Summer by the Sea at Ricketts Sanctuary, VIctoria

MEDIA RELEASE

15^th DECEMBER 2011

Hakan Dellal

Marine Care Ricketts Point Inc. and Beaumaris Life Saving Club

Summer Marine Discovery and Water Safety January 2011 Program

A landmark community “enterprise” at a land mark location. Ricketts Point in Beaumaris this year will be the site for discovery and summer fun with the delivery of a month long marine discovery and water safety program.

Having been awarded funding as part of Bayside City Council’s Community Grants initiative local organizations, Beaumaris Life Saving Club and Marine Care Ricketts Point Inc., are across January 2011 presenting an array of water and coastal activities centered on Ricketts Point Marine Sanctuary and some of its more popular beaches.

Sea kayaking, snorkeling, rock pool and foreshore rambles are just some of the activities on offer at Ricketts Point Marine Sanctuary, near the Beaumaris Life Saving Club,

Under the guidance of experienced kayakers, divers and marine and coastal educators, those who join in will experience and discover the rich natural history and surprising biodiversity of Victoria’s marine and coastal treasures.

The Beaumaris Life Saving Club will be showcasing ”Nippers” and other activities, enabling children and families to get involved in the fun of life saving, making new friends and learning vital water safety skills all Victorian children and families need being the water loving creatures they are.

All activities are all free and aimed at school aged children, adults, families as well as the disabled.

The sea kayaking activities require booking, see the Marine Care website www.marinecare.org.au for dates and contact information.

All other activities can be undertaken without booking on allocated days. Snorkeling, both children and adult sessions will be undertaken off the disabled diver’s ramp near the Beaumaris Yacht Club (Car park B17, Melways Ref Map 86 B8) and led by Churchill Fellow and renowned diver Mike Letch.

All other activities are based around Marine Care’s newly Marine Education Center at Beaumaris Life Saving Club headquarters, established in partnership with the Club. (Car park B18, Melways REF Map 86 C9)

The centre, a facility for public and school education has been designed as an outreach location for use by tour operators who deliver marine, environmental and outdoor education to the schools sector.

Marine Care has utilized many of these tour operators including the Gould league, Dolphin Research Institute, Bay Play, and East Coast Kayaking to lead the summer program activities.

In addition two special Teachers Expo days will be held on the 27^th and 28^th of January to enable primary and secondary teachers to observe and gather information about programs to compliment their curriculum.

Program operates every weekend in January 2011 starting on the 4^th and finishing January 30^th. Teacher Expos are 27^th and 28^th of January.

Sea kayaking bookings 22^nd Jan., Bay Play (03) 9598 0888.

Sea kayaking bookings 29^th Jan., East Coast Kayaking (03) 9597 0549.

For information and any updates go to www.marinecare.org.au