Theresa Zabell, a double Olympic sailing champion, decided in 1999 to commit much more than was with the marine environment. To this end, it was the Ecomar Foundation, a non-profit entity dedicated to education in the care of our seas, their flora and their fauna. With the main aim of raising awareness among young people, the Ecomar Foundation promotes through specific programmes of coexistence in sport, care and respect for the planet. The aim is to bring the younger people closer to ecological values and to immerse them in the culture of marine respect in the most natural way possible.

In Ecomar, all activities are designed for children and we are rewarded when we check the fruits that have given a well done job. Over the years we have been able to see how "our" Ecomar children keep our advice and when they grow up they continue to share Ecomar philosophy among the youngest.

Since he was born at the end of the last century, the figures of the Ecomar Foundation have continued to grow.

Years of experience

During our wide-ranging Ecomar has always achieved the objectives set and has more than returned to its sponsors the illusion and confidence they have put in the Foundation. It has been immersed in programs of all kinds, from the famous Weeks of the Sea to the new Message in a Bottle going through the nautical baptizes, cleanliness of our coasts, promotion of recycling, solar protections and an endless of activities related to respect for the marine environment. In total Ecomar has distributed 100,000 Notebooks of Bitácora for the understanding of the activities carried out and have participated 118,000 children from 3,400 schools throughout Spain, figures that speak for themselves.

Weeks of the Sea

It was the first project of the Ecomar Foundation. It was a programme for all primary schools, in which children participated through the development of a story related to the marine environment and enjoyed a week at our headquarters participating in sports such as sailing and pyragüism, nautical seminars, responsible cooking workshops and renewable energy... The reception was so large that during the 12 years of the program over 16,000 children went through the "Weeks."

The Weeks of the Sea have been one of the Foundation's greatest successes.

"A Sea of Bottles" campaign

The Ecomar and Ecoglass Foundation conducted a campaign during July and August 2013 to promote the recycling of glass within the nautical clubs and their sailing schools. For this purpose, 32 nautical facilities were chosen from the island of Mallorca, where over 15,000 ships are sailing during those months. During those two months, the team of "Ecomar experts" traveled all over the island with a van marked with the image of the campaign, brochures explaining the program in four languages, glass collection and storage bags and carts for the transport of material. The numbers of the "A Sea of Bottles" program are 10,000 pamphlets, 10,000 bags and 6,000 km.

The Ecoglass actions of the most successful of the last Ecomar campaigns.

"Catch the Sail" campaign

The Ecomar and Renault Foundation carried out a joint action in 2013 to make known a new model of Renault, the Crossover Captur. The project allowed the Ecomar Foundation to visit schools and associated clubs during the peak periods to get to know all the facets of the courses live. The Captur took Ecomar all over Spain, starting with the indoor water clubs of Vitoria, the cantabria cornisa and Galicia from north to south. Mallorca and the Mediterranean coast also entered the objectives of this program, as well as Seville and the Andalusian coast, to end in Catalonia at the Club de Port de la Selva. A total of 42 clubs in which this new vehicle was released, which allowed 500 car tests, 360 nautical miles, 680 litres of fuel, 17,000 kilometres, the participation of 1,600 children and the organization of 11 Renault Captur races.

The activities of the Foundation cover the whole country. The image that Ecomar has given us is obtained in the Royal Sea Club of the Abra-Real Sporting Club.

Ecomar grompola

The Ecomar Foundation carried out an environmental educational programme, but at the same time a playful one complemented by sailing courses by children aged 7 to 14, called Grímpola Ecomar. He was born in 2006 and as a pilot experience in three sailing clubs and schools. Such was the success, that the Foundation decided to continue and increase action. The numbers are now impressive with more than 54,000 children who have already participated.The Ecomar Grympola is a guarantee of care and respect for the sea and the environment, giving sailing clubs and schools to be won by the category of educators and forders in healthy living habits. Among the material used by the children are: backpack, towel, cap, T-shirt, knot key, log book, Kinder snack, notebooks, solar creams and toys.

Ecomar's log

The Ecomar Foundation's Notebook is a key tool for the training of children in various education programmes. It is made of 100% organic materials and is considered in environmental media as"the guide to knowing, enjoying and respecting the sea". Some 100,000 copies have been distributed and it is the reference book for young people who start to be interested in water sports. Every year, the Ecomar Foundation renews its content by making it easier to understand through new drawings and texts that are adapted to the times we live in.

The Navy has always supported the Foundation. In the image with the award-winning Admiral Jaime Rodríguez Touges, current President of the Navy Naval Regatta Commission.

Ecomar Awards

The Ecomar Awards were born in 2001 with great success, involving self-government, different companies and public and private schools throughout Spain. These are awards for students of the 5th and 6th grade of primary school, who spend their time and effort to make stories on the marine environment and a newspaper with environmental news. Also, to carry out a project on marine issues. It's considered a teamwork, so the whole class is rewarded. So far, 16,000 children have enjoyed the Sea Awards.

Cast cleaning

With the collaboration of Coca Cola, the Ecomar Foundation has organized several days of cleaning of coasts and beaches for years. Children and monitors of the Grímpola Ecomar programme have collaborated in these garbage collection days. For this purpose, they were provided with gloves and bags to facilitate recycling and previously, through our workshops, were explained to them the importance of protecting the coast from the waste that comes from the sea, because of man's leave on earth, such as cans, plastics, butts and glass.

Sign up for the 2016 Campaign, don't stay out of the great family Grímpola Ecomar

This is an innovative programme of environmental education, aimed at children aged 7 to 14 years and complementary to the sailing courses, rowing... and environmental nautical activities, which they carry out in clubs, marinas, stations, schools and a long etc of organisms dedicated to nautical in Spain. In the past course, 15,000 children from all over Spain participated in the Project Grímpola Ecomar 2015!.

Thanks to all the sponsors who believe in our program and the nautical clubs, sailing schools, nautical stations... who continue to bet on sport, sea care, environmental education and healthy habits we are already working on the new workshops that will be included in the BITÁCORA TABLE as well as on the annual material for monitors, activities development, Kinder mercies, promotional material.THE GRIMPOLA ECOMAR is a guarantee of care and respect for the sea and the environment, so we give to the nautical entities that possess it, the category of educators and trainers in healthy living habits through our workshops.

If your club has the same interests as the Ecomar Foundationwww.fundacionecomar.organd you want to be part of the family Grímpola just send an email to ecomar @ fundacionecomar.org

Club name
Number of children involved
Date of implementation of the activities

Texts: Manuel Pedro Seoane / Fundación Ecomar
Photo: Fundación Ecomar