl

Credit: Ciara Taylor, 2024

Volunteering

We're looking for HYYM project volunteers to help us deliver and spread the word about our events.

We'll add more information soon, but if you'd like to find out more about volunteering, please email hyym@mcsuk.org or complete our opportunities form and we will get in touch with you.

Nat and Paul Volunteering at HYYM Stall at Prestatyn Carnival

Credit: Ffion Mitchell, 2024

Partner with HYYM

We're looking to join up with local organisations to deliver activities in partnership.

If you're interested in working together to design and deliver activities, please fill out our opportunities form to share what you're interested in.