Bowen childcare centre Kidz at the Beach has scooped an environmental accolade for protecting their local environment and the Great Barrier Reef.

The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (GBRMPA) presented the centre with $1000, as part of the annual Reef Guardian Schools Awards.

GBRMPA Reef Guardians Director Karen Vohland said the centre earned the Learning Legends Awards for outstanding education in the classroom arena.

“These are the future custodians of the Great Barrier Reef and this award acknowledge their efforts caring for their local environment and promoting real change in their communities,” she said.

“It’s about empowering kids and giving them a sense of involvement in the bigger environmental picture, encouraging them to make a positive difference.”

Kidz at the Beach teacher Anna Woodhouse said it was great their young students had learnt to be Reef Guardians throughout 2012.

“At the beginning of each year one of the first topics we cover with our students is what it means to be a Reef Guardian. From there many of the environmental projects we work on come from their own ideas,” Ms Woodhouse said.

“Our students are passionate about the environment and about becoming Reef Guardian ambassadors in their home and their community so they can share their knowledge about looking after our Great Barrier Reef."

Other Annual Awards winners include Holloways Beach Environmental Education Centre, Redlynch State College, Cleveland District State High School, Kalkie State School, The Hall State School, North Rockhampton State High School, Hervey Bay State High School, Beaconsfield State School and Belgian Gardens State School.

More than 285 schools and over 113,000 students take part in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority’s Reef Guardian Schools program across Queensland.

Each school undertakes a variety of activities aimed at improving the Reef’s health and resilience.