FINAL I SEA I CARE REPORT FOR 2025
I Sea I Care has demonstrated how to care for our environment through engaging and interactive workshops. Once each term, we visited a beach, school, or reserve to learn from the experts at the Dolphin Research Institute. My experience with I Sea I Care has been truly remarkable, offering me invaluable insights into environmental protection, both at school and beyond.
The fourth workshop stands out as my favorite (besides the dolphin swim in Term One), where we explored Indigenous plants and native wildlife at Jack's Beach. We encountered a variety of tree species, including Paperbark, Prickly Hedge Wattles, and Tea Trees. It was fascinating to learn that the Bunurong People, the Indigenous community around Jack's Beach, historically used Paperbark trees in numerous ways, such as wrapping meats and vegetables in the bark before cooking them over an open flame. We gained a deeper understanding of the native wildlife at Jack's Beach and were fortunate enough to spot a wild Tawny Frogmouth perched in a tree.
My time with I Sea I Care has been incredibly memorable, and it is an experience I will cherish for years to come. Learning how we can make a difference in our environment and protect it, not just for ourselves but also for the wildlife, is invaluable. By helping the environment, we ensure its preservation for future generations.
Written by Elizabeth Chhor
Hi, my name is Ethan, and I will be talking about I Sea I Care. On the 12th of November, the 6, I sea I care ambassadors for Highvale Primary School drove to Jacks Beach in the Mornington Peninsula. We first assembled with the other schools. The first activity we did was taking a walk through the forest trail, as the I Sea I care person showed us the different types of plants and the uses for them. Like the stringy paper bark, which helped the Aboriginal/ Torres Strait Islanders with food preparation.
The next activity was fire making, where there was a hole in a piece of wood that another stick fits perfectly in. We split into different groups and tried our luck. Our group was so close! We saw a small plume of smoke but only for a second. The end of our stick was hot at the end. The instructor showed us, him doing it, HE WAS SO GOOD! He got it to smoke within 10 seconds! Responsibly, he stopped soon after to not start a forest fire.
The last and final activity was really fun, the instructor picked leaves of a plant and gave them to us to taste. It was very salty! She said it was because of the saltiness of the sea altering the plants taste. We saw a bush that was covered in spikes, but when your gentle with the plant, the spikes retract.
Lastly, we went back to Highvale. Overall, it was a fun and educational experience that I loved. If you love the environment, then apply for I Sea I Care when you’re in Yr6. You’ll love it!
Written by Ethan Shoshan
I sea I care has been an unforgettable experience that I will cherish for years to come. It’s been one of my favourite highlights of Year 6. Being an I sea I care ambassador has been really fun, and I’m very grateful that I got the opportunity to apply for this amazing program. I’ve really enjoyed going to the workshops with my fellow ambassadors, (I mean, who wouldn’t want to skip school for a day?) and learning so many new things about our marine life and how we can protect it. Our oceans are beautiful, and I’ve always been passionate to do the little bit I can to protect all the animals that call it home. Getting to “sea” them up close just hits different than seeing them on Netflix documentaries. It makes you realise how unique and breathtaking the life underneath the surface is. This is why the first excursion back in Term 1 was the highlight of my I sea I care experience.
Back in March, the I sea I care ambassadors went off on their very first workshop of the year, the dolphin swim, out on Port Phillip Bay. I still remember the excitement in the air when we spotted the dining-table-sized Manta Ray cruising underneath the boardwalk. That was just one of mother nature’s marvels that we witnessed that day. Out in the ocean, we swam with enormous Australian Fur Seals that kept sliding off their rock, and tiny Weedy Sea Dragons that we couldn’t tell apart from the seaweed. After, we even enjoyed a nice warm cup of hot chocolate; the water was freezing! It was a memorable experience, and a really fun excursion to go to.
Another highlight for me was the peer teaching workshop at Wheelers’ Hill Primary School. We learnt how to teach little kids about marine life. It was notable because we got to open little kids’ eyes and pass on our knowledge to young minds. There, we ran an interactive lesson for the year 4s, with a script, props and everything. It was really fun, the kids loved it! I think that was the excursion that really inspired us to start something up at our school and raise awareness to our community. It made us realize that we could continue I sea I care outside of school, and that it takes one person to make big changes.
And that’s pretty much the lesson of I sea I care. You see the issue, you care for it, and you do something about it. Overall, I sea I care has been a great experience for me and I really enjoyed being an ambassador because as I said before, I’ve learnt so much and this whole program has been a great step in my understanding, care and passion for the environment. I’m really grateful for all the amazing people at the Dolphin Research Institute involved in planning and organizing the excursions, not just for our school but for all the ambassadors out there. I’m grateful for all the awesome parents for taking time off work to get us all the way there. I’m also thankful for Mrs. Scully for coming with us to all the workshops and looking after us there, and to Mrs. Drew for organising I sea I care at the start of the year. None of our outings would have been possible if it weren’t for these amazing people’s work and effort, so I’m really thankful for that.
It’s really been an amazing experience.
Written by Aarna Dhasmana
My Favorite Memories From Being An "I Sea I Care" Ambassador
Being an ‘I sea I care Ambassador’ was an unforgettable experience that left a major mark on my understanding of marine conservation. This program not only deepened my appreciation for the ocean but also inspired me to be more proactive in protecting our marine environment. Here are some of my favorite memories from this incredible journey.
Learning from Marine Experts
The excursion was enriched by the presence of knowledgeable marine biologists who shared their insights and expertise with us. Through interactive workshops and hands-on activities, we learned about the challenges facing our oceans, such as pollution. The passion and dedication of these experts were amazing, and their stories of successful conservation efforts inspiring.
The Peer Teaching Experience
With our newfound knowledge, it was time for us to step into the role of educators. We taught a small class the importance of protecting coral reefs and the beautiful animals that live inside. We spent time discussing the threats facing these critical ecosystems, such as pollution global warming and how you can do your bit help the enviroment.
Written by Kurtis Lamb
The I sea I care ambassadors Kurtis, Elizabeth, Aarna, Grace, Ethan and I, Maya, have had a lovely year of learning and experiencing the environment. Sadly, the year has come to an end, and we had our very last I see I care excursion about a month and a half ago. We first learnt how to make a fire in a unique way with a rare type of stick and next we went on a nature walk which was really cool because we could eat some of the plants.
My favorite excursion was the very first one because we got to swim with seals. Although the water was freezing cold, I still enjoyed it with our warm watery hot chocolates. The seals kept swimming under us, and it was a little scary for me not knowing what they would do. The whole experience was something I had never experienced before, and I really appreciate how our school gave us the opportunity to do that.
Our second excursion was interesting because we got to teach younger kids about how to care for the environment and our third excursion was learning about frogs and finding things in the pond, which was cool, even though I accidentally stepped into the lake. Overall, we all certainly had a lovely time.
I would like to say thank you to Mrs. Scully for coming with us to all four excursions and to Kav, Oren, Justin and Anne for driving us to the excursions.
Written by Maya Thananjeyan
