education

Tertiary Mangroves

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Second Nature Education offers an amazing variety of educational and experiential programs to a variety of mangrove locations in: Queensland and New South Wales; throughout Australia; and overseas.

All our programs are either tailored to support a chosen unit of study, 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

Tertiary (TAFE/University) Programs

Our Tertiary Education programs have been developed for specific units of study within a variety of courses (e.g. Botany, Ecology, Vertebrate Biology, Environmental Science, Environmental Education etc.). We can also tailor programs upon request. By participating in a “Mangroves” program, students gain a comprehensive understanding and awareness of the importance of mangrove forest ecosystems through direct interaction with the natural environment (excursion) or through a virtual “Mangroves” investigation (incursion).

Trip Overview

All Tertiary in-class presentations and field trips to mangrove environments come with complimentary assessable work-booklets, which are tailored to the requirements of an institution. Our field trips allow for an in-depth, methodical and structured investigation of mangrove environments. Alternatively, virtual “Mangroves” investigations allow students who are unable to participate in a field trip to gain a basic understanding of mangrove ecosystems through a well-designed in-class presentation.

Highlights

  • Getting into the mud/sand
  • Map-reading/comprehension
  • Biodiversity surveys
  • Equipment use (anemometers/barometers/thermometers etc.)
  • Use of classification guides to identify mangrove biota
  • Site visit and interview with Marina/Development manager (where applicable)
  • Identifying adaptations of mangroves (roots/ salt/ reproduction etc.)
  • Great experience in planning and conducting scientific field work!

More Information

Inclusions

Excursion

  • Guided walk through the mangroves
  • Mangrove tree identification activity
  • Crab and shellfish identification activities
  • “Magic spot” quiet reflection and field sketch
  • Passing around of propagules and discussion of how they work
  • Presentation on human impacts (observable in the natural environment)
  • Field work (simple – complex quadrat or transect studies)

Incursion

  • An age-appropriate interactive PowerPoint presentation
  • Investigating mangrove adaptations using samples from a living ecosystem
  • Testing pH using samples from a living ecosystem
  • Mangrove species/ bird identification activities
  • Quiz (with prizes!) to assess comprehension
Educational Outcomes
  • Awareness and knowledge of mangrove forests
  • Appreciation for the diversity of mangrove forest organisms
  • A basic understanding of how mangrove forest systems work including knowledge of food chains/webs, habitats and propagules.
  • Awareness of the impacts of human activities on mangrove forests both locally and globally
  • Knowledge of local and largescale environmental issues affecting mangroves including habitat destruction, overharvesting, invasive species, habitat fragmentation and pollution
  • Learning of sustainable behaviours that minimise these issues
  • A sense of connection to and feeling of stewardship towards Australia’s mangrove forests
  • An understanding of the complex processes involved in managing our mangrove forests in a sustainable manner.
  • Experience in planning and conducting scientific field studies
Itinerary

Below is an example itinerary for a 1-day “Mangroves” excursion. All excursions packages include the necessary work booklets and equipment.

08:30 Tour group pick- Second Nature have a fleet of vehicles available to cater for any number of passengers (within reason). We can provide transport to and from institutions and airports
9:00 Arrive at destination for Activity session 1 Mangroves are highly complex and unique ecosystems that are important to the marine and intertidal environments. Mangroves perform many crucial ecological functions as well as providing economic benefits to humans. During this activity, you will learn about the many aspects that make mangroves important
10:30 Lunch at destination Great areas to take a break and enjoy the scenery
11:15 Activity session 2 There are many interesting adaptations mangrove flora possess to survive. With the help of our experienced guides, activities will take place within the mangroves to identify mangrove trees and the unique ways they cope with their environment.
12:30 Afternoon tea
12:45 Activity 3 Mangroves are home to many faunal species. Crabs and shellfish make up an important part of this biodiversity. This activity involves identifying crabs and shellfish using dichotomous keys and classification guides. You will soon come to grip their importance in the ecosystem.
13:45 Activity 4 Line transects and quadrat surveys are frequently utilised by field scientists to monitor how an area changes over time. During this activity, students will be divided into groups to assess an area using techniques explained by our guides. The activity will involve taking measurements of physical factors using supplied equipment and recording results in a data collection table. This is excellent hands on experience in the field!
14:30 Depart destination, back to instutution or airport
15:00 Arrive back at institution or airport when required
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