Excursions

• Guided walk through living seagrass meadows
• Coastal plant identification activity
• “Magic spot” quiet reflection and field sketch
• Talk from a marine biologist about the importance of seagrass and any monitoring programs in place.
• Presentation on human impacts and management (observable in the natural environment)
• Field work (quadrat or transect studies)

Incursions

• An age-appropriate interactive PowerPoint presentation
• Investigation of coastal plant adaptations using samples taken from a living ecosystem
• Plant and animal identification activities
• Virtual seagrass meadow exploration
• Active “Protect the Coastline” game (necessitates an awareness of the importance of seagrass, mangrove and beach ecosystems)
• Quiz (with prizes!) to assess comprehension

• Awareness and knowledge of seagrass ecosystems
• Appreciation for the diversity of coastal organisms
• A basic understanding of how seagrass ecosystems work including knowledge of food chains/webs, habitats and propagules.
• Awareness of the impacts of human activities on seagrass meadows (and other coastal environments) both locally and globally
• Knowledge of local and largescale environmental issues affecting seagrass meadows including habitat destruction, overharvesting, invasive species, habitat fragmentation and pollution
• Learning of sustainable behaviours that minimise these issues
• A sense of connection to and feeling of stewardship towards Australia’s seagrass meadows
• An understanding of the complex processes involved in managing our coastal environments in a sustainable manner.

Below is an example itinerary for a 1-day “Seagrass Meadows” excursion. All excursion packages include the necessary work booklets and equipment.