education

Senior Alpine Forests

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Second Nature Education offers an amazing variety of educational and experiential programs to a variety of alpine forest locations throughout the world.

All our programs are either tailored to support relevant units within the new curriculum, or as specifically requested by our clients.

 

What we provide

  • Award-winning educators/ facilitators
  • Itineraries and Flyers
  • Curriculum-based work-booklets
  • All relevant equipment (supplying up to 150x students per session)
  • Example assessment tasks
  • Transportation options (we provide quotes to utilise our own buses for every excursion and can purchase all relevant flights relating to your program where applicable)
  • Pre/Post Excursion Activities (usually a PPP)
  • Risk Assessment (location specific)
  • Variety of field-work locations (where available)
  • Accommodation options (we provide quotes to utilise the most affordable and most appropriate accommodation to suit your needs)
  • Catering options (we provide quotes to utilise our own in-house catering service for every excursion (where available) and/or catering through a third-party provider

Senior School (Yr 11-12) Programs

Our “Alpine Forests” programs for years 11-12 have been specifically developed for units of study in Geography, Biology, and Earth and Environmental Science. Each can however be tailored to a school’s needs. The programs are great fun and involve the exploration of a natural environment (excursions), or an exciting interactive PPP with classroom activities (incursions). A detailed understanding and awareness of the importance of alpine ecosystems and a new-found appreciation for this amazing habitat are key outcomes. These programs are delivered by passionate facilitators with specialist knowledge on alpine flora and fauna. The experiences can be delivered to complement the following units or modules:

Geography

  • Year 11 Responding to Risk and Vulnerability in Hazard Zones (QLD) or Hazards and Disasters (VIC)
  • Year 11 Biophysical Interactions (NSW)
  • Year 12 Ecosystems at Risk (NSW)

Biology

  • Year 11 Biodiversity and the Interconnectedness of Life (QLD) or Biological Diversity (NSW)
  • Year 11 How do Living Things Stay Alive? (VIC)
  • Year 11 Maintaining the Internal Environment (QLD)
  • Year 11 Ecosystem Dynamics (NSW)

Earth and Environmental Science

  • Year 11 Living on Earth (QLD)
  • Year 11 How are Earth’s Systems Connected? (VIC)
  • Year 11 Earth’s Resources (NSW) or Human Impacts (NSW)
  • Year 12 How can Biodiversity and Development be Sustained? (VIC)

Trip Overview

On this adventure, you will learn about the importance of alpine ecosystems and the unique abilities of inhabiting organisms to withstand extremely low temperatures. You will also use a variety of fieldwork techniques to investigate the diversity of an alpine forest ecosystem. If you are seeking a different approach to your “Alpine Forests” study, we can design a program that is suitable for you.

Highlights

  • Mountain climbing!
  • Getting deep into an alpine forest
  • Amazing views of hundred-year-old conifers!
  • Spotting incredible wildlife (e.g. elk/deer etc.)
  • Map-reading/comprehension
  • Plant and animal identification using age-appropriate keys
  • Use of binoculars (e.g. bird watching)
  • Looking for additional evidence of wildlife (e.g. footprints of a snow leopard)!
  • Identifying adaptations of conifer trees (cold/light/reproduction etc.)

More Information

Inclusions

Excursions

  • Guided trek along a mountain ridge for best viewing of alpine forest
  • Conifer and alpine animal identification activity
  • “Magic spot” quiet reflection and field sketch
  • Discussion of adaptations for living in such a harsh environment
  • Field work (quadrat or transect studies)

Incursions

  • An age-appropriate interactive PowerPoint presentation
  • Investigation of alpine forest adaptations using samples taken from a living ecosystem
  • Virtual alpine forest exploration and biodiversity quadrat (optional)
  • Conifer and alpine animal identification activity
  • Active “Food Chains and Food Webs” game
  • Quiz (with prizes!) to assess comprehension
Educational Outcomes
  • Awareness and knowledge of alpine forests
  • Appreciation for the diversity of alpine forest organisms
  • A basic understanding of alpine forest ecosystems work including knowledge of food chains/webs and habitats
  • Awareness of the impacts of human activities on alpine forests locally and globally
  • Knowledge of local and largescale environmental issues affecting alpine forests including global warming, invasive species and pollution (especially acid rain)
  • Learning of sustainable behaviours that minimise these issues
  • A sense of connection to and feeling of stewardship towards the world’s beautiful alpine forests
  • An understanding of the complex processes involved in managing alpine forests in a sustainable manner.
Itinerary

Alpine forest programs are only available as part of our international tours. As such, we do not offer single day programs to this habitat. Amazing study sites can be found in the Rocky Mountains of North America, the Andes Mountains of South America, and the Himalayas throughout Asia. Please contact us to view an itinerary for one of these three incredible destinations.

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