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
Visit an aquarium
Presentation by an marine related organisation
Which Reef Guardian School Program curriculum resources were used to help students LEARN?
Be a Marine Biologist for a Day educational resource
Eye on the Reef Rapid Monitoring
Reef Guardian School videos or webinars
Eco challenge
New Beginnings International 3-level Youth Marine Conservation Certificate Program
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
Data for analysis
New Beginnings International 3-level Youth Marine Conservation Certificate Program
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
Marine Biology
Indigenous culture and histories
The Great Barrier Reef
Reef worldwide
Urban development
Coral Surveys & Restoration
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 surveys and data gathering (data can be entered into Tangaroa Blue website)
ACT Gardens and habitat restoration
Wetlands restoration
Develop Concepts for a Regional Regional Coral Preservation/Restoration Facility
ACT Engage in a community/school challenge
Presentation to whole school by external partner
Implement a STEM Citizen Science project
ACT Citizen Science Projects
Eye on the Reef sighting app or enter in data from Rapid Monitoring and 360 Benthic snorkel survey
Tangaroa Blue Australian Marine Debris Initiative
Mangrove Watch
Reef Check
Coral Watch
Marine Monitoring Program- water quality
Great Citizen Science Data Collection (reef)
Excursions to local waterway, parks, farms, reef
Snorkeling Excursions, Develop Concepts for a Regional Coral Preservation/Restoration Facility
Who did you SHARE or collaborate with in the community?
Your local government (i.e. councils, municipalities, locality)
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)
Marine park based or your local stakeholder organisation (e.g. Reef Check)
Collaborate with another school in conservation activity or learning opportunity
Get important conservation messages out to the public via Art galleries or other public forums.
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
Publicise our activities internationally via Social Media - Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn. Use of University Marine Science Interns to help manage and conduct our programs.
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
Host a cluster/interschool event
Reward Reef Guardians with environmental leader awards
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
Significantly reduce marine pollution
Complete at least one action from Care, Learn, Act and Share
Significantly decrease carbon footprint
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 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.