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
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
Camp out at local reefs looking at sustainability and both biophysical and anthropogenic impacts
Which Reef Guardian School Program curriculum resources were used to help students LEARN?
Reef Guardian STEM teaching units
Eye on the Reef Rapid Monitoring
Reef Education free or paid Virtual Learning Experiences (VLEs)
Reef Guardian School videos or webinars
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
Restorative Practices including Mars Stars
Marine Park Zone and permits
Tourism
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
Target animals (e.g. turtles)
Conservation
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)
Education on assembly, newsletters and posters (i.e. educate school community with a talk at assembly, newsletters and posters)
ACT Reducing waste and recycling
Plastic straw removal or drinks with plastic straws
Bin stencilling (e.g. paint nature positive messages on school bins)
Use litter/marine debris to create art- REEFlections RGS unit of work
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
Using/installing solar
Energy monitors (i.e. track your schools energy usage)
Encourage students to turn off electrical equipment when not in use (i.e. lights, fans,)
ACT Gardens and habitat restoration
Aquaponics or hydroponics
Take an opportunity to immerse your class in nature
Aquarium set up (e.g. Red claw)
ACT Engage in a community/school challenge
In-school challenge (i.e. environmental education challenge in school)
External challenge (i.e. participate in external environmental challenge)
Celebrate Environmental days (i.e. World Ocean Day, Plastic Free July, Walk to School days, National Recycle Week etc).
ACT Citizen Science Projects
Mangrove Watch
Reef Check
Coral Watch
Marine Monitoring Program- water quality
Excursions to local waterway, parks, farms, reef
Who did you SHARE or collaborate with in the community?
Your national government (e.g. Commonwealth Government, Department of Education)
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 industry/business (e.g. local nursery or gardening business)
How did you SHARE your achievements, messaging or achievements?
Partner organisation participation in ‘school led’ environmental activity/project
Publicise within the school community (e.g. assembly, newsletters, social media)
How did you SHARE Reef Guardian School Program membership?
Display RGS Fence sign
Display RGS Digital sign
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
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
Be an active Reef Guardian School by completing an annual action plan >3 years in a row
Be an active Reef Guardian School by completing an annual action plan >10 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.