Join the Movement
The Loop Is Coming to Life
This page serves as a living record of the ports, partners, and people powering the Living Loop Lab expedition.
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We’re kicking off this 6,000-mile floating science expedition with an exciting day of educational programming, including a waterfront fundraising & launch event at the Pontchartrain Conservancy in Louisiana — our very first official port of call.
From there, we’ll navigate the entire Great Loop waterway system, tracing the impact of agricultural runoff from farms to estuaries. Along the route, we’re partnering with coastal communities, conservation groups, and citizen scientists to gather water quality data, share stories, and bring hands-on science to youth.
This page tracks the journey in real time — every new port and partner will be added to the map below and the list below as we confirm events and stops along the way. It’s a living logbook of collaboration, discovery, and environmental literacy in motion.
Loop Ports & Partners Interactive Map
Partners Powering the Loop
We’re proud to be collaborating with organizations
already shaping the Living Loop Lab
The Living Loop Lab is built on collaboration — not just at the dock, but behind the scenes, in the lab, and across communities. The organizations below are more than just ports of call. They’re helping shape the story, the science, and the spirit of this expedition.
Strategic Collaborators
NOAA Phytoplankton Monitoring Network (PMN)
National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science
PMN provides the scientific backbone for our citizen science efforts, equipping youth and educators with nationally recognized protocols for monitoring harmful algal blooms. Through training, data tools, and expert guidance, PMN helps ensure the rigor and relevance of the water quality observations collected throughout the Living Loop Lab expedition.
Florida Sea Grant – Monroe County (UF IFAS)
Key West, Florida
Led by Shelly Krueger, the Florida Sea Grant program in Monroe County is a vital education and outreach partner for our work in the Florida Keys. Shelly is helping us connect with local organizations, youth programs, and environmental educators in the region. Together, we will be expanding citizen science efforts throughout the Keys—supporting water quality monitoring in the area’s extensive canal systems and bringing hands-on learning to youth across the islands.
Pontchartrain Conservancy – New Canal Lighthouse
New Orleans, Louisiana
Home to our official launch event, the New Canal Lighthouse—run by Pontchartrain Conservancy—marks the starting point of the Living Loop Lab expedition. In addition to hosting a coastal science experience for local youth, the Conservancy is partnering with us to kick off the journey. Their commitment to community education and environmental stewardship sets the tone for the voyage ahead.
Eckerd College Marine Science & Waterfront Programs
St. Petersburg, Florida
A nationally recognized leader in marine science education, Eckerd College is a cornerstone partner in the Living Loop Lab expedition. Together, we’re creating opportunities for students to participate in hands-on research, contribute to citizen science, and support environmental literacy efforts throughout the Gulf and beyond. From research vessel docking and student internships to local outreach and data collaboration, Eckerd’s expertise and engagement are helping bridge science and community every step of the journey.
Miles4TheMinds
Roadschooling Network & Fiscal Partner
Miles4TheMinds is both our fiscal sponsor and a values-aligned partner committed to empowering youth through exploration, learning, and community connection. As a roadschooling family collective, they support self-directed learners across the country—and are helping us bring that spirit aboard the Living Loop Lab. From managing donor contributions to promoting access to hands-on science for neurodivergent and marginalized teens, Miles4TheMinds is fueling this movement both figuratively and literally.
EnrolLEDge Marketing
Strategic Communications Partner
EnrolLEDge Marketing is the engine behind our digital presence, helping us share the story of Cultivating Currents with clarity, creativity, and heart. From web development and branding to outreach strategy and supporter engagement, their team ensures that our mission reaches the right audiences—whether that’s educators, funders, families, or future scientists. Their support is instrumental in turning our vision into a movement.