Coastal Curiosity workshops to begin in Newcastle on 12 January

newy.com.au – City of Newcastle will run a free six-session coastal education program from 12 January, taking participants to sites including Stockton Beach, Nobbys Beach and the Cowrie Hole.

The Coastal Curiosity workshops are designed to help residents connect with local coastal ecosystems through guided activities that mix environmental education, cultural knowledge and citizen science, with data collected to support biodiversity protection.

City of Newcastle executive director Michelle Bisson said the program was aimed at helping the community care for the coastline through participation and connection to place. “Coastal Curiosity gives the community the chance to be hands-on and to learn from scientists and cultural knowledge holders, while contributing to real data that helps protect Newcastle’s coastal environments,” Ms Bisson said.

The council said sessions would run on different days across the summer school holidays and were tailored for families, young people and adults interested in nature, science, culture and sustainability.

Workshops will focus on practical skills, including how to identify and record coastal plants and animals, as well as how to collect and report data on marine debris and microplastics.

The program also includes a community beach clean-up that will turn collected debris into artworks, with the council saying the activity would highlight marine pollution and “opportunities for positive action”.

Participants will also take part in dune planting to support coastal restoration efforts.

Sessions are free, but bookings are required and are open to Newcastle Local Government Area residents, with a waiting list for people outside the area. All workshops will be held outdoors and are subject to weather conditions, the council said, with program dates and session details available via its booking page.