From birth, Connor loved the water. It soothed him, drew him in, and was always his happy place.
When Connor was 10 months old, the instructor of his swim class said he had never seen a kid so comfortable underwater.

But life on land wasn’t always that easy. Over the years, Connor struggled to fit in with other kids above water and became more and more drawn to the underwater world. Ocean documentaries were always more desired than cartoons, and he begged for a way to breathe underwater.

During a trip to visit family in Hawaii, Connor saw a wild monk seal on an early morning walk down the beach.
In usual Connor fashion, he had to learn all there was to know about the endangered monk seal.
Learning that these curious creatures are often entangled in discarded fishing nets and leftover beach trash
set Connor, then just five years old, on a mission to clean up as many beaches as he could.

Over the years of engaging in his single-handed mission to clean up as much as possible, he has had countless
other kids notice what he is doing and eagerly join up. It is absolutely amazing what a group of energetic kids
can accomplish in a short amount of time! These kids willingly volunteer to pick up what others have left,
while having a great time... not for a reward or because someone asked them to,
but because it is the right thing to do and they love nature and all its creatures.

However, Connor’s boundless passion for protecting the ocean doesn’t stop there. In his own words,

“I believe that we must do better. As kids, we enter this world expecting nothing, accepting of anything,
and eager to learn everything.”

With that in mind, Connor created the MicroActivist Missions to help broaden his reach and begin unraveling widespread,
negative notions about underwater beings like sharks and octopi. The MicroActivist Missions are a true exercise in
passion-based learning: Realistic simulations of conservation adventures that engage youth as valued members of the team, responding to real-world dilemmas in global hot zones and illuminating the true mystery and beauty of ocean creatures.

Now 17 years old, Connor remains at home on the water.
He is at his most comfortable when he is out on the high seas
filming, protecting his beloved ocean creatures, and dreaming
up new ways to educate and encourage other young people
who are willing to work hard and smart to protect one
of this planet’s most precious creations.

Connor is also working hard to develop a
zero-emission hybrid sailboat that can be
used as a sustainable platform for filming
and teaching:
Another example of how a young person’s
passion, dreams, drive, and intelligence
can create positive change for all of us.

What started as one little boy’s mission
to save endangered monk seals has grown
into a movement of kids determined to change
the fate of the oceans as they reshape the future with
fresh, young eyes, illuminated by the possibility of hope!