About the Program

The Reef Guardian Schools Program:

• Is an action-based school participation program related to current issues affecting the Great Barrier Reef.

• Provides opportunities for students, teachers, parents and friends, to participate in a range of initiatives. These activities underscore and generate educational, personal and reef-related benefits that come from caring for self, the community and the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park.

• Provides learning programs and opportunities that reflect environmentally sustainable practices that enable all students to be environmentally active and committed 'Reef Guardians.'

• The Great Barrier Reef Movie
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  Provides ways for schools to achieve curriculum outcomes in Science, SOSE and Active Citizenship.

• Provides ways for schools to promote best environmental practices within local communities, while at the same time projecting a positive image of the school itself.

• Is supported by the Reef ED website. Quality outcome-based teaching units explicitly linked to KLAs and curriculum frameworks for years K-12 classes, free teaching modules in SOSE, Science, Technology, English, English and The Arts, Web-quests for students and an on-line encyclopedia - the GBR Explorer. School communities are urged to use this information. Networking through the web site is encouraged.The program is conducted each year with Queensland and Australian schools, in partnership with a range of stakeholders including Local Marine Advisory Committees (LMACs) and the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority.

Objectives

The objectives of the program are to:

• establish a network of Reef Guardian Schools that demonstrate curriculum connections and environmental action, based on reef protection principles

• provide leadership in reef guardianship education, developing partnerships at community, state and national levels

• assist school communities with resources, strategies and networks to develop reef guardianship programs and projects

• inspire people to take action in their everyday lives to protect the GBR

• continue the programs in selected schools that began the program in the first nine month period

• implement the program in additional schools in future years

• evaluate the effectiveness of the program in bringing change towards sustainability in the school and Great Barrier Reef

• establish a reference website for participating schools

• develop and strengthen ongoing relationships with Local Marine Advisory Committees, Natural Resource management Regional NRM Bodies and the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority.

The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority is now offering the Reef Guardian School Program to all Queensland and Australian schools. The Program challenges schools or individual classes to commit to the protection and conservation of Australia's World Heritage listed Great Barrier Reef.

Prizes and achievements

All schools involved in the Reef Guardian Schools program receive a certificate and Reef Guardian sign. Awards and prizes are given to schools who demonstrate outstanding achievements in their Reef Guardian Programs.  A number of encouragement prizes are also given to school who demonstrate strong commitment to the Reef Guardian program

Successful schools have nine months to implement the first year of their Reef Guardian Schools Program.

With support from the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority's Education Unit, this unique program creates a network of schools studying the Great Barrier Reef, undertaking environmental audits and on-the-ground projects, and inspires students to discover the many ways they can impact on their own future and that of the Great Barrier Reef.

 

Criteria for selecting future Reef Guardian Schools

1. The Principal, leadership team and school staff are fully supportive of the program.

2. There is a willingness to involve the whole school community, particularly the students, in the planning and implementation of the program.

3. There is at least one person (preferably a team of people) in the school who is committed to the program.

4. The Principal, is willing to sign a 'Reef Guardianship Commitment' with the following expectations:

• Designate a contact person for the program from the school

• Agree for the whole staff or a whole class to participate fully in the program

• Participate in the evaluation of the program, if required.

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