Year 11 Biology Fieldtrip to Long Reef

On the June 25, the three Year 11 biology classes went to Long Reef to investigate the complex ecosystems found in rock pools and shoreline environments.

I’ll have to admit, when I was told we had to show up at Wynyard Station at 7:30 in the morning to catch an hour and a half bus ride to spend a day at the beach during the middle of winter, I couldn’t contain my excitement. We spent the day counting how many shells/plants were on the rock platform as well as testing the pH and salinity of the water.

The excursion was very fun and useful in our ongoing field study. We learnt various sampling techniques and procedures used to collect data about the different plants and animals found on the rocky shore as well as the environmental factors they endure. We encountered many interesting animals, including an octopus who was minding its own business but surprisingly got a bit anxious after 60+ kids (some from another high school) began to crowd around it, but most importantly, we gained an overall enjoyable experience, which we can remember fondly when we look back on our high school days.

Before we came, we had prepared our own inquiry questions and conducted background research. On this excursion, we had the chance to collect our own data, to identify trends and patterns in order to answer questions. The guides, Don and Laurie showed us how to use equipment like the refractometer, quadrats and pH meters to collect our data. After that, we set off to the rocky shores of Long Reef to begin our own research.

When we finished, we waded back to land (the high tide came in and our shoes got soaked). We changed our socks (to no avail as our shoes were still soaked) and squelched our way back to the bus stop. For one and a half hours, the teachers finally had a moment of peace after most of us fell asleep as a result of such an eventful day. When we finally arrived at Wynyard, the bus driver became the target of many “thank you”s, and we made our way to our nice warm, dry homes.

Before I finish, I’d like to thank a few people on behalf of the Year 11 Biology group. First, the octopus, for ‘letting’ us trap him in a big plastic box, pick him up, drop him, poke him and take photos of him. Next, our teachers, Ms Jamble, Mr Guy and Mr Hasenbein, because I can’t imagine it’d be fun watching 58 kids walk around sharp rocks, and cliffs while giant waves came crashing in every second.

Finally, we’d like to thank the AUSECO staff, Don and Laurie, for making all of this happen, making sure we collected data properly and sharing with us their knowledge. What seemed like a wasted day at the beach in the middle of winter turned out to be a great experience, full of bonding, learning and excitement.

Ethan Koit and Betty Chen

Year 11 Biology