HAPPY BIRTHDAY JACK O’NEILL SAY ECO-CONSCIOUS BRITISH KIDS

Wetsuit inventor Jack O’Neill is today celebrating as primary schools across the UK complete water environment saving projects with the help of leading environmental campaigners Surfers Against Sewage (SAS).

For Jack O’Neill’s 81^st birthday (March 17^th), year 6 pupils from all over the UK have sent presents for him, courtesy of leading NGO Surfers Against Sewage (SAS)!  Jack’s presents are pupils ‘environment saving’ projects that they have been working on as part of the SAS O’Neill Marine Education Project.

The interactive project prompted year 6 pupils to investigate and understand the dangers threatening the marine environment.  It also gave guidance to teachers while using the packs.  The kids were free to decide what they thought would make an effective project.  As Jack’s birthday marks the final submission date of the projects, SAS has received an amazing array of beach posters, plays, raps, songs, murals and marine litter sculptures from schools entering the project.  The best 5 projects will win their class a day out with SAS and O’Neill professional surfers exploring the wildlife packed Cornish coast by boat and the inspirational and highly educational National Maritime Museum.

A panel of experts including SAS Campaigns Director Richard Hardy, O’Neill pro surfer Sam Lamiroy and a celebrity guest will pick the winners in April.  The lucky 5 schools chosen to join us on the SAS/O’Neill Marine Environment Project will be announced on the 15^th April.  Winners will be treated to a fantastic day in Cornwall, exploring the Cornish coast by boat, taking part in environmental workshops at the National Maritime Museum as well as taking in all the exhibitions the museum has to offer. The lucky classes will also get to watch short O’Neill water sports films in the National Maritimes Museum’s cinema, starring the professional surfers that will be on hand along side the SAS team, to ensure pupils have a unforgettable day.  The ‘winners week’ will run from the last week of the summer term, 18^th – 22^nd of July.  SAS will provide accommodation at a Local Education Authority run centre called ‘Cornwall outdoors’, if needed, and travel grants are available for the winning schools. 

Andy Cummins, SAS campaigner says, “The wide array of projects SAS has received is amazing.  The imagination and environmental understanding across the schools is fantastic!!  Picking the winners is going to be very hard.”