At Another World Adventures we’ve long believed in the power of travel as a force for good.

So it may come as no surprise that a decade after we started helping adventure seekers with their big journeys, we also became a Founding Partner of Free Range Ocean, a UK Registered not-for-profit that uses adventure sailing, citizen science and storytelling to inspire action for a healthy ocean among boating and coastal communities.

Free Range Ocean voyage British Columbia to California 2024 – Pic Nikkey Dawn

Our community supports this initiative through a donation for every trip that’s booked with our adventure providers via the Another World Adventures website, and our Founder, Larissa Clark, is a co-founder of the non-profit organization.

She runs both from her 50′ sailing vessel, Freeranger, which is currently in Pacific Mexico seven months into a world voyage with her husband and kids.

Citizen science aboard sv Freeranger with @thefreerangecrew – Pic by Nikkey Dawn

One of the most exciting initiatives is the Free Range Ocean Citizen Science Directory.

It’s a free resource that aims to make it easier for adventurers to contribute to marine research by connecting them with  ocean-focused citizen science projects.

The Directory invites the ocean-going adventure community to discover projects where public participation in data collection or analysis is needed to support marine scientists and advance knowledge about the ocean.

Larissa Clark Co-Founder Another World Adventures and Free Range Ocean helps other sailors and adventure seekers to participate in ocean citizen science projects from sailing vessel Freeranger

“We know that scientific knowledge is key to reversing ocean decline, conserving marine life, tackling climate change, and using the ocean sustainably,” says Larissa Clark, co-founder of Another World Adventures and Free Range Ocean.

“But as sailors, we also know that the ocean is too vast for researchers to cover without serious help. With an estimated 30 million recreational boats globally, often in remote places, citizen science offers an incredible opportunity for our community to contribute to vital ocean research. The Free Range Ocean Directory makes it easy to find a project and get involved.”

In the Directory, users can search and filter projects by location, topic, skill level, and availability. Projects range from sampling seawater for plankton offshore to beach surveys for invasive species, reporting kelp forest health, or sharing photos of marine life sightings.

There’s something for everyone—from seasoned divers to hikers enjoying beach walks.

“Participating in citizen science is a really fulfilling part of my own sailing adventures” says Larissa who co-founded Another World Adventures after a life-changing transatlantic tall ship voyage in 2011.

Now on a world voyage with her family they participate in many citizen science projects during their travels and she notes that “We enjoy being the researchers’ “eyes on the water” and regularly hear from the project organisers who tell us that without these valuable contributions much of the data they need would not be recorded – so it feels really good to help”.

Larissa’s family and crew aboard Freeranger actively participate in nearly a dozen citizen science projects and the vessel also serves as a testbed and showcase for cutting-edge, sustainable technologies and research-driven innovations.

The vessel provides a platform for emerging local researchers and storytellers in the regions it visits, fostering knowledge exchange and engagement.

Recognized as an “eco-champion” in the scientist-led Discovery Yacht Program of Seakeepers International, Freeranger exemplifies a commitment to environmental stewardship and scientific exploration.

www.freerangeocean.org

Larissa her family’s own voyage can be followed on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thefreerangecrew