Field of Mars Environmental Education Centre

Experience Engage Enable

Telephone02 9816 1298

Emailfieldofmar-e.school@det.nsw.edu.au

Ranger for a day excursion program

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Teacher checklist

Main location

Field of Mars Reserve, Pittwater Road, East Ryde

Wallumedegal Country

Google maps - Apple maps
Supply bus driver with Field of Mars Reserve bus information
Field of Mars Reserve risk management plan

View the YouTube track overview videos.

Buffalo Creek track

Doyle and Warada loop track

Strangers Creek loop track
Alternate location

Buffalo Creek Reserve, 117 Pittwater Road, Hunters Hill

Wallumedegal Country

Google maps - Apple maps

Supply bus driver with Buffalo Creek bus information.

No bus entry into Buffalo Creek Reserve carpark.
Buffalo Creek Reserve risk management plan

View the YouTube track overview videos.

Sugarloaf Point loop track
Cost

2025 DoE $25 per student - GST free

2025 Non-gov school cost $35 per student - GST free, minimum charge $750

Term 1 - Catholic school Weeks 3 to 7  cost = DoE cost - GST free, minimum charge $750

Schools are to confirm the number of students and classes at least 7 days prior to attending. Schools will be charged based on the number of students confirmed or number of students who attend on the day (whichever is greater). 
Bring

Backpack, medication, low-waste food, water bottle, sunblock, raincoat, hat, sturdy shoes.

Students wear reusable name tag and sports uniform.
View

Preparing for an excursion
Supporting resources

Supporting student activities

Animal and plant fact sheets
Bin access

All student waste to be taken home by students.
Parent/carer helpers Optional one parent per class, no siblings. Closed shoes essential. 
Medical or special needs

Notify Field of Mars staff prior to excursion. 

Limited wheelchair accessibility. Email to confirm with location.

Students, staff and visitors must not attend if unwell, even with mild symptoms. 
Extreme or wet weather

Days predicted to be above 35ºC, high winds, extreme bush fire danger and dust storms may result in the excursion being modified, postponed or cancelled. 
Cancellations

Cancellations with less than 30 working school days notice will incur a $600 administration fee. 

Cancellations with less than 7 working school days notice will incur the full cost for the program based on the original booking. 

Cancellations due to weather or fire danger are exempt from fees. 

Suggested timetable for up to four classes

Time

Classes A, B

Classes C, D
9.45 - 10.30

Introduction

Recess and toilets

Introduction

Recess and toilets
10.30 - 12.00

Bushwalk

Habitat development 

Insect hotel
12.00 - 12.30

 Lunch

Lunch
12.30 - 2.00

Habitat development

Insect hotel

Bushwalk
2.00 - 2.15

Pack up and depart

Pack up and depart

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Ranger for a day excursion

HSIE

Program

In role as park rangers, Stage 1 students will be introduced to the Field of Mars Reserve – a home and refuge to Sydney’s native animals – and ways it is cared for. Students will go on an adventure to investigate the bushland to locate animal homes, search for bird life and other bush animals and learn how we can all care for and connect to nature and natural places.

Recommended maximum 6 classes per day.

Learning intentions

  • We are learning to observe natural things in the natural environment

  • We are learing about native bees and their habitat requirements
  • We are learning to manipulate materials with tools and our hands

Fieldwork

Bushwalk

In role as park rangers, students will explore the Field of Mars Reserve considering how we can work together to care for and protect nature and the environment.

Through hands-on activities, students will explore ways park rangers can improve the environment for living things and people. The practices of the Wallumedegal Peoples in sustainably managing the environment will also be acknowledged.

Caring for the bush

Students investigate a section of the reserve identifying ways animals' needs are met and ways rangers and the local community care for places. They will design their own mini scale national park providing habitat for a range of animals and facilities for park visitors.  

Build an insect hotel

Students will learn about the types of homes liked by some native insect species. Using materials and tools provided students will create an insect hotel to take back to school, one per class.

The insect hotel should be placed off the ground, hung on a wall or placed on a bench near a garden bed to provide a home for insects.

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Syllabus outcomes and content

Human Society and its Environment K-6 Syllabus (2024)

People are connected to places and groups

Outcome

  • Describes ways people connect to and care for places, water environments and each other, using geographical information HS1-GEO-01

Content

People engage in active citizenship by working together to care for places and each other

  • Participate in the school or local community by caring for places and others

Other syllabus links

Learning experiences will also support but not explicitly teach the following content:

Aboroginal Peoples have a responsibilty to Country

  • Describe ways in which Aboriginal Peoples use Knowledge of the land, water and sky Country in everyday life

Human Society and its Environment K-6 Syllabus © NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA) for and on behalf of the Crown in right of the State of New South Wales, 2024

Science and Technology K-6 Syllabus (2017) 

Living world

Outcomes

  • describes observable features of living things and their environments ST1-4LW-S 
  • uses materials, tools and equipment to develop solutions for a need or opportunity ST1-2DP-T 

Content

Producing and implementing

  • effectively manage a variety of tools
  • manipulate a range of materials for a purpose

Living things live in different places

  • identify that living things live in different places that suit their needs
  • design and produce an environment that provides habitat for insects
  • recgonise that people use science and technology in their daily lives when caring for living things, including when caring for their environment and living things 

Geography K-10 Syllabus (2015) 

Features of places

Outcomes

  • identifies ways in which people interact with and care for places GE1-2 
  • communicates geographical information and uses geographical tools for inquiry GE1-3

Content

Features of places

  • investigate features of places and how they can be cared for

Geography K-10 Syllabus © NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA) for and on behalf of the Crown in right of the State of New South Wales, 2015

Science and Technology K-6 Syllabus © NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA) for and on behalf of the Crown in right of the State of New South Wales, 2017

Additional resource - Habitat Digital book for iPads and Macs

Return to program summary

Field of Mars Environmental Education Centre

General enquiries

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We’d like to acknowledge the Wallumedegal Peoples of the Darug Nation, the Traditional Custodians of the land on which we stand and pay our respects to Elders past and present.

Copyright for this website is owned by the State of New South Wales through the Department of Education. For more information go to http://www.dec.nsw.gov.au/footer/copyright.