Mercury Bay Area School Year 6 students, 121 of them, recently participated in the Experiencing Martine Reserves (EMR) programme. As their Community Action Project students Amelia Jones and Lily Henderson advertised a beach clean-up last Saturday (28 March) at Mother Browns Creek. They held a sausage sizzle with spot prizes and asked for donations to go to The Friends of Te Whanganui o Hei Marine Reserve Trust. The Trust is the delivery provider for the EMR programme in the Coromandel/ Hauraki area.
Roughly 30 people joined the girls and removed 40 kg of rubbish from the beach! Spot prizes were donated by Endeavour Print, Black Jack Surf, Glass Bottom Boat, Mercury Twin Cinema and Buffalo Beach Club. The girls raised over $100 through their sausage sizzle which they plan to donate to the Trust to help more kids Experience Marine Reserves.
The Experiencing Martine Reserves (EMR) programme is a national initiative in New Zealand that aims to raise awareness, understanding and involvement in marine conservation through hands-on education experiences. The program is designed to connect schools and communities with the marine environment, providing them with the opportunity to explore and learn about marine reserves. Participants engage in various activities, including guided snorkel experiences, skill building sessions and community action projects to foster a deeper connection with their local marine environments and promote marine conservation.
For more information, or to register your school’s interest in the Experiencing Marine Reserves or Whitebait Connection programmes, please contact: Hauraki/Coromandel Regional Coordinator, Shona Whittaker – shona@mountainstosea.org.nz
