Explorers School Projects score 100% in achieving marine communication and creative skills
7th February, 2023: The Marine Institute’s Explorers Education management team is delighted to report that teachers and children who took part in the Explorers Healthy Ocean School Projects around Ireland in 2021-2022 reached 100 per cent in developing their communication and creativity skills. ‘Being an active citizen’ was evident in 95 per cent of the projects and up to 75 per cent of children also engaged in fostering ‘wellbeing’ as part of their ocean-themed projects.
Patricia Orme, Corporate Services Director, Marine Institute, congratulated the Explorers management and outreach teams for helping schools mark this achievement reaching key competency skills that support the Irish primary school curriculum: “The team has done a fantastic job working with the teachers and children, where the Healthy Ocean School Projects module was introduced to over 3,000 children, leading on to the first Explorers Ocean Champions Awards last year.”
“Recognising the UN International Day of Education in January where the theme for 2023 was to invest in people and prioritise education, I congratulate the Explorers strategic management team at Camden Education Trust and the outreach teams for supporting this international goal with the work they do. Delivering the range of marine projects to such a high standard, along with engaging with the children was highlighted by teachers and local communities at the recent Explorers Ocean Champion Awards,” Ms Orme further said.
The Explorers Healthy Ocean School Project is a school-driven programme that encourages teachers and students to work in collaboration with their wider school and local community to raise awareness and engagement about creating a healthy ocean.
“Being active citizens’, the children produced outstanding school projects that included organising beach cleans where the whole school got involved, creating information posters for public notice boards, producing marine podcasts, to writing and performing songs about the ocean. They also collected information on plastics found on the shore, created artwork and made decorations from recycled materials. Many of the schools organised art exhibitions to showcase their work within their local communities,” explained Cushla Dromgool-Regan, Camden Education Trust.
The Explorers teams are currently working with over twenty schools on new healthy ocean projects this term, covering some amazing concepts from recycling fishing nets to showcasing key species to promote ocean conservation.
“We’re pleased to have some availability for schools to work with the Explorers outreach teams to complete their school projects by the 1st May. The ‘all-school’ project must focus on one of four categories: Marine STEAM; Ocean Literacy Creative; Sustainable Development Goals and Ocean and Marine Outdoor education.
The schools that complete an Explorers healthy ocean project will be awarded the Ocean Champions’ certificate of participation from the Marine Institute Explorers Programme. The national winner and winners of each category will receive a specially-designed plaque and certificate for their school.
“The Explorers team will present prizes ranging from marine-themed books for their libraries, to marine biodiversity workshops held with the students to the winning school. We will also provide schools with an opportunity to showcase their work to further engage a wider audience involved in marine and education,” explained Ms Dromgool-Regan.
The Explorers outreach teams include: Leave No Trace – Ireland, Galway Atlantaquaria, Sea Synergy, Old Cork Waterworks Experience, Oceanics Surf School & Education Centre, and Seashore Kids. For more information about the Explorers Education Programme see Explorers School Projects and Project resources at www.explorers.ie.
ENDS
Photo caption: Children from Scoil Cholmcille, Glengad, Malin, Co Donegal celebrate receiving the Explorers Ocean Champions national award in 2022. Photographer: Martha McCulloch
For more information, please contact:
Cushla Dromgool-Regan
Strategic Education and Communications Manager
(Marine Institute's Explorers Education Programme)
The Camden Education Trust
Mobile: + 353 (0) 87 9185519
Email: cushla.dromgoolregan@thecamdentrust.org
Website: www.explorers.ie