Voices that Carry the Ocean

How Presenting with Power can Inspire Young Conservationists to Grow Their Voices.

Ocean Guardians Workshop with Caradale Primary School at St James Tidal Pool

When you tell me that public speaking is the second-greatest fear in the world, I believe you. For many of us, standing before a room full of eyes, waiting for silence, feels like standing at the edge of a cliff. Yet that very moment that makes speaking in public so intimidating is also what makes it transformative. When someone stands in the quiet hush of an expectant room and shares a story that matters, they create a bridge between knowledge and feeling, between science and heart, and in ocean conservation, that bridge is everything.

Earlier this month our Adventure-Based Learning (ABL) trainees stepped onto that bridge in a workshop called Present with Power, guided by the award-winning speaker and coach Verity Price. Verity is no ordinary trainer. As a Toastmasters World Champion of Public Speaking, She has honed not just the techniques of speaking to an audience, but the deep capacities of empathy, authenticity, and narrative resonance, conveying that the skill to tell a story can change how people see the world. From the first moments she reminded us that powerful communication is not about polish; it is about presence and heart. “Your story,” she told us, “is the doorway through which others meet the ocean.”

The Power of Story in Conservation

Conservation work often leans heavily on scientific data: fish counts, carbon graphs, water-quality readings. Science is essential, but numbers alone rarely move people to action. Stories do. Research shows that information woven into narrative is far more memorable and more likely to inspire change than facts presented in isolation. A well-told story allows listeners to taste the salt in the air, hear the rush of a river after rain, and feel the pulse of an ecosystem. It has the ability to turn an environmental issue into something intimate and alive.

If a kelp forest thrives unseen, its beauty remains intact whether or not we tell the tale. Nature does not require our words to endure. Yet people do, and a community that understands, feels, and connects is more likely to act.

This is why communication is not a soft skill at the edges of conservation any longer, it is a catalyst at its heart. How might we nurture a generation who can describe a coastline so vividly that we feel the salt on our own skin? What changes when a conservationist stands before a room and speaks not just about science, but about belonging?

Stories in Motion

Over the course of the programme, the ABLs practiced everything from structuring a talk to speaking without notes. Learning simple yet impactful tools such as opening with a vivid scene, shaping a talk with tension and release, breathing so that words land like waves, and spotlighting the power of the pause. Each student stood, spoke, received feedback, and spoke again. Voices that began as tentative whispers gathered strength until the room itself seemed to lean closer as nervousness gave way to a current of possibility.

They told stories of rivers they grew up beside, of beaches once filled with shells now littered with plastic. They learned to translate urgency into invitation, drawing people in rather than pushing them away.

Workshop Reflections from the ABLs

James

"Before joining Verity Price’s public speaking course, I wasn’t fully aware of how to communicate with impact or present with real power. Over the three sessions, I learnt not only how to structure my stories but also how to connect with an audience in a way that resonates. Now I feel confident stepping onto any stage, even a global one, and leaving a lasting impression, especially in our work at I AM WATER where sharing conservation stories with clarity and passion is key."

Princess

"Before the course, I was nervous and doubted whether I could ever speak confidently, especially about something I care deeply about like the ocean. But the safe, supportive space helped me grow more comfortable, and I realised public speaking isn’t about being perfect—it’s about connecting and letting your passion show. Storytelling became my favourite part, and by the end I felt proud, surprised at my growth, and excited to keep using my voice to make a difference."

Siphamandla

"Verity Price’s “Present with Power” course transformed how I approach presenting, especially in storytelling. I learnt to move beyond sharing facts and instead tell stories that connect with both the mind and the heart."

Present with Power Workshop in Action

Present with Power left us with so much more than techniques; it left us with a strengthened sense of shared purpose. Protecting the ocean is not only about research and restoration, it’s about courage, heart, and standing up to say: This is my story, this is our water, and this is why it matters. When we dare to tell those stories, we carry the ocean’s story forward with us, and invite the world to listen.