Well, 2025 is well underway, and in this piece we are reflecting on the Marine Ecology Summer School of 2024. Following feedback from our attendees in 2023 we decided to make the school more focused and lay the foundation for a new active Junior Ecology Club in Selsey to help with the work of CHASM. Our priority remained reaching those younger members of our community who would not normally have the opportunity or means to take part, encourage them to build connections with the marine environment, and work as teams so they are ready to conduct surveys, monitor sites and record the changes that they see.
Divided into two age groups, the first being 8-11 and the second 12-16. We focused the Summer School on training, so reducing the group sizes from 2023 to ensure safety and quality of training. The younger group worked towards the SSI Snorkel Diver program and the older group the SSI Basic Freediver program. We required all new equipment for in the water and for survey training, this would not have been possible without a grant secured from Ferry Farm Community Solar, we thank you for supporting the 2024 Summer School.
With the objective clear, funding secured, and equipment in place we set about filling the spaces which were offered free to families in receipt of hardship funds or who were referred by schools or other youth organisations. With the help of Youth Dream, The Young Peoples’ Shop, Pastoral Care, Nature’s Way and Selsey Community Forum we reached out to find our young Marine Citizen Scientists. The response was good, and it was lovely to see returning faces from 2023, some even brought siblings with them.
Over six half days they trained and worked together, the enthusiasm was fabulous, and they achieved so much including academic sessions and equipment workshops, planning workshops, water safety and team work, two in water training sessions learning and consolidating their skills, breathing workshops for the freedivers, macro photography workshops, learning how to conduct walkover and quadrant surveys and about the species that you can find locally. One participant was a non-swimmer, so on the in-water sessions he helped staff provide vital surface and safety support to the teams in water and conducted micro beach surveys. To reward his enthusiasm, we are now sponsoring him to learn to SWIM with us so he can join in the in-water sessions in future.
Teamwork was important, moving forward they will work together to be safe and make their results count so at the end of sessions they were able to nominate the teams and individuals that they thought had improved the most or worked the best together. Staff got to add in their votes and certificates were won.
Overall, the weather was kind, the visibility could have been a little better in the water but the marine life nor the summer school did not care. They met crustaceans, molluscs, macro algae, sponges, cnidarians and plenty of fish. We had smiles, laughs and plenty of snacks were consumed. Congratulations to you all on achieving so much!
We are now working on the next stage of the program – the vision is regular monthly monitoring of sites in Selsey over the next few years, providing data on habitat and species changes, looking at water quality and so much more in conjunction with CHASM. When asked all our initial trainees want to do more and are keen to get started, we just need to secure some funding to supplement our contribution!
When you make a purchase, take a course, or come exploring with Mulberry Marine Experiences you help us do more as we use the profits to fund the community work. If you would like to find out how to help us further please get in touch.
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