Ocean Park hosted a vibrant celebration today, bringing together over 1,000 participants to honor the remarkable achievements of the Seahorse Rangers program. The Ocean Park Conservation Carnival and Ocean Park Conservation Alliance Award Ceremony 2024 highlighted the impactful work of over 3,500 students and teachers dedicated to conservation efforts over the past academic year.
Dr. Choi Yuk Lin, Secretary for Education of the HKSAR Government, attended the event, expressing the Education Bureau’s commitment to fostering environmental education through interdisciplinary approaches. She emphasized the integration of environmental and sustainable development concepts into school curricula, encouraging schools to instill a sense of responsibility for nature, resource conservation, and ecological preservation. This commitment aims to inspire students to transition from understanding environmental issues to actively practicing a green lifestyle and valuing Earth’s resources.
Dr. Choi extended gratitude to Ocean Park for its invaluable role in supporting schools’ promotion of sustainable development education and nature conservation. Paulo Pong, Chairman of Ocean Park Corporation, highlighted the significance of the Seahorse Rangers program in empowering local schools and students to actively participate in conservation activities. He expressed pride in the students’ accomplishments and the knowledge they’ve gained, emphasizing the program’s continuous expansion to involve more students and schools.
The award ceremony recognized the exceptional contributions of schools and students across three flagship programs: SGREEN, Low Carbon PLS Day, and the City Nature Challenge. Through SGREEN, participating schools collected an impressive amount of recyclables, with Tsui Lam Estate Baptist Kindergarten/Nursery standing out for their innovative approach to transforming recyclables into toys and musical instruments.
Low Carbon PLS Day saw schools showcasing their commitment to low carbon diets through photo submissions on Ocean Park’s Mission R Facebook page, with Q.E.S. Old Students’ Association Branch Primary School earning recognition for their hydroponic plant cultivation initiative.
The City Nature Challenge saw Hong Kong secure second place in the Eurasia/Africa/Oceania category with over 8,300 observations, showcasing the city’s dedication to biodiversity protection. Stewards Pooi Kei Primary School impressed with their use of smart cultivating devices to study the needs of local butterflies.
The event provided a platform for 37 Ocean Park Conservation Alliance schools to showcase their innovative ideas for addressing environmental challenges. Interactive game booths highlighted projects focusing on low carbon living, endangered species protection, and ocean conservation.
Hannie Tsang, a K3 student from Tsui Lam Estate Baptist Kindergarten/Nursery, expressed her enthusiasm for sharing her knowledge about low carbon living through a game booth she designed.
The Seahorse Rangers program, an affiliate of the Ocean Park Conservation Alliance, aims to nurture a passion for conservation among students from a young age. Students from kindergartens, primary schools, and secondary schools across Hong Kong engage in conservation issues, develop innovative solutions, and lead conservation efforts within their communities. Seahorse Rangers receive complimentary admission to Ocean Park and access to valuable resources through the 2023-2024 School Year Ocean Park Learning Pass.
The Ocean Park Conservation Carnival and Ocean Park Conservation Alliance Award Ceremony 2024 served as a powerful testament to the dedication and passion of students and teachers engaged in conservation efforts. It underscored the importance of fostering environmental awareness and responsibility among future generations.