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Photo supplied: Libby Edge
More than 750 students have stepped out of the classroom and into the world of marine conservation at Eco Barge Clean Seas, learning how they can help care for the Great Barrier Reef.
Launched in May, the school excursion program gives primary and secondary students a chance to see marine science at work right here in the Whitsundays.
Support from the Queensland Government’s Engaging Science Grants Program 2026 helped expand the organisation’s established Eco HQ tours into the Future Reef Protectors – Eco HQ Schools Experience Program.
Based at Eco HQ in Jubilee Pocket, home of the Whitsunday Turtle Rescue Centre, the visits bring classroom lessons to life through hands-on activities linked to the school curriculum.
Students discover what happens when marine debris enters the ocean, explore recycling and learn about the work involved in rescuing and rehabilitating turtles. They also look at coastal ecosystems and the science behind protecting the marine environment.
Along the way, they’re encouraged to think about the challenges facing the Reef and find practical ways to make a difference in their own lives.
Eco Barge Clean Seas founder and CEO Libby Edge said the response from schools had been incredibly encouraging.
“Giving young people the opportunity to see conservation in action and get involved in hands-on learning is such an important part of creating long-term change,” Libby said.
“We want students to leave Eco HQ understanding that they have a role to play in protecting our oceans and the Great Barrier Reef, and that even small actions in their everyday lives can have a positive impact.”
For students curious about where that interest could take them, the program also introduces careers in marine science, turtle care, conservation, environmental management and ecotourism.
Eco Barge hopes to welcome more young people from across the Whitsundays and surrounding regional communities, building on the success of the first school visits with further curriculum-aligned STEM experiences.
The excursion is also eligible for the Great Barrier Reef Education Experience Program, helping eligible schools give students the chance to learn about and connect with the Reef.
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