Local students take ownership of the coast

STUDENTS from schools across the region are working with the Great Ocean Road Coast Committee (GORCC) to take ownership of stretches of the coast between Torquay and Lorne.
The Coast Guardians conservation education program includes Year 9s from Surf Coast Secondary College, Lorne-Aireys P-12 College, Geelong Lutheran College and Northern Bay College GORCC education activity leader Hilary Bouma said Coast Guardians combined theory-based learning about the environment, ecosystems and environmental challenges with hands-on activities such as weeding, planting and erosion prevention works.
“It’s really taken off and the four schools involved all report terrific feedback from their students”. Northern Bay College has taken stewardship of Point Impossible, and teacher Warren Finlayson said his students were delighted with the experience.
This inspired them to successfully apply to GORCC for a $2,400 grant, which will be used to purchase bikes for sustainable travel and educational expeditions during the Coast Guardians program “It’s been a great outcome for them and has really got them enthusiastic about the natural beauty of our region and the impact that good management can have,” Mr Finlayson said.
“Winning the grant just caps off what has already been a fantastic experience.”
While Coast Guardians is an ongoing annual program, other educational opportunities provided by GORCC are offered on a more casual basis and have seen more than 1,500 local and regional students get involved. “We really want to involve local schools in partnerships to develop children’s connections with the coastal environment both now and into the future,” Ms Bouma said.
“And it has been a terrific success, working from kindergarten up”. “We are slowing growing the programs, but we’d love to be able to expand them even further because there’s no doubt the kids genuinely get a lot out of them.”