Explore Your Coast | Coastal Education Programme

Mar 3
2 min read

Dr Nicole Miller speaking with primary school students during an Explore Your Coast marine education session.

This article provides information about science-related experiences to support school planning. You can view more experiences across Aotearoa here.

Explore Your Coast offers hands-on coastal education experiences that bring students into Aotearoa New Zealand’s dynamic marine and shoreline environments. Rather than learning about coastal ecosystems from a textbook, students investigate real beaches, rocky shores and estuaries, exploring the living systems that shape our coastline.

This coastal education programme supports place-based learning and encourages students to understand how land, sea and people are connected.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T2ttFA7ToOQ

Watch the trailer on YouTube here and read more about the documentary, including film festival awards here.

Programme Information

The Explore Your Coast coastal education programme is delivered in two parts, combining film, expert insight and immersive marine experience.

Part One – Learning and Exploration (approximately 60 minutes)

Students begin with an introduction to the Explore Your Coast team and key coastal concepts.

The session includes a screening of the multi-award-winning short documentary Seaweed, A Love Story, which can be presented to a full school assembly or multiple classes.

Following the film, students participate in an interactive Q&A session with the film’s lead and Explore Your Coast founder, Dr Nicole Miller.

Learning activities are tailored to year level:

Primary schools

Hands-on, role-play learning about Wellington’s rocky reefs
Exploration of how marine ecosystems function and how they can be protected

Secondary schools

Guided discussions exploring themes such as:

Marine conservation and ecosystem-based management
The ecological role of seaweed and kelp forests in biodiversity and climate action
Kaitiakitanga and mana whenua leadership in marine stewardship
Blue carbon, marine technology and monitoring
Marine spatial planning
The role of film and art in ocean storytelling

Schools also receive learning resources in English and Te Reo Māori, including books for primary school libraries (subject to availability).

Part Two – Immersive Experience (approximately 30 minutes)

Students take part in a virtual dive within Taputeranga Marine Reserve.

This 360° VR experience can accommodate up to 60 students at a time and provides an accessible way to explore Wellington’s underwater ecosystems, including for students who may not snorkel or dive.

An alternative option combines the virtual dive with a focused “deep dive” discussion session tailored to curriculum goals for smaller groups.