Field Study School Excursions - Sydney - Geography

Year 11 Geography
Human-environment interactions

Available for delivery from 2024

Study 1: A geographical region - The Sydney Basin

Students will examine the spatial dimensions and nature of the Sydney Basin Bioregion. They will conduct fieldwork to investigate the unique characteristics of the Sydney Basin’s natural environment, including the physical processes and natural cycles influencing the nature of the region. The use of secondary sources such as maps and aerial photos will be incorporated to compliment the fieldwork.

Students will undertake a local case study to discover why Hawkesbury Sandstone bedrock and its soils create a landscape prone to urban runoff and develop an understanding of the way humans interact with the environment by observing evidence of changes over time in this region. The challenges, opportunities, and responses in relation to urban runoff will be explored to allow students to evaluate the effectiveness of people and organisations in managing urban runoff in the Sydney Basin.

Fieldwork focus techniques and equipment may include:
- Examination of the characteristics of the predominant rock type and resulting soils using a soil centrifuge, soil pH kits and hand lenses.
- Catchment observation, creek water animal catch and water quality testing with turbidity tubes, water pH kits and conductivity meters.
- Weed invasion into the bushland by carrying out a transect survey using the point-intercept method.

LOCATIONS
Bantry Bay, Forestville
Dairy Creek, Peakhurst Heights (NEW LOCATION)

Study 1: A geographical region - New South Wales Coast

Students will develop an understanding of natural and human elements, how they interact, and the implications of the interactions of people and the environment along the NSW coast.
- The spatial dimensions and nature of the NSW coast
- Unique characteristics of the NSW coast, including physical processes and natural cycles influencing sand dunes
- Human-environment interactions and evidence of change
- Challenges, opportunities and responses in relation to erosion
- The effectiveness of people and organisations in managing erosion on Sydney's Northern Beaches or Sutherland Shire

More details coming soon!

LOCATIONS
Wanda Beach, Cronulla
Long Reef Beach, Collaroy

Study 2: A contemporary hazard - Bushfire

Students will examine the spatial distribution and nature of bushfires with a focus on one bushfire event in Sydney, within the last century.

A fieldwork investigation in a Hawkesbury sandstone ecosystem will be undertaken to identify the characteristics and physical processes that influence the nature and occurrence of bushfires.

Primary data fieldwork focus, techniques and equipment may include:
- Identification of rock type and soil characteristics using hand lenses and soil moisture meters
- Slope steepness using clinometers
- Wind speed and humidity using anemometers and hygrometers, and
- Identification of vegetation types to consider flammability.

Secondary sources will be used to explore the impacts of human activities such as, land clearing, development and change to the climate, resulting in an increased bushfire risk. This will be contrasted with the influence of natural weather cycles.

Bushfire management practices of the contemporary hazard by people and organisations will be evaluated for their effectiveness. People and organisations may include traditional owners, government bodies and local residents.

Bantry Bay, Forestville: 1990 bushfire
Camp Kedron, Ingleside: 1994 bushfire
Camp Coutts, Waterfall: 2001 bushfire

Study 2: A contemporary hazard - Landslides & Landslips

Students will examine the spatial distribution and nature of landslides and landslips with a focus on one event at Mt Keira, within the last century.

A fieldwork investigation of Mt Keira and the Illawarra escarpment will be undertaken to identify the characteristics and physical processes that influence the nature and occurrence of this contemporary hazard.

Primary data fieldwork focus, techniques and equipment may include:
- Identification of rock type and soil characteristics using hand lenses and centrifuge
- Slope steepness using clinometers
- Aspect using compasses, and
- Soil moisture and depth.

Secondary sources such as isohyet maps, geological maps, topographical maps and historical aerial photos will be used to explore the impacts of human activities such as, land clearing, development and change to the climate, resulting in an increased risk of landslides and landslips. This will be contrasted with the influence of natural weather cycles and phenomena.

Challenges, opportunities & responses such as population growth, infrastructure protection, connectivity between places, economic impacts and the use of spatial technology will be explored.

Management practices of the contemporary hazard by people and organisations will be evaluated for their effectiveness. People and organisations may include traditional owners, government bodies and local residents.

Note: This program will be a combined program with Earth’s Natural Systems.

Mt Keira, Wollongong

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