Home / Environmental Education Program / Little Ocean Explorers

Little Ocean Explorers

Program Snapshot

AGE

3-5 years

GROUP SIZE

12-25

DURATION

30 minutes to 1 hour.

LOCATION

At your centre or a beach in Ocean Grove or Barwon Heads.

WHEN

Mon-Thus 9am-4pm.

CURRICULUM LINKS

Early Years Learning Framework – Outcome 2: Children are connected with and contribute to their world.

Suggested Resources

 Bukareeyoo – YouTube video ADD and reorder to this:
The Great Southern Reef by Paul Venzo and Prue Francis (picture book)
Cool.org – Early Learning Teaching Resources – Oceans
Friends of the Bluff
Melbourne Down Under – Life in Port Phillip Bay – YouTube video
Wadawurrung Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation – browse the Resources tab

We’re lucky to live by the beach, and we all enjoy it in different ways. In this interactive activity, children will be offered things to safely touch, while learning about our amazing local wildlife, our coastal environments, and how we all help care for the coast. 

This activity can be held at the beach (e.g. during a beach kinder session) or in your centre, where we’ll bring aspects of the ocean to you!

  • This activity will cover topics such as:
  • Wadawurrung connections to Country
  • Ways people use and enjoy the beach
  • Marine and coastal environments – ocean, rockpools, beach, sand dunes
  • The Great Southern Reef and its unique marine life
  • Threatened species – the Hooded Plover
  • Caring for the coast – e.g. leaving shells behind, marine pollution, avoiding waste and picking up litter, protecting sand dunes, dogs on beaches, fishing regulations, Hooded Plovers.

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Running your own beach kinder activities on land managed by Barwon Coast? 
Please fill in our Event Permit Application Form to register your activity.

Things to know before your activity

About our team

Activities are typically delivered by Barwon Coast’s Education and Volunteer Coordinator.

Who we run activities for

Why we run them - care for the coast right here, building knowledge and stewardship
Kindergartens, primary and secondary school groups, TAFE and university groups…
With just one educator at Barwon Coast.. focus our time working with groups in our local communities of Ocean Grove, Barwon Heads and Breamlea, and secondary schools in Armstrong Creek and Geelong.

We also offer activities to groups staying in the caravan parks we manage - Riverview Family Caravan Park, Barwon Heads Caravan Park and Breamlea Caravan Park (add links). Visit…to find out more about booking a stay for your group.

Why our activities are free of charge

Our job is to care for the coast, and this includes what we do to encourage locals and visitors to connect with and care for Country too. Providing free education activities within our local communities, and for people staying in the caravan parks we manage, means more people are equipped with the knowledge to treat our special places with care and respect.

In return, we hope you will enjoy being in nature and look after it, for example picking up litter, staying off the fragile sand dunes, not feeding the wildlife, and sharing these messages with friends and family.

Other local environmental activity providers/places to visit

Tap into these other people and places on the Bellarine Peninsula:

In return, we hope you will enjoy being in nature and look after it, for example picking up litter, staying off the fragile sand dunes, not feeding the wildlife, and sharing these messages with friends and family.

Other local environmental activity providers/places to visit

Tap into these other people and places on the Bellarine Peninsula:

In return, we hope you will enjoy being in nature and look after it, for example picking up litter, staying off the fragile sand dunes, not feeding the wildlife, and sharing these messages with friends and family.

What will happen in the lead up to my booking?
  • When your booking is finalised we’ll email a booking confirmation letter.
  • Please get in touch a week before your activity to confirm all details.
  • We may email you a media consent form seeking permission to take photographs of participants during the activity.
What are my responsibilities during the activity?

Your teachers/leaders are responsible for:

  • Supervising participants in compliance with Victorian Department of Education (or other) requirements, including student/teacher ratios.
  • Managing participants’ safety, welfare, medical conditions and needs. At least one of your leaders must be qualified in First Aid.
  • Ensuring participants are dressed appropriately for the weather conditions and have access to drinking water, sun protection and warm clothing. Sturdy, enclosed shoes are required for outdoor activities including beach and rockpool activities.
Can I make changes to the booked activity?

Coastal and marine environments are sensitive to weather and change, which can have some risks associated. If your activity is taking place outdoors, please be aware we may alter or cancel it at short notice if safety is compromised.

On the day of your activity, if you have any issues or are running late, please contact the Barwon Coast office on 5254 1118. Note we may not have availability to change or reschedule your activity.

Is there access to toilet facilities?

Activities held at Ocean Grove Main Beach and Barwon Heads have public toilets nearby. Both provide accessible toilets, and a Changing Places toilet will open at Ocean Grove Main Beach in XXX.

Activities around the Barwon Bluff do not have access to toilets nearby, so we suggest a visit before your activity!

Activities near water

Barwon Coast does not provide activities where participants will enter water, e.g. the ocean or river. Please note that teachers/group leaders are responsible for ensuring participants follow the safety instructions we provide, particularly along riverbanks, on bridges and on rocky ledges.

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