West Mainland Youth Dive Into Ocean Conservation with Stromness Museum

Young people from the West Mainland Youth Achievement Group have teamed up with Stromness Museum on a dynamic new project exploring the intersection of oceans, wellbeing, and youth engagement.

The “Oceans – Wellbeing – Youth” initiative brought together art and citizen science to highlight the impacts of ocean warming and the importance of protecting marine ecosystems. Over several months, the Stromness-based group took part in hands-on workshops designed to spark creativity, build skills, and foster environmental awareness.  

In February, the group collaborated with Edinburgh-based artist Jenny Pope to develop imaginative toolkits that help young people process and respond to global challenges in a playful way. Building on this creative foundation, the focus shifted to local marine life and the role of citizen science in climate action.  

Working alongside STEM educator Joel Chaney from Tern360, the young participants engineered a temperature-sensing buoy capable of transmitting real-time sea temperature data directly to the museum. This innovative tool brings tangible scientific monitoring to the Orkney coastline, empowering the group to contribute to wider climate awareness efforts.  

To further connect with their environment, the youth group joined Kraken Diving in late June for a snorkel safari, discovering the rich marine life just off their shores. Following the sea dip, the group officially launched the temperature-monitoring buoy, which now streams live data via its dedicated webpage: bit.ly/Strombuoy  

This inspiring project was made possible through support from the Orkney Youth Local Action Group.