Guided Bushwalks
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The local bushland provides an inspiring outdoor classroom. It allows children to feel and discover the local natural world first hand, as well as foster an appreciation for the environment and how to ‘care’ for it. The natural environment also demonstrates to children the important role they have as part of the community and their surroundings.
These following topics are usually covered on a walk:
- Pollution
- Plant growth
- Water catchments
- Native flora and fauna
- Human impacts
- Weeds
- Aboriginal perspectives
- Biodiversity
- Plant adaptations
- Bush regeneration
The interpretive officers can help facilitate learning about a range of local sustainability or environmental topics and offer ideas for curriculum relevant activities including 
Geography and Science Field Excursions (2.24 MB) and Who Done it Mystery Excursions (220.99 KB).
Contact the Bushland Interpretive Officers on 9777 7755.
Most schools located in the Willoughby LGA are located within walking distance to local bushland reserves, meaning there is no need to organise transport. Activities usually run for approximately 2 hours. Classes can choose whether to have morning tea or lunch in the reserve.
The aims of the program are to:
- Facilitate children and youth discovering nature through hands-on activities to gain an understanding of how all living things connect and co-exist.
- Teach how the natural environment sustains life on earth and what actions students can take in their day-to-day lives to aid this.
- Foster links between the schools and local bushland reserves and waterways so they can understand the issues affecting these areas and be part of solutions in their local community.
Activities
Willoughby LGA is lucky to have a number of reserves ranging from eucalypt woodland and rainforest gullies to sandstone heath and mangroves, from rivers to creeks and harbour foreshores. Walk themes may be linked to specific curriculum topics or lend themselves to a cross-curriculum application. Interpretive Officers provide a work sheet after the activity suggesting follow up activities to consolidate learning.
Primary school
Bushwalks and activities complement the following primary units of work:
Year K - 2
- * Bush Christmas (Kindy)
- * Living Things
- Places We Know
- * Wet and Dry Environments
- * The Need for Shelter
- Look Around You
- What’s Alive
- Kids Care
Years 2 - 4
- * Australia You’re Standing in It
- * Places: Then, Now and Tomorrow
- * State and National Parks
- Mini Worlds
- * Cycles in Our World
- Our Australia
Years 5 - 6
- Global Environments
- * Rainforests
- Global Connections/Patterns of Place and Location
- An Ancient Land
- Environment Matters
- A Change for the Better
*Most popular topics.
Examples of some of the diverse activities undertaken with primary schools:
High School
Willoughby City Council offers in-class talks or walks within the local area to help explore geography, Aboriginal studies and science topics for year 7 – 10 students. For example:
Geography topics: Investigating Australia's identity, Changing Australia’s environments, Issues in Australian environments, Environments at risk.
Science studies: Adaptations of living things, and Interactions between the natural and built environments. Local flora and fauna and environmental management techniques illustrate the biodiversity and ecology of living things, problems about, and solutions to, issues associated with the interaction between people and the environment.
Visual arts: Teachers may want to allow students to have a direct experience with the natural world whilst exploring the topic other living things.
Examples of some of the diverse activities undertaken with high schools:
- Environmental Video Project: "Contamination" a story of Flat Rock Creek - Doco Drama produced by students for students, made in collaboration with a video company
Environment Education Videos, DVDs and Books - 39 KB
- Exploring ‘issues in Australian environments’ – whilst exploring the Artarmon to Middle Harbour walk.
- Council Landscape Officer discussing outdoor design with design and technology students.
- Propagation and planting activities in school grounds with indigenous species.
To book an activity contact:
The Bushland Interpretive Officer at Willoughby City Council
Phone: 9777 7755
Or email: bushland@willoughby.nsw.gov.au