How does your school or teachers connect students to the reef to promote CARE?
Have displays and nature positive messaging in the classroom/ school
Teach conservation and respect for the environment, the world's oceans and its interconnected ecosystems (i.e. coral reefs, mangroves, sea grass beds)
Students can list how their own actions can positively or negatively impact reef related ecosystems.
Students reflect on their own connection to the reef and marine ecosystems
Students explore Marine career pathways or participate in marine related work experience
Visit an aquarium
Which Reef Guardian School Program curriculum resources were used to help students LEARN?
Reef Guardian teaching units
Be a Marine Biologist for a Day educational resource
Eye on the Reef Rapid Monitoring
Reef Education free or paid Virtual Learning Experiences (VLEs)
Reef Guardian School videos or webinars
Environmental days (World Ocean Day, Plastic Free July, Walk to School days, National Recycle week).
Which Reef Authority resources were used to help students LEARN?
Reef Authority Educational Videos (i.e. Classification of Reef Creatures, Great Barrier Reef Aquarium YouTube channel, Reef Authority Youtube channel)
GBRMPA elibrary- journals and various documents
Traditional Use Marine Resource Agreement (TUMRA)
Official publications like Reef 2025, Reef 2030, reef health updates, snapshot reports
Which LEARN topics were covered this year?
Climate change
Responsible reef practices and marine life and boating dangers
Water quality
Coastal development and ecosystem restoration
Marine debris
Target animals (e.g. turtles)
Conservation
Animal features and adaptations
Fishing and overfishing
Marine Biology
The Great Barrier Reef
Reef worldwide
Agricultural and farming
Urban development
ACT Marine Debris
Litter reduction in school (i.e. clean up proactive program)
Education on assembly, newsletters and posters (i.e. educate school community with a talk at assembly, newsletters and posters)
Finding ways to reducing carbon footprint
ACT Reducing waste and recycling
Make recyclable/reusable bags
Recycling program (i.e. start a recycling program at your school)
ACT Reducing energy
Encourage students to turn off electrical equipment when not in use (i.e. lights, fans,)
Carbon reduction or carbon credit scheme
ACT Gardens and habitat restoration
Take an opportunity to immerse your class in nature
Take photos of the school's nature and learn about its importance
ACT Engage in a community/school challenge
Implement a STEM Citizen Science project
Celebrate Environmental days (i.e. World Ocean Day, Plastic Free July, Walk to School days, National Recycle Week etc).
ACT Citizen Science Projects
Excursions to local waterway, parks, farms, reef
Who did you SHARE or collaborate with in the community?
Your local government (i.e. councils, municipalities, locality)
Collaborate with another school in conservation activity or learning opportunity
Get important conservation messages out to the public via Art galleries or other public forums.
How did you SHARE your achievements, messaging or achievements?
Family/community participation in ‘school led’ environmental activity/project
Publicise within the school community (e.g. assembly, newsletters, social media)
Publicise to the broader community (e.g. media, community forums or conferences)
How did you SHARE Reef Guardian School Program membership?
Display RGS Digital sign
Acquire a Reef Guardian sun shirt and share a picture of your club or leadership program in the Reef Guardian Portal
Recruit other teachers to the RGS Program.
How did your school Care, Learn, Act and Share to promote the next generation of reef STEWARDs?
Complete at least one action from Care, Learn, Act and Share
Significantly decrease carbon footprint
Change the mind set of students to instil life long learning and positive nature behaviours
Significantly increase opportunities for students to Connect, Care, Learn, take actions and share achievements.
If a member of the community was to ask, the majority of teachers and students would b e able to explain what it meant to be a Reef Guardian School.