How does your school or teachers connect students to the reef to promote CARE?
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
Students reflect on their own connection to the reef and marine ecosystems
Develop and practice snorkelling skills (theory and pool)
Students participate in SCUBA course or CERT 2 in Outdoor Recreation (SCUBA)
Students explore Marine career pathways or participate in marine related work experience
Visit an aquarium
Presentation by an marine related organisation
Which Reef Guardian School Program curriculum resources were used to help students LEARN?
Reef Guardian STEM teaching units
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)
Participate in Reef Guardian School Teacher Professional Development Opportunities/Workshops
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)
Marine Park Zone and permits
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
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
Agricultural and farming
Urban development
ACT Marine Debris
Education on assembly, newsletters and posters (i.e. educate school community with a talk at assembly, newsletters and posters)
ACT Reducing energy
Encourage students to turn off electrical equipment when not in use (i.e. lights, fans,)
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
Participate in a local or international interschool STEM or environmentally focused event/challenge
In-school challenge (i.e. environmental education challenge in school)
External challenge (i.e. participate in external environmental 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
Eye on the Reef sighting app or enter in data from Rapid Monitoring and 360 Benthic snorkel survey
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 state government (i.e. state schools and state environmental agencies)
Traditional Owner organisation or First Nations Groups/Organisations
Your country's or local indigenous/native groups
Marine park based or your local industry/business (e.g. tourism operation)
Catchment based or your local stakeholder organisation (e.g. Creek Watch)
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 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
Case study and share evidence of Reef Guardian student pathway into marine science
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?
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
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
Students and families want to enrol in the school because of its great work as a Reef Guardian School
Implementing the Reef Guardian School Program had a positive influence on increasing wellbeing and attendance or sense of belonging for students.
Participate and promote the Reef Guardian School on a national level
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.
School is recognised by leading publication or documentary eg CCN, Media, TV or journal
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.