YEAR 12 GEOGRAPHY FIELD TRIP TO KOSCIUSKO NATIONAL PARK
In March, sixteen Year 12 Geography students accompanied by Messrs. Tim Dibdin and Callum Ross, travelled to the Bungarra Alpine Centre in Jindabyne, stopping on route at the Snowy Hydro Centre (and MacDonalds!) in Cooma. On Sunday, the group traversed the 20 kilometre Main Range of 2000 metre peaks from Charlotte Pass via Blue Lake and Mt. Kosciusko. The weather was superb and afforded spectacular views right across the Australian Alps. The students learned about the climate, geology, geomorphology and ecology of this fragile environment as an example of an ‘ecosystem at risk’ (one of the three HSC units of study). In the evening, the students enjoyed the Centre’s facilities including competitive matches of pool, table tennis and corridor cricket! Monday saw an early start on a breakfast of pancakes, as the students prepared for a day of field studies with the Kosciusko National Park Education Service. ‘Going Up The Mountain’, the students investigated three different Alpine environments and assessed the human impacts, including cattle grazing, skiing and summer recreation. Finally, the students attended a Strategic Planning Meeting at the National Park Centre, where in groups they researched the potential impacts of a new ski resort at Blue Lake and presented their results on camera. The students returned to Oxley late on Monday night, exhausted but having enjoyed a worthwhile experience. Annotations on these photographs can be made and used to illustrate some of the concepts learned during the weekend.
