Lagoon Adventure educational program
Lagoon Adventure is an educational program focusing on coral reefs, available for all Cycle 3 classes of primary schools in Polynesia. Its contents have been designed according to the national educational standards, and validated by the Department of Primary Schools (DEP) of French Polynesia.
This educational program is for Cycle 3 classes only. The first part of the program takes place inside. A video on coral reefs, their ecology, their species and their threats, is shown to the children.
Several interactive games and activities are proposed to the children after that, and help them understand the richness of the underwater world.
The second part of the program consists in the visit of the underwater trail, created in the lagoon of the Hotel InterContinental Resort & Spa.
This coral garden aims at preserving the marine environment and raising awareness amongst visitors.
Equipped with masks, the children evolve in secured shallow waters, discovering right in front of them the secret life of the coral reef.
An unforgetable experience and lesson to better understand the needed protection and sustainable management of coral reefs.
For any inquiry about Lagoon Adventure or for booking, please contact:
Vie Jourdan – Education Officer, te mana o te moana
tel: 56.40.11 – vie.temana@gmail.com
“Sustainable Reefs” in French Polynesia
In 2007-2008, te mana o te moana conducted a large awareness raising project on coral reefs protection for Polynesian schoolchildren, using a toolkit and giving presentations in schools.
The starting point of the project was when te mana o te moana met with Jean-Michel Cousteau (who has now become one of te mana o te moana’s patrons), whose organisation, Ocean Futures Society, had created an educational toolkit to raise awareness amongst young generations about coral reefs sustainable management.
This toolkit was first distributed on the American Samoa Islands and British Virgin Islands. It has then been entirey translated into French, and adapted to the Polynesian local context.
A free of charge educational kit called “Sustainable reefs” was given to all CM2 classes (students aged 8 to 12) of all Polynesian public and private schools prior to the beginning of the 2007-2008 schoolyear.
In addition, during the schoolyear, presentations on coral reefs were given in schools by specially trained educators from te mana o te moana.
“Sustainable Reefs” has reached 4205 students aged 8 to 12, and 173 teachers (this represents 80 % of the classes of this age range). They all have been provided with resources in order to start an educational project with their class on coral reefs.
Geographical range of the project:
22 islands have received this presentation (there are 121 islands in French Polynesia – 76 islands are inhabited and 35 islands have at least one school)
Marquesas : Ua Pou, Nuku Hiva, Ua Huka, Hiva Oa
Australes : Rurutu, Tubuai
Tuamotu : Tikehau, Rangiroa, Manihi, Ahe, Fakarava, Hao, Takaroa, Makemo, Arutua
Leeward Islands : Huahine, Tahaa, Raiatea, Bora Bora, Maupiti
+ All schools in Tahiti and Moorea
Educational kits and cartoon books (one per student) remain a school property. These educational resources have been used by educators each year, raising awareness amongst about 20,000 students in 5 years.
>> More information on the content of the “Sustainable Reefs” toolkit
Te mana o te moana also announced a school contest on coral reefs for CM2 schoolchildren. The results of the contest have been announced on the 8th of June 2008, the World Ocean Day. Children were asked to create awareness raising tools for the public on coral reefs protection (poster, leaflet or video).
This project has been implemented in partnership with Ocean Futures Society, with support from Paul and Karen Freeman, InterContinental Hotel French Polynesia group, IFRECOR, the Polynesian Ministry of Sustainable Development, the Polynesian Ministry of Education, Moorea Dolphin Center, Air Tahiti, Aremiti, Reef Check.
A book on Coral Reefs in the French Overseas Territories
In the continuity of the “Sustainable Reefs” toolkit, te mana o te moana decided to create a complementary tool, targeting teenagers and highschools students in French overseas territories.
Truly oasis of life, and basis of alimentation for all people living near coastal areas, coral reefs are a source of employment for more than 100 million persons throughout the world. For inhabitants of French overseas territories, this natural heritage is essential for life.
However, the economic, as well as aesthetic importance of coral reefs is little considered. We thus feel great urgency to increase awareness and education, which are the necessary first steps in achieving sustainable management of coral reefs and their associated fisheries.
The booklet on Coral Reefs is an education and awareness-building initiative for French overseas territories, most of which see their coral reefs in peril, and targets teachers of the 14-15 years old students.
Its content is adapted to the French overseas territories and includes various tools and exercises.
>> Download the Book on coral reefs in French overseas territories
At the beginning of the 2011-2012 school year, each highschool on the islands of Mayotte, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Réunion, Wallis et Futuna, Martinique, French Polynesia and New Caledonia received 4 copies of the Coral Reefs book along with a CD ROM.
To date, this project has reached
7 French Overseas territories
226 highschools in French Overseas territories
more than 25.000 students in French Overseas territories
This project was funded by the Foundation WWF France and the IFRECOR (French Initiatives for Coral Reefs).
