Shark Guardian Blog

Shark Guardian takes another bite at UK schools

sharkguardian — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 12:50:45 +0000

Shark guardian finished it’s successful UK tour with more presentations in December and early January. Again with the help of a friend, Liz delivered to nearly 200 pupils at South Notts academy where the enthusiasm and feedback was overwhelming. A week later 2 more sessions to year 11 pupils at Friesland School fit in well with their studies on food chains and ecosystems and the teacher who organized the event, thanks to Liz’s cousin being a pupil there, was very keen to get Shark Guardian back on a regular basis. We will most certainly return when we’re back in the UK at some point.
Finally in the 2nd week of January after Brendon had joined Liz in the UK we were honored to present at Ilkeston Rotary club. The club was amazed at the information we presented and we hope to keep a close relationship with them since they have links worldwide. We thank the club once more for their fabulous hospitality. A few days later we rounded things off at Liz’s sister-in-laws school, Highwood Player Junior and Infant schools. Liz and Brendon first presented to the 7 to 11 year old juniors who found the presentation fit great with their studies on environments. The children and teachers received all the information brilliantly, asking lots of questions and loving the Great White Shark song we concluded with! Then the infants ranging from 3 and a half to 6 years were a delight to present to, meaning nearly 300 more children have again joined the Shark Guardian campaign. Again a special Thanks goes to Laura for organizing these and for her follow up work with the infants. This is the 1st time the presentation has resulted in a full scale playground demonstration complete with chanting and placards!! The follow up posters and pictures we were given the next day were simply amazing and shows that even at such a young age, children do retain considerable detail and this reinforces our mission to educate the next generation since they can take action and make things happen.
Shark Guardian has enjoyed the UK presentations immensely and Liz is embracing her role as Shark Lady alongside the original Shark Guardian himself. We will, for sure, be back…..

November 2011 Shark Guardian hits the UK… again!

sharkguardian — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 05:37:01 +0000

Thanks to Liz’s friend, Shark Guardian got a foot in the door early with the science department at South Wolds community school and in early November Liz presented to 2 groups of 90 year 9 students plus teachers. The event was a success with the pupils linking the presentation with their current studies on ecosystems and a big thanks goes to Andrew Buttery for coordinating the events.
Liz’s dad, Paul Ward, helped generate the presentations held a week later at Redhill Accademy. Liz presented to 2 groups of 6th form students who will shortly be studying conservation. They found the talk very ispiring and as ever could not belive the bleak future sharks are facing. Students didn’t waste time getting onto our website and signing the Project Aware Shark Petition – young conservationists in action immediately!!

October 2011 Shark Guardian hits the UK!

sharkguardian — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 05:34:07 +0000

It didn’t take much persuading for Liz’s old headmaster, Barry Doran, to jump on board the Shark Guardian camapign so we have now finally officially kick started Shark Guardian UK! Liz presented to approximately 140 children aged 8 to 11 year olds plus 6 memebers of staff who were amazed at the fabulous graphics, laughed at some unusual looking sharks and were shocked at the reality of the tragic act of shark finning. Barry Doran was extremely happy with his ex-pupils’ presentation and wants to contact all other headmasters in the area to arrange more Shark Guardian events. The children were gripped thoughout and we hope some new Shark Guardian cadettes are in the making.

June 2011 Shark Guardian at ISB International School of Brunei

sharkguardian — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 05:32:23 +0000

One day after the National Environment Conference Shark Guardian also visited the Brunei ISB International School. Shark Guardian had already visited the ISB International school in Bangkok, Thailand duirng February 2011. Through Bangkok ISB School contacts, it was a pleasure to visit another ISB School this time in a new country for Shark Guardian. Presentations were given throughout the day to several classes and student age groups. A special ‘THANK YOU’ goes to ISB Brunei for their invitation and sponsorship for the National Environment Conference and ISB school Shark Guardian presentations.

June 2011 Shark Guardian is Invited as special guest and speaker at the Brunei National Environmental Conference

sharkguardian — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 05:07:42 +0000

Shark Guardian was invited to the National Environment Conference in Brunei as a honored guest, speaker and to take part in an open forum discussion on marine biodiversity and shark conservation. Shark Guardian was aiming to encourage government ministers attending the conference to develop, initiate and enforce shark sanctuaries in Brunei following the “Eco Tourism” example of other nations such as Palau, Hawaii and Maldives.

April 2011 Bangkok Mission (Part 2): 2 more International Schools!

sharkguardian — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 04:59:09 +0000

After our visit to several international schools in Bangkok during February, we were back and hungry for more! This time Shark Guardian presented several presentations to various student classes at the Harrow International School. Shark Guardian was honored with such a warm welcome and hope that we left our important messages impressed on the audience of mixed students and teachers. A special thanks goes to Harrow International School for our invitation.

We had enough time to make another visit to KIS International School after our morning at Harrow School. We were invited back to do a follw up from our previous visit in February 2011, as well as to see some of the classes we had not yet presented to. The children and teachers enjoyed the Shark Guardian presentation so much during our previous visit, they just had to have us back for more.

This time round we also managed to visit the Patana International school. The new auditorium was very impressive for the presentation show and sound effects to deliver a fantastic experience about sharks and conservation. Among the 200 strong audience we also had a special guest, a reporter from the Bangkok Post to cover the event and have it published a few weeks later.

February 2011 Bangkok Mission: 3 International Schools & 3 Learning Institutes 9 Presentations over 3 days – almost 1000 people!!

sharkguardian — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 04:43:57 +0000

After several weeks of non-stop planning and organization we finally made it happen!!
The Shark Guardian mission is to educate, motivate and inspire people to turn their passions into action. In this case to stand up for sharks and conservation. Brendon has been working towards reaching as many people as possible with his presentations, but more so with the next generation, the people of tomorrow, the children of the world. Because of the high demand of shark products in Asia it makes sense to concentrate in this area. We believe that if you reach the hearts and minds of children, they are able to change things and educate even the adults of today who follow old customs and habits.

From the 8th - 10th February 2011 Brendon gave his Shark Guardian presentation 9 times over 3 days to nearly 1000 children and adults from several international schools and institutes. These were Shrewsbury International School, NIST (New International School of Bangkok), KIS International School and 3 Wall Street language Institutes (Siam, Silom and Lad Prao). The age groups started at 4 year old children right through to adults who were all impressed with the information, shocked by the facts of depleted shark populations, horrified by mankind’s brutality and finally inspired by hope, that change is possible and that there is still time to save the worlds most valuable species in the oceans, the great sharks.

These events would not have been possible without the continued support of many people who have participated in past Shark Guardian presentations, and by generous donations and purchasing of Shark Guardian t-shirts.

December 2010 Southern Lanta Resort – Koh Lanta, Thailand

sharkguardian — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 04:32:15 +0000

It was with short notice, but in December we managed to hold a Shark Guardian presentation at the Southern Lanta Resort on Koh Lanta in Thailand. With the help of some very dedicated individuals we managed to get all the foreign schools, dive centers and a good deal of the local tourists to attend the event. They were well entertained and learnt a great deal more about sharks and conservation. Thank you to the 100 plus adults and children that attended!

Shark Guardian in the PADI Undersea Journal 2010

sharkguardian — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 04:22:18 +0000

September 2010 BaKti Headoffice – Makassar, Indonesia

sharkguardian — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 04:15:59 +0000

The very next evening after the CIDA awards ceremony Shark Guardian was invited to the head offices of Bakti (www.bakti.org) in Makassar, Indonesia. Over 50 people attended the presentation most of which were Bakti employers, dive club members and studens from the local university. This audience was also attended by enthusi

astic divers from the local dive industry.