In February Reef Ecologic delivered a Reef Resilience Workshop at Townsville State High School. Reef Check Australia GBR Co-ordinator Jenni Calcraft and Reef Ecologic’s Tracey Uber Cook shared knowledge and insights about how to build resilience not only in coral reefs but also within yourself.
Reef Ecologic have embarked on these workshops in recognition that many people these days are feeling overwhelmed about the challenges facing our natural ecosystems. We realised that for people to implement behavioural change in their own lives, or to try to support the health and resilience of natural ecosystems, individuals need to be able to find a level of peace, serenity, and balance within themselves.
Tracey started the workshop by explaining the various layer of ourselves and then leading students through a series of gentle flowing movements and provided guidance on how, when the world seems a bit overwhelming we, as individuals, can use simple movements, breathing techniques, and mindfulness to help bring calm and balance back to our inner worlds. We can then think, speak and act from a place of greater clarity, compassion, and wisdom.
Jenni followed with a presentation on coral reefs, outlining the challenges they are facing and introduced some actions we can all take to support their ongoing resilience. Students brainstormed ideas they could implement in their own schools and made pledges to undertake actions themselves that can support the health of coral reefs.
The students were enthusiastic and found the session extremely fulfilling. The intention is to follow up with them in a few months’ time to see how they are doing with their pledges. At the conclusion of the session the students were awarded with Junior Ambassador certificates in recognition of their commitment to continue to implement changes to support the health and resilience of the Great Barrier Reef.
Reef Ecologic’s Integrated Coral Reef Citizen Science Program is funded by the partnership between the Australian Government’s Reef Trust and the Great Barrier Reef Foundation.
For more information or to host your own workshop please contact Nathan Cook at nathan.cook@reefecologic.org