Marine Education and Awareness
Mahonia Na Dari’s marine education and awareness program has proven to be a powerful tool in building support for conservation, increasing environmental awareness and inspiring local action to protect reefs, waterways, turtle nesting areas, sea grass beds, mangrove areas and cultural sites. It has three main components:
• The Marine Environmental Education Program (MEEP)
• Field excursions
• Outreach activities
The Marine Environmental Education Program
First developed 1997, in The Marine Environment Education Program (MEEP) was an interactive teaching approach aimed at enhancing the conservation knowledge of secondary school children within the Kimbe area.
Today MEEP is structured across six different levels, ranging from community engagement to school-based learning. By bringing together local and scientific knowledge, the program introduces students and community members to key concepts in biology, ecology, climate change, and conservation through seminars and practical learning experiences.
Sections of the MND MEEP manual have been incorporated into the mainstream provincial primary school curriculum and developments are underway to make this a digitally downloadable resource.
Intensive MEEP
A five day program for secondary and high school students.
Classroom and extensive practical sessions cover a wide range of subjects including marine biology, conservation, scientific survey methods and coral reef ecology.
Junior MEEP
A full day program for primary school students to help them better understand marine biodiversity, conservation concepts and the process of climate change.
Community MEEP
A program led by Mahonia educators outside of the classroom.
Designed to encourage collaboration between emerging and current local leaders while fostering greater interest in marine science and conservation within local communities.
Outreach MEEP
A program designed to reach as many people as possible, Mahonia conducts outreach activities, visiting schools and villages both in West New Britain and further afield.
These outreach activities are suitable for adults and students and are conducted by Mahonia Na Dari staff and trained marine educators.
Baby MEEP
Students aged 6 - 10
participate in a half day program.
Content includes reef walks, storytelling, artwork, videos and puppet shows.
Teacher MEEP
A five day workshop designed to better equip teachers with the skills they need to deliver effective environmental education in schools and communities.
"Education is the most powerful weapon we can use to change the world."
Nelson Mandela
Field Excursions
Field excursions run by Mahonia Na Dari, based at Walindi Nature Centre, take many forms depending on the specific requests from the community and schools. Community groups sometimes want those placed in positions of responsibility regarding marine resources to have the opportunity for hands on experience of coral reefs and their inter-relationship with reef inhabitants.
Similarly, secondary school students with a particular interest in the marine environment can request a Biology Field Excursion or Intensive MEEP. Students then have practical hands on sessions in subjects and issues of their choice.
Primary and elementary students are also catered for along with other interested groups. The participants can come from anywhere in the country or overseas for up to five days at a time. The groups are accommodated in the dormitory style facility at Walindi Nature Centre with options for catered or self catering available. Mahonia Na Dari staff conduct the program with input from visiting scientists and researchers.
Contact us to discuss your community, school or other group visit.
Student Training Programme
Recently in 2025, Mahonia Na Dari has run a pilot training programme aimed at training university level students in marine field survey techniques.
Over the course of two weeks, students learn how to run abiotic, fish and benthic surveys on the inshore reefs close to Mahonia. Culminating in generating a research report or presentation which they can take back to their university.
To see some of the students outputs, click the link below.