Students, teachers and parents from Cowaramup Primary School headed to Gracetown Beach on Cowaramup Bay for their annual G'Day to the Bay outing.
The 'all of school' excursion included students from Kindergarten to Year Six and allowed them to embrace the outdoors with hands-on environmental and cultural learning activities in the students extended 'backyard'.
The focus is to raise awareness of the marine flora and fauna, waterway health, sustainability, safety, indigenous culture and respect for the environment we live, work and play within.
- Nicole Lincoln
"The focus of the event is to raise awareness of the local marine flora and fauna, catchment waterway health, sustainability, beach safety, local indigenous culture and to help foster respect for the environment we are lucky to live, work and play within," said event organiser Nicole Lincoln.
The day commenced with a Welcome to Country, before the children headed off into groups to enjoy three educational activities, appropriate to their year level.
Students had the chance to pat snakes, investigate seaweeds and star fish, build sand marine creatures, bird-watch with binoculars, operate microscopes to discover marine macro invertebrates and much more.
"A definite highlight was the jet ski Teacher vs Parent race put on by Augusta Margaret River Sea Rescue," said Ms Lincoln.
Education activity providers included Parks and Wildlife, Nearer to Nature, Augusta Margaret River Shire, Discover Deadly, Fisheries - DPIRD, Margaret River Busselton Tourism Association, Busselton Jetty, Water Corporation, Whale Warriors, Sea Rescue, Ngari Capes Marine Park, Augusta Margaret River Sea Rescue, Birdlife Australia and Surf Life Saving.
"The event was made possible with the help of 40 volunteer parents, 30 local educators, Cowaramup Primary staff and sponsorship from the Cowaramup Lions, Cowaramup Tube Nursery, Beer Farm, Evans and Tate, Voyager Estate, Howard Park Wines, Jilyara, Cape Mentelle and Vasse Felix.
"Thank you to the Cowaramup community for helping to make this event great."