Experience Engage Enable
T: Telephone02 9816 1298
| Location | Field of Mars Reserve, Pittwater Road, East Ryde Wallumedegal Country |
| Bus access | Supply bus driver with Field of Mars Reserve bus information. No bus entry into Field of Mars Reserve. |
| Cost | 2023 DoE $25 per student - GST free 2023 Non-gov school cost $35 per student - GST free, minimum charge $600 |
| Risk assessment | |
| Tracks | View the YouTube track overview videos. |
| Welfare | Participants will be bushwalking during the day in rugged terrain. This excursion may not be suitable for people who have recently been unwell. Toilets are only available at the beginning and end of the day. |
| Bring | Backpack, clipboards, pencil, pen, medication, low-waste food, water bottle, sunblock, wet weather gear, hat, sports uniform, sturdy shoes, mask. There are no shops near the study site. |
| Student devices | This program relies on students bringing their own mobile devices for photography and video-making. Please inform us if your school has a no-phone rule. |
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| Supporting resources | |
| Bin access | All student waste to be taken home by students. |
| 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 three school weeks' notice will incur a $500 administration fee. This does not apply to cancellations due to weather, fire danger or COVID-19 restrictions. |
Time |
Activities |
| 9.45 - 10.00 | Introduction at centre |
| 10.00 - 10.15 | Recess |
| 10.15 - 10.45 | Select equipment and travel to sites |
| 10.45 - 12.30 | Sites 1 and 2 |
| 12.30 - 1.15 | Sites 3 and 4 |
| 1.45 - 2.15 | Lunch at centre |
| 1.45 - 2.15 | Management discussion and conclusion |
| 2.15 | Depart |
Introduction (Field of Mars classroom)
This session will introduce students to the Field of Mars Reserve, the geomorphology of the local environment, the classification and composition of local rocks and soils, past and contemporary human activities and their associated impacts, relevant environmental management issues, relevant secondary resources, and the purpose of the fieldwork and the day’s activities.
Prepare for fieldwork (Field of Mars classroom)
The students form small groups, identify variables and choose equipment to collect fieldwork data from study sites in several locations in the Field of Mars Reserve.
Conduct fieldwork (Field of Mars reserve)
Site 1 (Coastal Sandstone Gully Forest) & Site 2 (Turpentine Ironbark Margin Forest)
Students test and record biotic and abiotic factors of each site including lithology, dominant species, vegetation structure, and soil texture classification.
Sites 3 (Ridgetop Woodland)
Students examine the Hawkesbury sandstone landscape and relate vegetation communities found there to the geology and lithology of the area.
Students also identify human impacts.
Optional: Students may also test and record biotic and abiotic factors as per Sites 1 and 2. Please discuss with Field of Mars staff before your excursion to organise.
Site 4 (Disturbed sediments adjacent to Buffalo Creek)
Students construct a flowchart of human impacts and subsequent managment strategies.
Optional: Students may also conduct water quality testing, and/or examine the presence of introduced species in the area which take advantage of human impacts. Please discuss with Field of Mars staff before your excursion to organise.
Conclusion (Field of Mars classroom)
Students process and analyse qualitative and quantitative fieldwork data to identify trends and patterns, and draw conclusions in answer to the inquiry questions.
Next steps toward possible Depth Studies may be discussed.
Earth and Environmental Science Stage 6 Syllabus (2017)
Module 1 Earth's Resources
Outcomes
A student:
conducts investigations to collect valid and reliable primary and secondary data and information EES11/12-3
selects and processes appropriate qualitative and quantitative data and information using a range of appropriate media EES11/12-4
analyses and evaluates primary and secondary data and information EES11/12-5
describes the key features of the Earth’s systems, including the geosphere, atmosphere, hydrosphere and biosphere and how they are interrelated EES11-8
address
Field of Mars Reserve
Pittwater Road
East Ryde NSW 2112
telephone 02 9816 1298
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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