Year 8 and 9 students who love the ocean and beach are encouraged to apply for Green Adelaide’s 2022 Youth Coastal Ambassador program, which will run in the April school holidays.
Applications for the northern session – based out of North Haven and St Kilda – have been extended.
Accepted participants will take part in a 2-day session where they’ll get hands-on experience, learn from experts, connect with Kaurna Meyunna culture through fire and cooking, and explore the coast through kayaking and snorkelling.
Green Adelaide Director Brenton Grear said that this is a great program for passionate students who really want to learn about and help look after Adelaide’s stunning coast and marine environment.
“This opportunity only comes around once a year, and is only offered to a small group of around 30 young people,” he said.
“It’s perfect for students who wants to help look after Adelaide’s coast and marine environment, and who are maybe considering pursuing a career in this field.”
Two sessions will run in 2022 – one in the north (one day each at North Haven and St Kilda) and one in the South (Port Noarlunga) – with approximately 16 students accepted into each.
Topics covered in the program include: marine ecology, environments and organisms of the Adelaide coast, Tirkandi – Country, Culture and Connection (Kaurna Meyunna), and pathways for getting involved in marine conservation in Adelaide.
Mr Grear said that there is no prior knowledge needed.
“This is an opportunity to really be immersed in Adelaide’s local environments and rich cultural history,” he said.
“At the end of the program, we hope that the new ambassadors will share what they have learnt with their family and friends, and really become an advocate for our coast.”
The program is led by Ocean Imaging marine biologist and filmmaker Stefan Andrews, and Senior Cultural Custodian Karl Winda Telfer of Yellaka, and funded by Green Adelaide.
It’s free and open to year 8 and 9 students living in the Green Adelaide region, which extends from the Gawler River in the north, down to Sellicks Beach in the south.
Applications for the northern session close Tuesday 22 March 2022 at 9 am.
Image courtesy of Baxter Wiles.