Reef Guardian Schools

NQ Dry Tropics has teamed up with the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (GBRMPA) to expand the Reef Guardian Schools program in the region.

NQ Dry Tropics has funded an employee to work in GBRMPA to promote the well-established Reef Guardian program in our region.

Around forty schools have already signed up to the program in the region, which covers a significant area of Queensland. This includes Townsville, Magnetic Island, Palm Island, Charters Towers, Ayr, Home Hill, Clare, Gumlu, Bowen, and Collinsville.

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Queens Beach State School Tree Planting

A number of exciting activities have already been delivered through the program.

Almost 700 native coastal plants, courtesy of Greening Australia, were distributed to Reef Guardian Schools across the region. Accompanying the plants were class sets of the book Coastal Plants of the Burdekin Dry Tropics, which was produced by NQ Dry Tropics, and in-class activities for the kids to learn about the importance of native plants.

Duey the Dugong visited 15 primary schools with a very important message to keep our region clean. Duey's charismatic antics make sustainability fun and his growing profile means not only school children but mums and dads are also reminded that our wildlife depend on us disposing of our rubbish thoughtfully.

The Townsville Region Bird Observers Club wowed our Reef Guardian Schools with the stories of our travelling feathered friends who live for part of the year on our beaches. Tiny Tern, the lovable endangered bird mascot, will rival Duey with his key messages and dramatics.

Recently, 15 schools were distributed a pack on ‘Who Am I? Native Frog or Cane Toad’, which directs students to the www.frogsnotcanetoads.com.au website to complete a range of fun activities about the importance of protecting our native frogs.

Coming up is a program on the Traditional Owner importance of turtle and dugong. Watch this space....

Schools and school students interested in any of the topics or activities above can contact us for information and resources.

About Reef Guardian Schools
The Reef Guardian Schools program is a well established education initiative operating in our region (and across Queensland). Almost 60 schools from Bowen in the south right up to Palm Island in the north participate in the program, which means they make a commitment to doing their part to protect the Great Barrier Reef.

Being a Reef Guardian School means the school takes an active role in promoting Reef conservation and awareness throughout the school and the school community. From barramundi farming to worm farming, tree planting to paper recycling, native butterfly enclosures to curlew habitat creation - these schools do an amazing job helping protect our Great Barrier Reef and encouraging the rest of the community to do the same.

If you would like some more information or are interested in becoming a Reef Guardian School, you can contact Judy Warner at NQ Dry Tropics on 4724 3544 or the education team at GBRMPA on 4750 0792.

Attach the schools list in our region and a part called Reef Guardian News where media releases can be uploaded – include article on litter leader awards