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
Students make connections with their country's or local indigenous/native culture and history about the reef
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 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 Education free or paid Virtual Learning Experiences (VLEs)
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
Traditional Use Marine Resource Agreement (TUMRA)
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 management and zones
Marine Data analysis
Target animals (e.g. turtles)
Conservation
Animal features and adaptations
Oceanography
Fishing and overfishing
Marine Biology
Indigenous culture and histories
The Great Barrier Reef
ACT Marine Debris
Litter reduction in school (i.e. clean up proactive program)
ACT Reducing waste and recycling
Plastic straw removal or drinks with plastic straws
Bin stencilling (e.g. paint nature positive messages on school bins)
ACT Reducing energy
Using/installing solar
Encourage students to turn off electrical equipment when not in use (i.e. lights, fans,)
ACT Gardens and habitat restoration
Upkeep native garden or produce garden
Aquarium set up (e.g. Red claw)
ACT Citizen Science Projects
Eye on the Reef sighting app or enter in data from Rapid Monitoring and 360 Benthic snorkel survey
Coral Watch
Excursions to local waterway, parks, farms, reef
Who did you SHARE or collaborate with in the community?
Your state government (i.e. state schools and state environmental agencies)
Marine park based or your local industry/business (e.g. tourism operation)
How did you SHARE your achievements, messaging or achievements?
Use of education resources provided by partner organisation (excluding the Reef Authority)
Partner organisation participation in ‘school led’ environmental activity/project
Publicise within the school community (e.g. assembly, newsletters, social media)
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
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
Complete at least one action from Care, Learn, Act and Share
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.