Brewongle Environmental Education Centre

Explore, Experience, Discover

Telephone02 4579 1136

Emailbrewongle-e.school@det.nsw.edu.au

Earth and Environmental Science - Module 4 - Human impacts

Year 11 Earth and Environmental Science -Module 4 – Human impacts and depth study

Using an inquiry based approach with optional depth studies extension, this excursion addresses the inquiry question “How do introduced species affect the Australian Environment and ecosystems?” with a focus on the red fox and its impacts at Brewongle EEC. Students will utilise cutting edge field work techniques including Camera Traps and Nest Box fauna surveys. 

Maximum 3 classes or 90 students.

Download program documents and resources:    

Your task is:

  • to create a specific inquiry question relating to the impact of foxes on the Australian environment.
  • predict/hypothesise the outcome of your field study based on your research of fox populations on native fauna
  • complete a firsthand investigation as part of a field trip to collect primary and secondary data.
  • process and analyse the data to help solve the problem presented by your inquiry question.
  • communicate your scientific findings using a medium of your choice.

Pre-excursion tasks

The pre-excursion tasks are found on page 3 of the worksheet. The links below will assist in the completion of these tasks.

Human Impacts

Red Fox information

The study site

The site is located at Sackville North on a ridge above the Hawkesbury River.  The natural vegetation of the area has been modified by farming practices, school buildings and rural residential properties.

The land was originally inhabited by the Darug Aboriginal nation and was farmed and hunted using traditional methods for 30-50,000 years.  The Sackville – Windsor area was considered suitable for farming and was settled in 1810.  The vegetation was severely modified following settlement.  This was initially restricted to the flood plain immediately adjacent to the river.

Sackville North Public School was located on the site from 1878-1972. Brewongle Field Studies Centre was opened officially in 1979 after the site was used for camping in the interim. It is now called Brewongle Environmental Education Centre and is a facility that hosts other schools on day and camp visits.

The site has been classified as having the vegetation community of Sydney Sandstone Gully Forest and Shale Sandstone Transition Forest with dominant tree species including Grey Gum (Eucalyptus punctata), and Grey Myrtle (Backhousia myrtifolia).

Utilise the Google Map to help you.

Maps end here
Maps end here

Post visit tasks

You can view your data and other historical Nest Box survey data on the Hollows as Homes website. This may provide you with an idea of animal distribution.

Recent and historical camera trap footage can be viewed on our YouTube channel and flora and fauna observations of Brewongle EEC can be seen on the Atlas of Living Australia website. The fauna observations may assist you as evidence of food for the target species and shows animal distribution.