Field of Mars Environmental Education Centre

Experience Engage Enable

Telephone02 9816 1298

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

Ecosystem explorers excursion program

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Teacher checklist

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
Alternative location 1

Buffalo Creek Reserve – 117 Pittwater Road, Hunters Hill

Wallumedegal Country

Google maps - Apple maps

Supply bus driver with Buffalo Creek Reserve bus access.

No bus entry into Buffalo Creek Reserve carpark.
Buffalo Creek Reserve risk management plan
View the YouTube track overview video Sugarloaf Point loop track  
Alternative location 2

STEP track via Canoon Road Recreation Area – Canoon Road, South Turramurra

Terramerragal Country

Google maps - Apple maps
Supply bus driver with Canoon Road Recreation Area bus access
STEP Track risk management plan
View the YouTube track overview video STEP 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). 
Welfare

Participants will be bushwalking during the day in rugged terrain.

Limited wheelchair accessibility. Email to confirm with location.

This excursion may not be suitable for people who have been recently unwell.
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

Eucalypt Forest - available free from Apple Books

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. 

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 six classes

Time

Classes A, B, C, D, E, F
9.45 - 10.20

Introduction

Toilets, recess, equipment bags distributed
10.20 - 1.20

Bushwalk and activities
1.20 - 1.40

Lunch on site
1.40 - 2.00

Concluding activity
2.00 - 2.15  Pack up and depart

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Ecosystem explorers excursion

Science

Program

Working as ecologists students will explore the ecosystem of the Field of Mars Reserve to identify features of an environment, different habitats and examples of living and non-living things.

Learning intentions

  • We are learning to observe components of the environment.
  • We are learning to identify living things and their habitats within the Field of Mars Reserve.
  • We are learning to describe how living and non-living things depend on each other for survival.

Activities

Equipped with a field journal, students will explore and investigate the ecosystem, environment and habitats at the Field of Mars Reserve. Students will conduct multi-sensory observations of the environment, animal observations and biodiversity surveys. Students will learn a variety of field journaling techniques to record their findings including observational sketches, watercolour illustrations, and data tables. Investigations will provide students with an experiential and first-hand understanding of components of local bushland environments and interactions between native living things and their non-living surroundings. 

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Syllabus outcomes and content 

Science and Technology K-6 Syllabus (2024)

Physical and living systems depend on energy

Outcomes

  • Uses information to investigate the solar system and the effects of energy on living, physical and geological systems ST2-SCI-01
  • Uses and interprets data to describe patterns and relationships ST2-DAT-01

Content

Living things depend on energy and materials to survive

  • Identify the systems of Earth that make up environments: air – atmosphere, land – lithosphere, water – hydrosphere, living things – biosphere
  • Describe how the needs of living things are provided by the atmosphere, hydrosphere and lithosphere
  • Describe the relationship between habitat, ecosystem and environment
  • Observe and describe living and non-living things in a habitat
  • Describe how Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Peoples’ practices support habitats to survive
  • Describe the transfer of energy between plants and animals using food chains, Tier 2 and Tier 3 vocabulary

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, 2024

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Field of Mars Environmental Education Centre

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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.

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