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)
Make connections with First Nation Peoples and their connection to land and sea
Develop and practice snorkelling skills (theory and pool)
Students explore Marine career pathways or participate in marine related work experience
Which Reef Guardian School Program curriculum resources were used to help students LEARN?
Reef Guardian teaching units
Reef Guardian Reef Beat Education Series
Be a Marine Biologist for a Day educational resource
Eye on the Reef Rapid Monitoring
Reef Guardian School videos or webinars
Eco challenge
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
Which LEARN topics were covered this year?
Climate change
Water quality
Coastal development and ecosystem restoration
Marine debris
Conservation
Animal features and adaptations
Oceanography
Fishing and overfishing
Marine Biology
Indigenous culture and histories
The Great Barrier Reef
Agricultural and farming
Urban development
ACT Marine Debris
Marine debris clean-up (i.e. clean up a local beach/river/creek, clean up Australia Day)
Litter reduction in school (i.e. clean up proactive program)
Drain stencilling (e.g. positive nature messaging)
ACT Reducing waste and recycling
School waste audit/source reduction plan (i.e. look at the amount of waste your school produces and make a plan to reduce it)
ACT Water conservation
School water audit and/or reduction (i.e. look at the amount of water your school uses and make a plan to reduce it)
ACT Reducing energy
School energy audit and/or reduction (i.e. look at the amount of energy your school uses and make a plan to reduce it)
ACT Gardens and habitat restoration
Aquarium set up (e.g. Red claw)
ACT Engage in a community/school challenge
Presentation to whole school by external partner
ACT Citizen Science Projects
Eye on the Reef sighting app or enter in data from Rapid Monitoring and 360 Benthic snorkel survey
Mangrove Watch
Reef Check
Coral Watch
Excursions to local waterway, parks, farms, reef
How did you SHARE your achievements, messaging or achievements?
Publicise within the school community (e.g. assembly, newsletters, social media)
How did you SHARE Reef Guardian School Program membership?
Display RGS Fence sign
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
Be an active Reef Guardian School by completing an annual action plan >3 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.