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.

Make connections with First Nation Peoples and their connection to land and sea

Develop and practice snorkelling skills (theory and pool)

Which Reef Guardian School Program curriculum resources were used to help students LEARN?

Reef Guardian teaching units

Environmental days (World Ocean Day, Plastic Free July, Walk to School days, National Recycle week).

Reef Guardian activities embedded into school work programs.

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

Official publications like Reef 2025, Reef 2030, reef health updates, snapshot reports

Data for analysis

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

Marine management and zones

Marine Data analysis

Conservation

Fishing and overfishing

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)

Litter free lunches (i.e. plastic free lunch)

Education on assembly, newsletters and posters (i.e. educate school community with a talk at assembly, newsletters and posters)

Food waste minimisation cooking classes

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)

Worm Farms

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,)

ACT Gardens and habitat restoration

School kitchen garden (i.e. garden that produces fruit and vegetables for your schools tuckshop)

ACT Engage in a community/school challenge

Participate in a local or international interschool STEM or environmentally focused event/challenge

Celebrate Environmental days (i.e. World Ocean Day, Plastic Free July, Walk to School days, National Recycle Week etc).

ACT Citizen Science Projects

Reef Check

Coral Watch

Who did you SHARE or collaborate with in the community?

Your local government (i.e. councils, municipalities, locality)

Catchment based industry/business (e.g. local nursery or gardening business)

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)

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)

Share learning environmental experiences/resources with other schools

How did you SHARE Reef Guardian School Program membership?

Display RGS Fence sign

Reward Reef Guardians with environmental leader awards

Recruit other teachers to the RGS Program.

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?

Support Reef Restoration activities with local partners at a site on the reef or your local marine protected area

Significantly reduce marine pollution

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

Implementing the Reef Guardian School Program had a positive influence on increasing wellbeing and attendance or sense of belonging for students.

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.