We Offer ENRICHMENT, STEM & Enquiry-BASED LEARNING PROGRAMS

Living Things Change and Grow

Stage 1
Science Excursion

This outdoor adventure turns your students into real nature detectives! Using their senses and simple fieldwork tools, they observe, and compare the living things in their local environment. Students explore textures, movements, body coverings, and plant parts to discover how different living things survive.

Activities change with the location and may include fishing off a wharf, going on an insect hunt, exploring plant structures or getting hands-on (and messy!) with water investigations.

Students group what they find, look for patterns, and compare living and non-living things around them. They also learn how Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples use knowledge of plants, animals, and Country to live sustainably.

A hands-on, exciting day of real-world discovery!

10am- 2pm (4 hour)

Arrival at 10:00am
Our Rangers will be waiting right at the bus bay to greet you, usually with too much enthusiasm for this early in the morning!

10:00am – 10:25am
Arrival, morning tea, and a toilet break for students. A perfect chance to stretch legs and recharge before the fun begins.

10:25am – 10:55am
Time for the Ranger Jamie Animal Show! Students get up close to our wild collection of taxidermies, anything from cute possums to giant crocs. The line-up changes daily… because we like to keep things interesting.

After the show, students are split into groups of approximately. 35, each with their own Ranger. Activities run on rotation, so groups may complete experiences at different times.

10:55am – 11:30am
Activity Rotation 1

11:30am – 12:00pm
Activity Rotation 2

12:00pm – 12:30pm
Lunch and toilet break, a well-earned pit stop for hungry explorers (and teachers!).

12:30pm – 1:10pm
Activity Rotation 3

1:10pm – 1:50pm
Activity Rotation 4

1:50pm
Wrap-up and a final toilet stop.

2:00pm
Departure time… and we’ll sadly say goodbye (until your next Ranger Jamie adventure!).

Please note: Times may vary slightly on the day. This schedule is a guide only.

Activities will vary based on the location and the natural features available. These may include:

  • Hand reel fishing;
  • Dip-net fishing;
  • Crab Catching;
  • Beach Habitat Building;
  • Bird House Crafting;
  • Bug Catching with Camouflage;
  • Waterworks;
  • Bush Walk;
  • Coastal Nature Walk;
  • Solar Ovens.

ST1-SCI-01 measures and describes changes in living things, materials, movement, Earth and the sky;
ST1-PQU-01 poses questions based on observations and information to investigate cause and effect;
ST1-DAT-01 collects, represents and uses data to identify patterns and relationships;
ST1-DDT-01 uses technologies and materials to design and make products to address user needs or opportunities;
ST1-PQU-01 poses questions based on observations and information to investigate cause and effect.

Living things change over time

  • Recognise that data can be collected through observation, testing and research, and that it can be represented as descriptions, diagrams, graphs, images and tables;
  • Collect data about the variety of living things in a local habitat, group them and justify the groupings;
  • Describe the changes in a plant as it grows using data and scientific models;
  • Describe the changes in an animal as it goes through its life cycle using data and scientific models;
  • Describe how Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Peoples use Knowledges of the life cycles of livings things;
  • Examine the evidence for extinct animals.

North Sydney

  • Bobbin Head Ku-ring-gai National Park
  • Clifton Gardens Chowder Bay Mosman
  • Nielsen Park Vaucluse
  • Berry Island Reserve
  • Balmoral Beach, Mosman
  • Clontarf Reserve, Manly
  • Fagan Park
  • Putney Park
  • Wahroonga Park

Eastern Suburbs

  • Cromwell Park South, Malabar
  • Mutch Park, Pagewood
  • Queens Park
  • Robertson Park, Watsons Bay
  • Yarra Bay Bicentennial Park, Botany

Inner West

  • Ballast Point Park, Birchgrove
  • Cabarita Park
  • Elkington Park, Balmain
  • Glebe Foreshore Parks
  • Rodd Park
  • Rozelle Parklands
  • Sydney Park, Alexandria

South Sydney

  • Audley to Bola Creek Rainforest Royal National Park
  • Bonnie Vale Royal National Park
  • Carss Park Bush Flat
  • Garie Beach to Bola Creek Rainforest Royal National Park
  • Gunnamatta Park Cronulla
  • Wattamolla Royal National Park
  • Bonna Point Reserve, Kurnell
  • Garie Beach
  • Bundeena
  • Cooper St Park, Engadine
  • Cook Reserve, Ruse
  • Pine Park, Sans Souci

Western Sydney

  • Auburn Botanic Gardens
  • Mcarthur Park
  • Lizard Log, Western Sydney Parklands
  • Nurragingy Reserve, Doonside
  • Plough and Harrow, Western Sydney Parklands
  • The Dairy, Western Sydney Parklands

Illawarra

  • Stanwell Park Beach Reserve
  • Bald Hill to Stanwell Park Beach Reserve
  • Blackbutt Reserve, Shellharbour
  • Killalea State Park, Shellharbour
  • Shellharbour South Beach
  • Stuart Park, Wollongong

Newcastle, Central Coast & Hunter Valley

  • Blakbutt Reserve, Kotara
  • Brickworks Park
  • Hunter Valley Gardens
  • Foreshore Park
  • Kincumba Mountain Reserve
  • Norah Head Lighthouse
  • Poppet Head Park
  • Richley Reserve
  • Swadling Reserve
  • Lions Park, Woy Woy
  • Speers Point Park
  • Tanilba Bay

The cost of this exciting adventure is $24.00 + GST per student.
(Minimum charge x35)

This price includes:

  • A fully guided full day with our enthusiastic and knowledgeable Rangers
    (Think Steve Irwin meets the Ranger Jamie crew!);
  • A pre-completed Risk Assessment, making your planning a whole lot easier;
  • Assistance sourcing bus quotes, so you’re not chasing bus companies all afternoon;
  • All equipment and materials provided;
  • A syllabus-aligned program, thoughtfully designed to support real learning while keeping the day fun and engaging;
  • Complimentary Coffee, Tea and Tim Tams (Exclusive to the teachers!).

Choose Your Date

Step 1 of 3

Alternative Dates

Please list 3 additional dates in the fields below, just in case your preferred date is already booked.

Would you like our help with transport?

Please note this will be an additional cost to the excursion price and a separate quote will be provided to you. This quote will be from an external transport company who will invoice you directly.

Please note this is a tentative booking. After your booking request is submitted, we will be in touch via email to confirm the requested date and arrange the final details for the booking.

All prices are +GST. As this program is an educational service, all GST charged can be reimbursed in its entirety by the Government.

FAQS

How many students can we bring on our excursion?

We’re more than happy to host large groups! A few locations have suggested group sizes, so reach out and we’ll customise the plan for your visit.

How many teachers/helpers should we bring?

We require at least one teacher per class or group, and you’re welcome to bring as many additional helpers as you like, the more help, the better! In most cases, there’s no extra fee for additional staff. SLSO’s can always attend for no additional cost.

What equipment or materials do we need to bring?

Nothing at all! We bring all the equipment. Students just need their recess, lunch, water bottles, and sun-safety essentials.

How many groups will my students be in?

We usually plan for one Ranger per 35-40 students. On the day, your students will be split into groups of that size, with a Ranger assigned to each group to guide them as they rotate through the activities.