FREE - Introduction to the Great Barrier Reef webinars

LET'S CELEBRATE SEAWEEK
Learn about corals as the building blocks of the Great Barrier Reef and the roles that various organisms play within the Reef community. Gain an understanding of the importance of various relationships between organisms such as corals and their symbiotic algae, and anemones and anemonefish. Explore the simple actions that you can take regardless of where you live, to help protect the Great Barrier Reef and the animals that call it home.

Tuesday 7 March, commencing 9am QLD, - to register: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_bOcXzETURSuXAIkniZTm-w

Tuesday 7 March, commencing 11am QLD, - to register: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_qGUDC2eiRm-_5gkb7aX-Qg

Wednesday 8 March, commencing 9am QLD, - to register: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_hBcrIdO7RLep16o2MMEPiw

Friday 10 March, commencing 11am QLD, - to register: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_oLKSnRKZRhWwmPHC-jnbLQ

On registering you will be sent a link to connect to the webinar, on the day.

FREE - virtual connections with the Research Vessel Investigator

We're excited to have scheduled two virtual connections with the RV Investigator on Wednesday 22 February, where Reef Guardian School teacher, Joline Lalime, will give us a tour of the vessel and introduce us to some of the researchers and the studies they’re undertaking.
Session 1: (primary schools) - Wednesday 22 February, commencing 9:00am (QLD time)
Session 2: (secondary schools) – Wednesday 22 February, commencing 12 noon (QLD time)

If you would like to join one of these connections, please email education@gbrmpa.gov.au and let us know which session you’re interested in, along with the following important details:

1. School Name & Location
2. School Year of Class(es)
3. Number of Students (approximate)
4. Unit(s) of work your students are doing in Term 1

For more information about the expedition and outreach opportunities, see:
https://www.reefed.edu.au/sites/default/files/2023-02/1.%20Sea2School%2…

Other ways you can follow the expedition online include:
@SEA2SCHOOLAU Facebook TikTok
Voyage Page: https://mnf.csiro.au/en/Voyages/IN2023_V01
Blog: https://antarctic.org.au/news/
@CANYONS_voyage on Twitter Facebook Spotify
MNF RV Investigator LiveStream https://mnf.csiro.au/

Reef Guardian School teacher professional development opportunity

Reef Guardian School teacher professional development opportunity

To celebrate 20 years of the Reef Guardian Schools program in 2023, the Reef Authority in collaboration with THINK Learning Studio, will be delivering a professional development opportunity for Reef Guardian School teachers.

The Great Barrier Reef Place-Based Learning Discovery Workshop (Discovery Workshop) aims to develop teachers’ capacity and knowledge to deliver interdisciplinary project-based and place-based learning. It is an immersive experience, combining hands-on activities in one of the most inspiring locations in the world, the Great Barrier Reef. The Discovery Workshop is also an opportunity for teachers from across Queensland to network with each other and the Reef Authority’s education team, with the aim of creating a network of Reef Guardian School Champions.

For more information about the Discovery Course please check out the Information Package https://www.reefed.edu.au/sites/default/files/2022-11/Discovery%20Works…

Contact: If you require any further information, please contact Julie Spencer (Project Officer Education Innovation) at reefguardians@gbrmpa.gov.au

Workshop dates: The workshop will be held in Cairns and includes an overnight stay at Green Island, and a day trip to the Great Barrier Reef. It will take place from Monday 20 March to Friday 24 March 2023 (QLD State Schools Term 1, Week 9)

Who can apply? Open to all Reef Guardian School teachers. As this workshop is teaching and learning pedagogical based training it may not be suitable for non-teaching staff. Nominations close: Sunday 29 January 2023

Critical water issues tackled by youth action

The 2022 Youth Response Conference was hosted by Pimlico State High School at the James Cook University campus in Townsville. The conference brought together over 15 industry expert organizations, 17 staff members from 14 schools and over 100 students from QLD, VIC, NSW, and SA.

The conference underpinned youth action to mitigate and bring awareness to water-themed problems. Students worked in cross-school teams to develop a project implementation plan for their school or community, which aligns to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and the Great Barrier Reef action goals.

The projects overarched on topics like microplastics, reef restoration, climate change, water quality management and drought related issues. Students presented their proposals for their share of $13,000 in Ripples of Change seed funding to implement their projects in 2023.

The Reef Education team are looking forward to seeing these projects continue to develop over the next year.

For any enquiries regarding the Youth Conference, please contact Rick Harting, Global Education Coordinator at Pimlico SHS via email: rhart127@eq.edu.au

Apex Camps upskills in Marine Science

The Reef Education team recently traveled to Picnic Bay in Magnetic Island to train Apex Camps staff members in using the Be a Marine Biologist for a Day suite of educational resources.

Apex Camps, part of Apex Australia, provides onsite accommodation and outdoor activities on their 10-acre grounds for School and Group camps, School Holidays, Birthday parties and Team Building events.

This is the result of a fantastic collaboration between camp supervisor Anne de Ruyter and community partnerships coordinator Jo Marks for MICDA’s (Magnetic Island Community Development Association) Community Action Plan project "Community Partnerships for Ecosystem Monitoring Community".

Be a Marine Biologist for a Day gives Apex Camps a flexible opportunity to include an educational component to their water-based activities and aligns with one of MICDA’s project goal to record, report and communicate the Island’s marine and coastal ecosystem health.

If you are a tourism operator, teacher, or Reef guide that is interested in learning more about the Be a Marine Biologist for a Day program, please email us at reefguardians@gbrmpa.gov.au.

FREE - Introduction to the Great Barrier Reef virtual learning experiences

FREE Introduction to the Great Barrier Reef virtual learning experiences

Learn about corals as the building blocks of the Great Barrier Reef and the roles various organisms play within the Reef community. Gain an understanding of the importance of various relationships between organisms, such as corals and their symbiotic algae, and anemones and anemonefish. Explore the simple actions that you can take, regardless of where you live, to help protect the Great Barrier Reef and the animals that call it home. Questions are welcome throughout the sessions.

Thursday 17 November 1-2pm QLD:
Please register for the session through this link
https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_C0A20T0hSt-TZqvDTxATbQ

Friday 18 November 9-10am QLD:
Please register for the session through this link
https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_NueKRYNTST6exJhD4afU1Q

All registrants will be sent a unique link to connect to the webinar on the day.

FREE - Turtle Connections virtual learning experiences

FREE - Turtle Connections virtual learning experiences

Gain an understanding of the biology and adaptations of sea turtles, including their life cycles and feeding adaptations. Using case studies from the Reef HQ Aquarium Turtle Hospital, we will examine the impact of marine debris and look at how sea turtles are affected by other human threats worldwide and what actions are being taken to help protect sea turtle populations. Questions are welcome throughout the sessions.

Thursday 10 November 1-2pm QLD:
Please register for the session through this link
https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_YywMwflvTcW4Tr5HIlFvNQ

Friday 11 November 9-10am QLD:
Please register for the session through this link
https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_ZTPDuUfkTMOvT2Kv1WRHkg

All registrants will be sent a unique link to connect to the webinar on the day.

FREE - Reef Creature Feature virtual learning experiences

The Great Barrier Reef is home to a tremendous diversity of marine life, and this presentation will introduce you to a selection of amazing reef creatures. We will look to highlight their adaptations for survival, as well as their particular roles on the reef and how these contribute to maintaining a healthy Reef ecosystem.

All registrants will be sent a unique link to connect to the webinar on the day.

Thu 1 Sep, 11am: Register to attend - https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_JOvpg4COQ7qcF_rhzzcwDQ

Fri 23 Sept, 8am: Register to attend -https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_V_MgdMYnQ6egHrhrMDhAOQ

2022 Student Eco Challenge Opens 15 August

The 2022 Eco Challenge is open to all Reef Guardian Schools and schools round the world!

Challenge Overview
The new Reef Guardian Schools Eco Challenge aims to build student capacity for eco-entrepreneurship, inquiry learning, real-world problem solving, and STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics) innovation.

The focus of the challenge is for students to explore the current and future issues facing the Great Barrier Reef and its connected ecosystems, and work together to develop an eco-friendly idea that could help protect the Reef for future generations. It could be a sustainable product, service, app, or technology for use in your school, home, or local community. Students will work in teams consisting of two to four people and will prepare a two-minute video pitch to explain how their business idea will help address the issue they have identified. Teams can only submit one video pitch.

The Challenge:
The Reef Authority is seeking support from a new eco-friendly business to help address an environmental issue facing the Great Barrier Reef. In teams of 2 to 4 students, you will need to:
1) Research a current issue relating to the Great Barrier Reef
2) Use your STEAM skills to identify a possible solution to the issue
3) Prepare a 2-minute video pitch to explain how your eco-friendly business idea will help address the issue
4) Upload your video to YouTube, Vimeo, or your school's social media page and email the link to reefguardians@gbrmpa.gov.au

Throughout the challenge, registered teams will get the chance to attend a virtual presentation by an Australian entrepreneur to learn how they turned their idea into a successful eco-friendly business.

Teachers and Home-school parents, register your student teams today - https://forms.office.com/r/ABcqpkRm2c. Once registered, you will be emailed the Eco Challenge Handbook which includes fantastic resources to inspire your budding eco-entrepreneurs.

You can access the Eco Challenge Handbook - https://bit.ly/3S8HKmP

Key Dates:
Challenge starts: Monday 15 August 2022
Challenge ends: Monday 31 October 2022, 4:00pm Australian Eastern Standard Time

Cost:
Free for all teams to enter.

Winning Entries:
Winners will be announced the week after the submission deadline. Teachers/Homeschool educators from the winning submissions will be notified by phone and/or email. The winning submissions will appear on the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Facebook and Reef Guardian Schools Educator Network Facebook page.

A regional winner will be selected by a panel of experts from Reef Guardian Councils and will receive a free virtual learning experience session for their class, a certificate, and a prize pack. The overall winner will then be selected by the Reef Authority’s Chief Scientist and receive a School Solar Buddy Class Pack, a free virtual learning experience, a certificate, and a prize pack of existing Reef Authority collateral.

Check out the handbook for tips and ideas on how to get students started and thinking through their ideas! We are excited to see all the creative and innovative ideas!

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You may be chillin' with friends and family these Easter holidays, but it's important not to relax while out on the water and remain responsible to protect marine life.

Remember:
Do not feed fish, turtles or other marine life;
Do not throw scraps overboard; and
Never interfere with natural events.

Download the free Eye on Reef App now at the Apple Store or Google Play and help us to protect the Reef. https://bit.ly/348fKbV