Interested In The Life Aquatic…?

Developed by the National Marine Institute, the Marine Explorers Programme gives kids a chance to learn all about our maritime environment.

And it’s now being rolled out to Wicklow schools by Bray’s Sea Life Aquarium.

So you’ll finally be able to discover what exactly goes on in an octopus’s garden.

Here’s the blurb…

Bray Sea Life Aquarium are rolling out their Marine Explorers Programme to schools across the county again this year, meaning that even more primary school children will have an opportunity to learn about our maritime environment.

The Explorers Programme, developed by the National Marine Institute, aims to build on Ireland’s marine heritage by increasing awareness of the value, opportunities and social benefits of our ocean wealth and identity. This programme is delivered on the ground in Wicklow by the Bray SEA LIFE Aquarium, and is primarily for 5th and 6th classes.

Pat Ó Súilleabháin, manager of Bray Sea Life Aquarium, said. “When a school signs up to the programme, the Bray Aquarium visit the school and install a marine water tank, with some sample species of fish, that the children and teachers take care of and study over the course of the 4 weeks.”

“Importantly, experts from the Aquarium train the teachers in marine science and ecology and provide them with all the resources required to enable them to teach the subject over the course of the 4 week programme. Also as part of this programme, the children take a day trip to the Bray Aquarium, where they see and learn all about the marine life off our coasts.”

Social Democrat Cllr. Jennifer Whitmore, who has been working on this project with the Aquarium and whose background is in marine science, said: “I’m very excited about the expansion of this programme across the county. Not only are we very lucky in Wicklow to have such a lovely coastline to enjoy, but we have the experts at the Aquarium to help us learn about our marine habitat and the creatures that live in it. This is a great opportunity for our school children to delve into the marine a little and find their inner marine biologist.”

This year, the Bray Sea Life Aquarium are particularly interested in hearing from schools in south and west Wicklow. If your school is interested please contact Pauline at [email protected] for further information. Please note that a maximum of 12 classes can be facilitated per term.