NSWA - Bintang Laut Joint Program:
Experiential Marine Conservation Education
The NSWA – Bintang Laut program ensures that students have the time of their lives while learning lessons relevant to their local natural environment. They experience hands-on lessons in the park, including learning to snorkel in order to discover the diverse reefs of Bunaken. This field trip / mini-camp program design covers a wide variety of topics related to biology and ecology of coastal ecosystems e.g. Coral Reefs, Seagrass Beds, and Mangrove Forests and the threats they face. Most importantly, students gain a sense of understanding, caring, and thus ownership of the marine and coastal ecosystems which inspires them to protect and conserve their environment.
Bintang Laut has selected several key lessons from their Core Program and are funded by the NSWA to provide the program to local elementary students. The program is being run at the Marine Environmental Education Centre on Bunaken Island. In 2006/2007, 240 students and 30 teachers from within the Bunaken National Park boundaries had this incredible opportunity. Plans for 2007/8 include expanding the program, to offer it to schoolchildren who live in villages alongside the Lembeh Strait, on the opposite side of North Sulawesi, as well as the islands of Gangga and Bangka. The program should reach over 350 students and 60 teachers.
Bintang Laut and the North Sulawesi Watersports Association recognize that education is an essential element in Conservation, and through this program are taking an active role in protecting the North Sulawesi Sea Scape. This program will have a very positive effect on the reefs and coastal communities in Bunaken National Park and Lembeh Strait.
