Author Archives: oceanlifeeducation

Why we use live marine animals in educating children

Photo: Kids In Action Sunshine Coast, 2014

Every so often teachers say to us, “I’m not sure about using live marine animals in our incursions, isn’t it better to leave them in their natural environment?”

It’s a common moral question I’m sure we have all asked ourselves before.

The short answer is yes, animals should be in their natural environments. What I also like to ask in response to this question is “how do we inspire young Australians to appreciate the living environment if they have never come into contact with it?”

Ocean Life Education was built upon the principles of respect for the environment, respect for its animals and a belief that education and understanding will honour the first two.

As a Marine Ecologist with a passion for the ocean and an avid diver and sailor, my family and I spend our leisure time at the beach or out on the ocean. When we holiday, we holiday at places that showcase the natural wonder of our oceans so our children grow up having this same love and respect for the natural environment.

We created Ocean Life Education in 2006, so we could lead the world in the changes necessary for a healthy planet. To realise this vision, we knew we would need to create a sense of ownership and protectiveness of our oceans in the students and children we teach.

Live marine animals in Education for Sustainability

Our programs are based upon the principles of Education for Sustainability.

The EfS theory “goes beyond providing information about the environment. It is a process which motivates and engages people in creating sustainable futures…” (ARIES).

Through our interactive educational programs, children learn why animals’ look and feel the way they do, how their bodies function, what their individual role is in their environment and therefore why we need to look after them.

This is how we fulfil our EfS role in engaging and equipping students for positive change that will last a lifetime.

Regulated industry and legislation

At Ocean Life Education, we are committed to animal welfare, care and sustainability. We abide by the relevant legislation such as the Animal Care and Protection Act 2001 and the Nature Conservation Act 1992.

Our animals are sourced from world leading suppliers of sustainably collected marine specimens to ensure the safety and protection of the environment.

Sea Urchin, one of the live marine animals used in the Ocean Life Education programs

Managed handling

We are dedicated to the welfare of our marine animals while in our protection and during our programs.

Our strict ‘1 finger touch’ policy helps us to maintain a positively controlled learning environment for the children and the animals. We ask young children to say and use our care for animal catch phrase “stroking not poking”.

How we use animals in our programs

Want to see what it’s like when we visit your classroom with our animals? Watch this short video when Ten’s Totally Wild joined us on a school visit.

Still want to know more? Read our Frequently Asked Questions.

If you still have questions, we’d be happy to answer them. Phone us on 07 5443 8545.

Plastic Free July – take the challenge

Ocean Life Education is encouraging local households, businesses and schools to accept the Plastic Free July Challenge. The challenge is quiet simple: attempt to consume no single-use plastic during July.

Single-use plastic is anything that is intended to be used once then thrown away. If all single-use plastic sounds a bit daunting, just try the “big four” single-use plastic items are plastic bags, plastic cups, plastic straws and plastic containers.

“Single use plastic is one of the most concerning issues facing our oceans and its inhabitants and it won’t go away by itself. Join us in reducing and ridding single use plastic from our every day use to protect the future of our ocean animals – and us.”

Read more about the problem with plastics in our oceans.

Will you accept the challenge?

Plastic free July is a fun challenge that gets us thinking about the amount of plastic packaging in our lives.

Why participate?

Australians send 1 million tonnes of plastic to landfill each year. And too much plastic ends up as litter.
Chemicals in plastics can have harmful effects on our health.
You’re not alone! Join the PFJ network and join us at events, workshops and online discussion forums.

The Challenge

Attempt to consume no single-use plastic during July.
Collect any plastic packaging you do buy. Keep it in a ‘dilemma bag’.

Choose your challenge and Register!

People can register for the challenge; and share their experiences, ideas and tips at www.plasticfreejuly.org.

Deplastify your life

Use this plastic detox mind map for ideas on how to deplastify your life!

Plastic Free July started as a local initiative in Perth, Western Australia and has grown into a global initiative.

If you’re interested in this topic and would like us to host a workshop for your students or early learners, check out our programs.

World Oceans Day a good reminder

world oceans day title

This year, 8 June marks World Oceans Day – a global day for celebrating our oceans which make up 70 per cent of the Earth’s surface and are home to a vast array of complex ecosystems.

“The ocean is the heart of our planet. Like your heart pumping blood to every part of your body, the ocean connects people across the Earth, no matter where we live. The ocean regulates the climate, feeds millions of people every year, produces most of the oxygen we breathe, is the home to an incredible array of wildlife, provides us with important medicines, and so much more! In order to ensure the health and safety of our communities and future generations, it’s imperative that we take the responsibility to care for the ocean as it cares for us.” – WorldOceansDay.org

This year’s World Oceans Day theme is “Healthy Oceans, Healthy Planet” and individuals across the planet are taking action for prevention of plastic pollution in our ocean.

The problem with plastic

Plastic pollution is a serious threat to both our oceans and our future. Plastic degrades very slowly, polluting waterways for a very long time with some plastics never being recovered because they eventually brake down into micro plastics.

Once plastic starts to break down into tiny pieces, it then impacts the health of our aquatic animals as they mistake microbeads for food and so begins its cycle through the food chain – you and I not excluded.

micro plastics

For these reasons, plastic pollution is an important message that we aim to deliver in most of our programs – including the Ocean Life Discovery for early learners and in particular, the Human Impact: The Earth Under Threat program for schools and vacation care students.

At Ocean Life Education, we celebrate our oceans and the animals that live within them every day.

We love taking our ocean creatures to visit young children and school students to learn about the amazing creatures that live in our oceans and waterways and why it’s important to protect those environments.

Ocean Life Discovery Program at New Leaf Early Learning Centre Forest Glen

What can you do?

You can celebrate the ocean every day too by thinking about how you can lessen your impact:

Think about what you put down your sink – it all ends up somewhere! Start using Earth-friendly or natural products in your home.
Pick up rubbish from the beach on your next walk, don’t just walk passed it and hope someone else will. If we all just took 3 items…
Educate your children. Talk about the ocean, the animals that live and depend on it. Take them to the beach, your local river or go snorkelling. Share the wonder and inspire them to learn more.

Want us to come and deliver a fun and educational workshop at your centre or school? Contact us today!

OceanZen turns plastic waste into bikinis

oceanzen bikini steph

Have you met Steph? She’s one of our Ocean Life Education presenters and probably visited your centre recently to deliver our Ocean Discovery or vacation care programs. There’s more to this girl than just her passion for inspiring children to love the ocean, she’s also created her own sustainable swimwear label, OceanZen Bikini.

Steph started her bikini label while studying an environmental science degree. She knew she wanted to do something unique coupled with her passion for ocean conservation.

Sheph has now recreated the OceanZen bikini and relaunched her sustainable line made from recycled plastic bottles and discarded fishing net fibres taken from the ocean!

The plastics are sourced direct from the ocean and then sent to a factory to be cleaned, finely chopped and processed into a fine yarn that is 100 per cent regenerated. It is then turned into a high quality Italian lycra for swimwear.

Steph says “OceanZen Bikini is saving the ocean one bikini at a time!”

“It’s not just about awesome, functional, stylish and eye catching bikinis with OceanZen. It’s also about an environmentally conscious brand and our dream combing both passions; marine conversation and swimwear together.”

OceanZen also raises awareness with marine conservation projects and environmental updates via its social media.

“The ocean is our last true wilderness that we have left to explore and it needs to be protected,” says Steph.

oceanzen swimming

“Research shows that only 1 in 5 plastic bottles actually get recycled after single use and every second approximately 1,500 plastic bottles end up either in the ocean or in waste landfills. These numbers are rising. No wonder our oceans are polluted, no wonder our beautiful marine animals are suffering!”

Steph held a launch party on the Sunshine Coast this weekend and will debut her collection at the upcoming Sunshine Coast Fashion Festival in October.

We love what Steph has achieved, her motivation to get out there and ‘do something’ is inspiring. Imagine what we can achieve if we all combine our individual passions with a love for our oceans and the Planet.