The Sunshine Coast Ocean Festival (SCOF) is an annual, community-powered celebration of the ocean that sustains us. Coordinated by the Sunshine Coast Conservation Association (SCCA) and RhizomeUp!MEdia, in collaboration with local partners, SCOF brings together education, storytelling, science, and action to deepen our connection to the marine and nearshore ecosystems of the Sunshine Coast.
As we plan this year’s festival, we’re inviting the community to help shape the 2026 program by sharing ideas for NEMO Talks and films. We’re especially interested in ideas that reflect local knowledge, lived experience, curiosity about the ocean, and stories that help us better understand and care for our marine environment.
What is SCOF?
The Sunshine Coast Ocean Festival (SCOF) is more than a single event. It’s a platform that brings together community groups, scientists, artists, educators, and ocean lovers to explore both the challenges and the opportunities facing our marine environment.
Festival programming includes both in-person and online events, and features a mix of feature-length and short-form content designed to engage people in different ways.
Programming typically includes:
- NEMO Talks – in-person and online talks and conversations featuring local knowledge holders, scientists, artists, educators, and practitioners
- Films – feature-length and short films presented through in-person screenings and online programming, sharing powerful ocean stories and sparking dialogue
- Hands-on stewardship activities such as shoreline monitoring, clean-ups, and restoration events
- Community-led events hosted by partner organizations across the Sunshine Coast
- Celebration Day – a lively, family-friendly, in-person gathering that brings the festival together in one place, featuring hands-on activities, exhibits, learning opportunities, and chances to connect with local organizations working to protect the ocean
At its core, SCOF is about building ocean literacy, strengthening stewardship, and creating space for meaningful community engagement around marine conservation and climate resilience.
Help Shape This Year’s Program!
We are currently inviting ideas and suggestions for:
- NEMO Talks – engaging talks or conversations that explore ocean, climate, coastal culture, stewardship, science, art, or lived experience
- Films – documentaries, short films, or filmmakers that tell compelling ocean stories, whether through in-person screenings or online viewing, and spark reflection and dialogue
To inspire ideas, we encourage you to check out past NEMO Talks and short films from previous festival years. You’ll find films that showcase the diverse range of topics, voices, and creative approaches that SCOF is eager to expand upon.
Have you attended a talk that stayed with you?
Seen a film that changed how you think about the ocean?
Is there a local issue, species, place, or story you’d love to see explored?
This is your invitation to share it with us for consideration for this year’s program.
What’s Next
Over the coming month, the SCOF Working Group will:
- Review suggestions and ideas from the community
- Develop a draft program for SCOF
- Support festival events and partner-led activities
- Share updates and participation opportunities through SCCA channels
Share Your Ideas
To submit your ideas or suggestions for NEMO Talks or film screenings, please email us at oceans@thescca.ca or complete our short input form by Tuesday, February 10. You’re also welcome to reach out if you’re interested in getting more involved with the SCOF Working Group.
Healthy oceans begin with informed, connected communities. By sharing your ideas, you’re helping shape a festival—and a future—grounded in stewardship, collaboration, and care for the coast we all depend on.
Together, we can continue building a resilient, thriving ocean community on the Sunshine Coast.
Get Involved: Help Shape the Future of Ocean Stewardship on the Sunshine Coast
The Sunshine Coast Conservation Association (SCCA) is looking for input on our NEMO (Nearshore & Estuary Monitoring and Outreach) Working Group is inviting community input on this year’s program.
Over the years, SCCA has supported and collaborated on a wide range of ocean-focused initiatives across the Sunshine Coast, from citizen science and shoreline monitoring to beach clean-ups, public talks, and film screenings. As our coastal ecosystems face increasing pressures, from climate change to pollution, there is a growing need to coordinate these efforts, learn from past programs, and create space for new ideas to emerge.
That’s where the NEMO Working Group comes in.
What is the NEMO Working Group?
NEMO brings together people who care deeply about the health of our nearshore and estuarine environments: volunteers, scientists, educators, shoreline stewards, and curious community members alike. The goal is simple but powerful: to strengthen ocean stewardship on the Sunshine Coast through collaboration, shared learning, and meaningful action.
This working group will help guide future programming, identify gaps and opportunities, and support initiatives that connect people more closely to the marine environment we all depend on.
Building on What We’ve Done Together
SCCA has a strong foundation of past and ongoing programs that continue to inspire this work, including:
- Citizen science initiatives that empower community members to collect valuable environmental data
- Beach clean-ups that combine hands-on action with education and awareness
- Public talks, workshops, and film screenings that spark dialogue and deepen understanding of coastal issues
- Partnerships with local schools, organizations, and researchers to expand ocean literacy across generations
As we look ahead, we want to ensure these efforts remain connected, relevant, and responsive to the needs of our coast.
We Want to Hear From You
Do you have an idea for a new project? Have you participated in an SCCA program in the past and have feedback or insights to share? Are you interested in monitoring, restoration, education, or storytelling related to the ocean?
The NEMO Working Group is a space for sharing ideas, learning from one another, and co-creating solutions. You don’t need to be a scientist or have prior experience, just a willingness to engage and contribute.
What’s Next?
In the coming months, the working group will:
- Review and reflect on past SCCA ocean programs
- Explore opportunities for future citizen science activities and shoreline monitoring
- Support upcoming events, including films, talks, and clean-ups
- Identify ways to make ocean stewardship more accessible and inclusive across the Sunshine Coast
We’ll be sharing updates, opportunities to participate, and ways to get involved through our newsletter and social media channels.
Join Us
Healthy oceans begin with informed, connected communities. If you’re interested in being part of the NEMO Working GrouP, or simply want to stay in the loop, keep an eye on upcoming announcements and reach out to us with your ideas.
Together, we can continue building a resilient, thriving coastline for generations to come.