Field of Mars Environmental Education Centre

Experience Engage Enable

Telephone02 9816 1298

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

Environmental change and management excursion program

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quadrat in the field

Teacher checklist

Locations

Please contact the centre for public transport options

Magdala Park, Magdala Rd, East Ryde

Google Maps - Apple Maps

This site is accessible by public transport.

Wallumedegal Country
Supply bus driver with Magdala Park bus information
Magdala Park risk management plan

View the YouTube track overview video.

Buffalo Creek Reserve to Magdala Park track
Alternate location 1

Blackman Park, Lloyd Rees Drive, Lane Cove West (Mowbray Park)

Google maps - Apple maps

This site has wheelchair accessibility.

Cammeraygal Country
Supply bus driver with Blackman Park bus information
Blackman Park risk management plan

View the YouTube track overview video.

Blackman Park and surrounds
Alternate location 2

Chatswood Rotary Athletics Field, Mowbray Rd West, Lane Cove North

Google maps - Apple maps

This site is accessible by public transport.

Cammeraygal Country 
Supply bus driver with Chatswood Rotary Athletics Field bus information (coming soon)
Chatswood Rotary Athetics Field risk management plan - coming soon

View the YouTube track overview video.

Coming soon
Please contact the centre for detailed information on locations, bus access and public transport options
Cost

2025 DoE $26 per student - GST free

2025 Non-gov school cost $36 per student - 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

Clipboard, worksheets, medications, low-waste food, plenty of water, sunblock, hat and raincoat in a small backpack. Sports uniform recommended.

There are no shops.
Watch

Preparing for an excursion.
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 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

 
The suggested timetables are suitable for up to ten classses. 

Time 

Activities 
9.30 - 10.00

Introduction at selected location 

Toilets and equipment distributed
10.00 - 10.40 Geographical processes and the Lane Cove River
10.40 - 11.00 Recess
11.00 - 11.40 Inquiry 1
11.40 - 12.20 Inquiry 2
12.20 - 1.00 Inquiry 3
1.00 - 1.30 Lunch
1.30 - 2.00 Conclusions and depart

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Learning activities

With a focus on fieldwork inquiry and tools students will engage in fieldwork in rugged bushland and aquatic environments. Students will be challenged to make observations and identify the steps for a fieldwork inquiry. Data collected on the day supports post excursion activites and assessment.

Inquiry question

  • What are the causes and consequences of change in the riverine environment along the Lane Cove River?
  • Are these changes being effectively managed? If so, how?

Students will commence the day acknowledging the Traditional Custodians of the land and observe historical change that has transformed the Lane Cove River into what we see today. Students will investigate three contemporary issues. 

  • Marine litter - litter surveys will be conducted using sampling techniques along the river foreshore and in the river channel. Data recorded will be shared with online databases. 
  • Water quality - water sampling is conducted with the Streamwatch program. Equipment and methodologies used ensures a valid and reliable result for upload to the Streamwater database. 
  • Introduced species (weeds) - students will conduct a belt transect to examine distribution and abundance of weed species found along the river foreshore. 

Traditional and contemporary management will be observed and discussed.

This program will enhance student personal capabilities, ethical understanding and workplace skills.

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Syllabus outcomes and content

NSW Geography K-10 Syllabus (2015)

Outcomes

  • explains processes and influences that form and transform places and environments GE5‑2 
  • analyses the effect of interactions and connections between people, places and environments GE5‑3 
  • assesses management strategies for places and environments for their sustainability GE5‑5 
  • acquires and processes geographical information by selecting and using appropriate and relevant geographical tools for inquiry GE5‑7 

Content

Environmental change

Students:

  • investigate human-induced environmental changes across a range of scales 

Environmental management

Students:

  • investigate environmental management, including different worldviews and the management approaches of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples

Investigative study

This fieldwork investigation can be used for the investigative study.

Select ONE type of environment in Australia as the context for a comparative study with at least ONE other country.

Students:

  • investigate the biophysical processes essential to the functioning of the selected environment
  • investigate the causes, extent and consequences of the environmental change  (ACHGK073)
  • investigate the management of the environmental change (ACHGK074, ACHGK075)
 
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

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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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