AO Latinoamerica and Museo Katsuo team hosting their most recent beach clean up in Baja California!
We are proud to continue our support of the Mares Foundation for their incredible work in educating others about the ocean and its preservation.
The Mares Foundation is committed to empowering the next generation of ocean stewards through education, community involvement, and creative expression. Based in Ensenada, Mexico, the foundation leads several impactful programs, including weekly, hands-on Ocean Literacy workshops for K–12 students at Museo Katsuo. There, children learn about marine pollution, environmental responsibility, and the importance of protecting our oceans. Mares also organizes bi-monthly beach clean-ups, which have grown from a small group of volunteers into a thriving community movement that now removes approximately 1,500 pounds of trash per event.
Their reach extends beyond Mexico through an online Ocean Literacy Certification Program, which has trained over 100 educators across 12 countries. Many of these graduates now lead local initiatives throughout Latin America as part of AO Latinoamérica, the foundation’s regional branch. Locally, the Arrecife Escolar program offers after-school art workshops where children engage with ocean conservation themes through drawing, painting, and mural creation—fostering environmental awareness through artistic expression.
In the U.S., the Mares Foundation has partnered with the Ocean Institute in Dana Point, California, to bring two murals created by Baja California artist Noche Adn to life. These works celebrate ocean conservation and cultural identity, and have become a source of pride for the region’s large Latino community.
All funds raised by the foundation go directly toward educational materials, volunteer travel and accommodations, uniforms, and microgrants for certified instructors starting programs in their own communities. No staff or volunteers are paid for their time—the mission is entirely driven by passion and purpose. At its heart, the Mares Foundation is about equipping and inspiring young people to become educators and leaders, building a global community committed to protecting our oceans.
Newest mural at the Ocean Institute in Dana Point by Noche, a Baja California native mega muralist!
