EMR National marine education wananga - conference
Wednesday 8th – Friday10th October, 2008
Theme: Action for the marine environment
Purpose: Professional development and networking opportunity for those interested in the marine environment, community relations, ma...
The Experiencing Marine Reserves (EMR) programme empowers schools and communities by providing hands-on experience in the ocean. The programme involves investigating marine biodiversity and the local marine environment before venturing to a fully-protected marine reserve. After this experience, students are able to compare unprotected and protected areas and are encouraged to put their knowledge into action within the community.
Marine reserves are vitally important for the conservation of marine biodiversity for future generations, and provide unique educational and inspirational opportunities. The Experiencing Marine Reserves education programme is an essential step towards improving public perceptions about marine conservation by providing information and experience. The programme sets a basic building block for the establishment of marine conservation areas around New Zealand.
The young people of today will be the leaders of tomorrow, and their attitudes will shape society. Therefore, marine education is vital, to protect marine resources and biodiversity for the future.
The Experiencing Marine Reserves programme has been operational in Northland since 2002 and available to other parts of New Zealand since 2004.The programme has produced interactive educational resources (CD ROM, video & website) featuring information and images about marine biodiversity and conservation. These resources are available to all schools in New Zealand. As of January 2007, throughout the Northland and Auckland regions, the programme had directly touched over 6000 people through the Experiencing Marine Reserves programme delivery, marine biodiversity talks and associated community events.
The aim of the programme is to advocate for the establishment of marine conservation areas and raise awareness, understanding of and involvement in marine conservation in New Zealand.
The programme:
Promotes environmental education (In, About and For the environment)
Builds capacity to enhance awareness and understanding of marine conservation issues in New Zealand
Provides opportunities for community development
Inspires action for the marine environment
The experiential learning aspects of the programme are especially suited to the strongly kinaesthetic students who are often less catered for in normal classroom situations. These students, who can be ‘difficult’ students in the classroom environment, can be seen to come to life during Experiencing Marine Reserves field trips.
The Experiencing Marine Reserves concept is the essence of the programme:
Introduction to marine biodiversity
Investigation of local marine area
Marine reserve experience
Comparisons between local area and fully protected area
Action for the marine environment
The Experiencing Marine Reserve programme would not be successful without help from the community, as the nature of the programme requires a 1:2 adult/child ratio that automatically brings in the wider community. Therefore it is not only a school engagement project, but also a community awareness and engagement programme. The programme sets a basic building block for marine conservation establishment by providing the community with relevant information and experience. The programme has impact on communities! It encourages people to stand up and base their opinions on experience. At a marine protection meeting, a fisher stood up in support of marine conservation, because he had been to a marine reserve with his son! The amount of media hits that this programme receives is huge! This multiplies the students and communities experience within the wider community and into New Zealand generally. The programme provides an important awareness and involvement base, from which a marine conservation investigation could grow upon in communities. The programme is very positive and helps improve public perception of marine conservation.
Experiencing Marine Reserves is continually developing, with a knowledgeable support network including Vince Kerr, Dr Roger Grace and Dr Bill Ballantine. The Ngâ Maunga ki te Moana Conservation Trust was formed in 2002 as an umbrella organisation for the Experiencing Marine Reserves and Whitebait Connection programmes.
The Experiencing Marine Reserves (EMR) programme (Northland) is currently funded by the Lion Foundation, WWF-NZ, and the Department of Conservation. Wildblue – extreme spearfishing and freediving also support the programme by providing top quality snorkel equipment. Dive Tutukaka support the programme by providing a competition trip to the Poor Knights for one student from each of the participating Northland schools each year. Webb Ross lawyers provide free legal advice.
Samara Nicholas is the director and has been coordinating the Experiencing Marine Reserves programme in Northland since its establishment in February 2002. She is a leader, as recognised by the Sir Peter Blake Emerging Leader awards in 2005. Samara has a Bachelor of Applied Science (Environmental Studies) and is a First Aider, NAUI Skin Diving Instructor and PADI Rescue Diver. Samara is committed to the care and safety of all she associates with.
Experiencing Marine Reserves is a now national model for marine education in New Zealand and is running in the Auckland, Napier, Picton and Wellington regions. The programme already has a video, CD ROM, this website and a manual to assist in the development of this programme in other parts of NZ. EMR is available to other parts of the country via a specific agreement between the interested party and the Ngâ Maunga ki te Moana Conservation Trust (EMR programme). All coordinators have to go through a specific training programme. Any interested organisation should contact Samara Nicholas for more specific information – samara@emr.org.nz or phone 09 433 8205.
A 2003 agreement between the Department of Conservation and Ngâ Maunga ki te Moana Conservation Trust made the Experiencing Marine Reserves (EMR) and The Whitebait Connection (WBC) programmes available to other parts of New Zealand. The agreement includes national seed funding to support interested Department of Conservation conservancies or areas to set up local programmes. The Department has also developed guidelines for DOC staff working with the programmes.
Project Milestones Milestone 1 July – October
· Resource, curriculum and activity development
· Equipment maintenance
· Advocacy and promotion of Experiencing Marine Reserves (EMR) programme for Term 4 delivery.
o Media releases letters to schools, word of mouth and email campaigns.
· Initial visit to all schools identified to be involved, to discuss concept, budget, timetable, risk management, provided resources and curriculum requirements with the teachers involved.
· Contact and planning, organisation of transport, accommodation and timetables completed with teachers from all of the schools involved.
Performance measures for milestone 1
1) Schools identified and EMR programme fieldtrips organised
Milestone 2 November – December
· Presentation of Experiencing Marine Reserves resource kit (to all schools involved) and an introduction to marine species in the classroom, using interactive learning with props, such as paua and kina shells, seaweed, sponges and coral.
· Coordinate field trips to local areas to investigate the marine environment and the human impact. With an introduction to snorkelling in shallow water (with all schools involved).
· Coordinate field trip/camps to Leigh Marine Reserve. Activities include comparisons between local marine environments (unprotected) and protected marine reserve.
· Advocacy and promotion of Experiencing Marine Reserves (EMR) programme for Term 1 2007 delivery (as with milestone 1).
Performance measures for milestone 2
1) All planned activities carried out
2) Evaluations of classroom sessions and field trips completed, analysis and recommendations for improvements made
3) Schools identified and EMR programme fieldtrips organised for Term 1
Milestone 3 February- April
· Presentation of Experiencing Marine Reserves resource kit (to all schools involved) and an introduction to marine species in the classroom, using interactive learning with props, such as paua and kina shells, seaweed, sponges and coral.
· Coordinate field trips to local areas to investigate the marine environment and the human impact. With an introduction to snorkelling in shallow water (with all schools involved).
· Coordinate field trip/camps to Leigh Marine Reserve. Activities include comparisons between local marine environments (unprotected) and protected marine reserve. Poor Knights competition details given out (to all schools involved).
· Inform media of programme steps and achievements
· Fund and sponsor searching
Performance measures Milestone 3
1) All planned activities carried out
2) Evaluations of classroom sessions and field trip completed, analysis and recommendations for improvements made
Milestone 4 May – June
· Action orientated approach (with all schools involved in EMR programme); students make a submission about marine conservation in their area and/or present marine conservation findings to the wider community. Video dairy footage could also be screened to the community.
· Fund and sponsor searching
· End of season reports
· Coordinate trip to the Poor Knights for competition winners (1 student from each school) (Subject to ongoing sponsorship from Dive Tutukaka). NORTHLAND ONLY.
Performance measures Milestone 4
1) All planned activities carried out
2) Final evaluations of activities completed, analysis and recommendations for improvements made.
Estimation of Costs
Professional fees (staff training, insurance, professional services, ACC and IRD payments) $32,000 (annual)
(THIS AMOUNT BASED ON FULL TIME POSITION OF COORDINATOR)
Professional costs
(Accounting charges for EMR's accounting and tax advice, $1,000 (annual) Outsourcing of specialists)
The Experiencing Marine Reserves programme is a professional programme and requires funding, donations, sponsors and support for:
Professional fees
Equipment Snorkel gear – 2 class set of 60 mask and snorkels, 30 fins and around 50 wetsuits. 10 body boards (for initial set up, then maintenance/replacement only)
Computer
Camera and video
Data projector and speakers
Storage space
Office space
Vehicle
Travel vouchers
Accounting advice
Printing and designing materials
Website maintenance
Prizes for competitions
This type of support is needed in Northland, Auckland, Napier, Wellington and Picton, if the programme is to be maintained in these areas.
Contact Samara Nicholas for details of regional coordinators and support requirements in the different areas - samara@emr.org.nz or 09 433 8205.
