Outdoor Education

Unit 2, AOS 1: Investigating Outdoor Environments Duration: 1 hour Location: Cape Woolamai

Join a ranger to take in how Cape Woolamai is utilised in many different ways, from its past agricultural uses to its modern day surf beaches and scenic vistas. Take a look at what characterises this stunning part of Phillip Island and with a rangers assistance look at the human and natural impacts on this area and how they are managed.

Topics covered:

• Characteristics of outdoor environments
• recreational users’ understandings of specific outdoor environments
• scientific understandings of specific outdoor environments
• land managers understanding of specific outdoor environments

Unit 2, AOS 1: Investigating Outdoor Environments Duration: 1 hour Location: Fishers Wetland

Wetlands filter our water and provide a vital habitat for plant and animals. In this hands on ranger led activity students explore the role of physical, chemical and biological environmental indicators for assessing quality of ecosystem health. Students will use macro-invertebrates to interpret the health of a local Phillip Island wetland system. Students will determine the characteristics of the environment that make it unique and gain an understanding of the history of the area from Indigenous use, to modification of wetlands for farming and through to conservation efforts.

Topics Covered:

• Characteristics of outdoor environments
• Recreational users’ understandings of specific outdoor environments
• Scientific understandings of specific outdoor environments.

Unit 2, AOS 1: Investigating Outdoor Environments Duration: 1.5 hours Location: Rhyll Inlet

Rangers explore ecological topics such as succession and zonation through the investigation of the Rhyll wetlands eco-systems. Students collect data of plant and animal abundance by creating a vegetation profile along a transect. Students will also discuss the human impacts on the area and the effect this might have on their results.

Topics Covered:

• Characteristics of outdoor environments
• Recreational users’ understanding of specific outdoor environments
• Scientific understanding of specific outdoor environments,
• Land managers’ understanding of specific outdoor environments.

Unit 2, AOS 2: Impacts on Outdoor Environments Duration: 2 hours Location: Penguin Parade

How does Phillip Island Nature Parks manage its 500,000 visitors each year while protecting one of Victoria’s largest penguin colonies?

Students investigate how the Penguin Parade has changed over time from European settlement through to the present day. Students view current Penguin Parade management strategies and create their own evaluation for future management of the area. 

• Option 1: Field based – (30min Presentation, 45min outdoors Penguin Parade, 45min outdoors Summerlands) 
• Option 2: Lecture based – (1 hour presentation, 1 hour outdoors Penguin Parade)

Topics Covered:

• The impact of conservation, commercial and recreational activities on outdoor environments
• The impact on outdoor environments of urbanisation and changing human lifestyles
• Identify and evaluate impacts of different types of activities on outdoor environments.

Unit 3, AOS 1: Historic Relationships with Australian Environments Duration: 1.5-2 hours Location: Cape Woolamai

During this session we look at how natural and human influences have effected Cape Woolamai over time. The natural resources and landforms here have had a long history of human use from a past of harvesting of wildlife and farming to today where people can experience a world renowned surf beach. The sites vistas, landforms and wildlife have earnt the area recognition of having state and national significance.

Topics covered:

• The changing use of land over time at Cape Woolamai
• Changing views to wildlife and the environment

Unit 4, AOS 2: Suitable Outdoor Environments Duration: 1 hour Location: Koala Conservation Centre

Meet the koalas face to face on the tree top boardwalks and discover how they have adapted to their environment. Learn about koala threats and how the Nature Parks is involved in the research and conservation of the koala population on Phillip Island. Students view current Koala Conservation Centre management strategies and create their own evaluation for future management of the area.

Unit 4, AOS 2: Suitable Outdoor Environments Duration: 2 hour Location: Penguin Parade

How does Phillip Island Nature Parks manage its 500,000 visitors each year while protecting one of Victoria’s largest penguin colonies?

Students investigate how the Penguin Parade has changed over time from European settlement through to the present day. Students view current Penguin Parade management strategies and create their own evaluation for future management of the area. 

• Option 1: Field based – (30min Presentation, 45min outdoors Penguin Parade, 45min outdoors Summerlands)
• Option 2: Lecture based – (1 hour presentation, 1 hour outdoors Penguin Parade)