Daily Inspiration: Meet Hayden Schneider

Today we’d like to introduce you to Hayden Schneider.

Hi Hayden, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
While studying Environmental Science at the University of Denver, I joined AltaSea at the Port of Los Angeles as a summer intern. AltaSea is a nonprofit Blue Economy hub that brings together ocean innovators, researchers, and businesses under one roof. I was fortunate to be placed with Kelp Ark, an inspiring and fast-growing nonprofit dedicated to seaweed conservation. That summer, I immersed myself in the complex world of national and international policy and regulation surrounding genetic materials, learning how we could protect and preserve kelp seeds from around the world in our seaweed biobank.

From day one, I was captivated by the incredible potential of seaweed—its ability to restore ecosystems, capture carbon, feed communities, and fuel innovation. My experience at Kelp Ark sparked a deep passion for ocean conservation and a belief in seaweed as a solution to some of our planet’s greatest challenges.

After graduating, I was thrilled to officially join the Kelp Ark team as Outreach and Partnership Associate. Today, I get to collaborate with community partners and stakeholders, dream up exciting kelp-based initiatives, and share our mission to protect the future of our oceans.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
We are a small team of six at Kelp Ark, which means that while my role is Outreach and Partnership Associate, I often wear many hats to keep things running smoothly. One moment I might be scrubbing aquaculture systems, the next in the lab assisting our collection curator, or reviewing a grant proposal before it’s submitted. Operating with limited staff and tight budgets means we constantly juggle urgent tasks while trying to carve out time for long-term planning. We face the challenge of scaling our programs thoughtfully, maintaining scientific rigor, and building visibility in a competitive environmental space. At times, it can feel like we’re sprinting just to stay in place—but despite the hurdles, every day is filled with purpose. Being part of a small, passionate team allows for deep collaboration, creative problem-solving, and the incredible reward of watching our mission take root and grow.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
Kelp Ark, founded in 2022, is an emerging and dynamic non-profit organization at the Port of Lost Angeles with a pioneering mission to facilitate preservation, protection, and restoration of the genetic diversity of marine macroalgae (seaweed) which faces multiple existential threats from warming oceans and the impact of human activity. Kelp Ark is establishing a globally recognized seaweed biobank to counter these threats.

The vision at the heart of our work is to harness the potential of seaweed to address globally significant societal challenges, paving the way for a more sustainable and biodiverse future. Kelp Ark is building an inclusive and carefully curated collection of biodiverse seed stocks, focusing on keystone species and high-potential seaweed farm crops, to facilitate marine conservation, scientific advancement, and eco-friendly and sustainable solutions. We are also pioneering the effort of holistic biobanking, including the preservation of our kelps’ microbial communities. Kelp Ark’s approach is designed to facilitate easy, equitable, and transparent access to our seed collection so that wild seaweed-bed restorers and seaweed farmers have a reliable “seed” source in the future.

Is there any advice you’d like to share with our readers who might just be starting out?
I’m still early in my career, but one thing I’ve learned so far is that it’s all about networking and telling your story in a way that resonates with your audience. You can be doing incredible work, but if you’re not building relationships or communicating why it matters, it’s easy to get overlooked. I used to think the mission alone would carry things, but people connect with people. The more I share why I care about kelp conservation and the impact I’ve seen firsthand, the more doors start to open. So even as I’m learning, I try to stay curious, talk to everyone I can, and be honest about the journey. That’s what makes this work real and powerful.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.kelpark.org
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_kelpark_/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kelpark/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/kelp-ark
• Other: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hayden-schneider/

Image Credits
Taylor Griffith