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 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
Presentation by an marine related organisation
Which Reef Guardian School Program curriculum resources were used to help students LEARN?
Reef Guardian Reef Beat Education Series
Be a Marine Biologist for a Day educational resource
Eye on the Reef Rapid Monitoring
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
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
Animal features and adaptations
Oceanography
Fishing and overfishing
Marine Biology
Indigenous culture and histories
The Great Barrier Reef
Reef worldwide
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 surveys and data gathering (data can be entered into Tangaroa Blue website)
ACT Reducing waste and recycling
Plastic straw removal or drinks with plastic straws
Compost Bins
Keeping chickens - feeding them food scraps
ACT Water conservation
Plant a water smart garden (i.e. a combination of advanced sprinkler technology and systems that monitor moisture-related conditions to adjust watering to optimal levels)
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
School kitchen garden (i.e. garden that produces fruit and vegetables for your schools tuckshop)
Take an opportunity to immerse your class in nature
Aquarium set up (e.g. Red claw)
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
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
Excursions to local waterway, parks, farms, reef
Who did you SHARE or collaborate with in the community?
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?
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
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
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 >3 years in a row