Ocean Learning and Fun with the Atlantic Guardians Project
Since the start of the Atlantic Guardians Project, under the “Community engagement” strand, we’ve been running exciting learning sessions at St Mary’s School here on Tristan, helping children discover the wonders of our pristine environment, the Marine Protection Zone (MPZ), and why caring for it is so important.
From the very beginning, these sessions have encouraged pupils to get hands-on and passionate about protecting Tristan’s unique wildlife and marine world. They’ve taken part in awareness days, beach clean-ups, whale watching, and even taken to the water to learn about diving! Children also connected with our sister islands, St Helena and Ascension, as part of the wider South Atlantic Schools Network created by the project, sharing what they’ve learned about ocean care and sustainability.
As the Atlantic Guardians project nears its end, we’re thrilled that the marine-themed sessions at St Mary’s School will continue and even expand. The programme now includes the whole school, from Playgroup through to Classes 1–5, with three weekly sessions for different age groups. Here’s a look at what we’ve been up to recently:
Playgroup (Ages 3–5)
Our youngest ocean explorers have been learning about the sea, their favourite marine animals, and the best ways to keep the beach clean. They now know how important it is to put litter in the bin, so it doesn’t end up in the ocean!
We even played a fun ocean memory game, finding where the Blue Shark, Rockhopper Penguin, Subantarctic Fur Seal, and Tristan Crayfish were hiding.
Classes 1 & 2 (Ages 6–9)
These budding conservationists also explored the wonders of the ocean and learned how to protect it. They took part in a sustainable fishing activity, measuring crayfish to see which ones were big enough to keep and which needed to be returned to the sea.
On a sunny day, they headed to the beach to see what washes up on our shores, learning how to safely collect rubbish, especially sharp items. Along the way, they found beautiful shells, spotted seals resting in the water, and even saw baby crayfish along the shore. The day ended perfectly with everyone dipping their feet in the water to cool off and have some fun!
Classes 3–5 (Ages 10–16)
Our older students, already ocean-savvy, have been taking things to the next level. Using new litter pickers provided through our Blue Park Award funds, they’ve been carrying out regular beach clean-ups, keeping our coastline clean and safe.
They’ve also enjoyed indoor learning sessions with visitors from the UK’s Blue Belt Programme, comparing fishing practices in the UK and Tristan.
Recently, the class connected virtually with the Save a Fishie initiative in South Africa and Two Boats School on Ascension to share how we each tackle marine pollution. They learned that Ascension Island organises beach cleans before turtle nesting season to help hatchlings reach the sea safely.
Through curiosity, teamwork, and a love for the ocean, the students of St Mary’s are becoming true guardians of the sea, learning how small actions can make a big difference.
Posted in: Outreach, Tristan News
Posted in: Outreach, Tristan News