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 make connections with their country's or local indigenous/native culture and history about the reef
Students reflect on their own connection to the reef and marine ecosystems
Develop and practice snorkelling skills (theory and pool)
Students explore Marine career pathways or participate in marine related work experience
Presentation by an marine related organisation
Which Reef Guardian School Program curriculum resources were used to help students LEARN?
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).
Participate in Reef Guardian School Teacher Professional Development Opportunities/Workshops
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)
Crown of Thorns Starfish Program
Tourism
Data for analysis
Reef Discovery Course
Attend a GBRMPA Symposium
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 Data analysis
Target animals (e.g. turtles)
Conservation
Animal features and adaptations
Marine Biology
Indigenous culture and histories
Reef worldwide
ACT Marine Debris
Marine debris clean-up (i.e. clean up a local beach/river/creek, clean up Australia Day)
ACT Reducing waste and recycling
Make recyclable/reusable bags
Keeping chickens - feeding them food scraps
Use litter/marine debris to create art- REEFlections RGS unit of work
ACT Gardens and habitat restoration
Wetlands restoration
School kitchen garden (i.e. garden that produces fruit and vegetables for your schools tuckshop)
Upkeep native garden or produce garden
Take an opportunity to immerse your class in nature
Take photos of the school's nature and learn about its importance
Aquarium set up (e.g. Red claw)
ACT Engage in a community/school challenge
Participate in a local or international interschool STEM or environmentally focused event/challenge
Presentation to whole school by external partner
Celebrate Environmental days (i.e. World Ocean Day, Plastic Free July, Walk to School days, National Recycle Week etc).
ACT Citizen Science Projects
Coral Watch
Marine Monitoring Program- water quality
Great Citizen Science Data Collection (reef)
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)
Your national government (e.g. Commonwealth Government, Department of Education)
Your country's or local indigenous/native groups
Get important conservation messages out to the public via Art galleries or other public forums.
How did you SHARE your achievements, messaging or achievements?
Use the Reef Guardian Online Portal or Closed Facebook group to share your achievements or connect with other Reef Guardian Schools (i.e. photos, resources, organizing an interschool event)
Use of education resources provided by partner organisation (excluding the Reef Authority)
Partner organisation participation in ‘school led’ environmental activity/project
Family/community participation in ‘school led’ environmental activity/project
Publicise to the broader community (e.g. media, community forums or conferences)
Share learning environmental experiences/resources with other schools
How did you SHARE Reef Guardian School Program membership?
Acquire a Reef Guardian sun shirt and share a picture of your club or leadership program in the Reef Guardian Portal
Host a cluster/interschool event
Reward Reef Guardians with environmental leader awards
Case study and share evidence of Reef Guardian student pathway into marine science
On share information via social media or word of mouth
How did your school Care, Learn, Act and Share to promote the next generation of reef STEWARDs?
Visit the inshore or outer reef for a local field trip and enter in data to ensure it is citizen science data
Support Reef Restoration activities with local partners at a site on the reef or your local marine protected area
Learn and protect cultural heritage values of Great Barrier Reef Sea country or your local culturally significant reef
Significantly reduce marine pollution
Significantly enhance a local water way with tree planting and ongoing monitoring
Complete at least one action from Care, Learn, Act and Share
Change the mind set of students to instil life long learning and positive nature behaviours
Participate and promote the Reef Guardian School on a international level
Significantly increase opportunities for students to Connect, Care, Learn, take actions and share achievements.
Be an active Reef Guardian School by completing an annual action plan 2 years in a row
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.