Stage 4 Careel Bay Wetland Field Trip
Student Outcomes
Students will be working towards:
- 4.2 Identify, organise and interpret geographical information in the field.
- 4.6 Describe the geographical processes that form and transform wetlands.
- 4.4 Use a range of geographic tools to * measure and interpret data to compare three vegetation communities.
- * Examine and interpret historical and aerial photographs onsite.
- * Investigate the resilience and management of this estuarine wetland.
Sample program
9:30am
Arrive at Hitchcock Park, at the tennis courts carpark, Careel Bay, which is just past Avalon Beach on Sydney’s Northern Beaches. Welcome and introduction to today's field study by CEC Educators. Divide into 1-5 groups each let by a CEC Educator and supervised by a school teacher.
9:45am
All groups rotate through the following three field sites:
Boardwalk Estuarine Wetland Vegetation Communities - students use a range of field resources to measure, record and interpret the atmospheric and biological differences that result in the different plant communities of saltmarsh, mangroves and a casuarina woodland. Investigate a mangrove tree.
Playing Fields & Careel Creek - examine and interpret historical and aerial photos of Careel Bay to develop a sense of place and understand how attitudes have changed to this now valued estuarine wetland. Use a range of water tests to asses how the catchment influences the quality of Careel Creek.
12pm
Lunch break, toilets and shade nearby at Hitchcock Park but there aren’t any shops nearby.
12:30pm
Walk to an estuarine ecosystem near Etival Street - where Pittwater bay is visible, hunt for and identify a range of estuarine animals that live on or in the mud and in the mangrove forest. Draw arrows to show some of the complex interaction in the wetland food web. Interpret graphs and discuss how the local community uses Careel Bay, describe and assess one controversial issue.
2:15pm
Conclude a great field trip, CEC Educators leave. Board bus and return to school or college.
Please note: This is a fantastic full day program. Please book early for Careel Bay field trips as it is best to have a falling tide with a low after midday or the crabs all hide.
A student field trip booklet pdf is emailed to the organising teacher after field trip confirmation.