A dog and an otter, swimming side by side, no words, no rules, just trust. In a fractured world, this is what connection looks like. This simple, wordless bond captures what the 2025 Ocean Awareness Contest is all about—“Connections to Nature: Looking Inside, Going Outside.” In a world that often feels disconnected, this global youth challenge invites students aged 11–18 to reflect on their relationship with the natural world and express it through art, writing, film, performance, or multimedia. This year’s themes explore powerful threads: the stories passed down across generations, the green spaces hidden within our cities, the resilience nature teaches us, and the ways it shapes our health and healing. Whether it’s an otter and a dog in a shared swim, or a memory of your grandmother’s garden, or the quiet strength of a tree breaking through concrete—this contest is a space to notice, feel, and create. Learn more at bit.ly/BowSeat2025 Because connection is where change begins...