Secondary Programs
Local Ecosystem Study - Rainforest or Woodland
(Science, Geography, Biology, Earth & Environmental Science)
Mount Tomah has an incredible diversity with over 600 species of plants growing in a range of natural environments. Compare species of rainforest plants with those from eucalyptus woodlands and examine both biotic and abiotic factors in these natural environments. Factors measured include: light, air temperature, humidity, soil temperature, pH (soil collected for testing back at school), wind speed. A full day option can include completing transects and quadrats and water testing with Streamwatch kits. Examine evidence of fauna with scats, tracks and skeletal remains to draw a food web.
Threatened Habitats - Rainforests
(Stage 4 Geography)
Take a step into the emerald light of The Jungle - an easy access area of temperate rainforest. Opened in 2009 on the neighbouring property, donated by the Fairfax Foundation. See giant vines, tree ferns, stand inside an ancient hollow emergent. Learn about food webs and habitat. Study global issues affecting this unique environment and the local communities.
Global Environments - Mountains and Rainforest
(Stage 4 Geography, Science)
See giant vines that grow in an enourmous tangle up to the canopy of 'The Jungle'. Measure the temperature and light in a rainforest and compare it with the alpine garden. Stand inside an ancient hollow emergent. As well as the natural enviornment students can examine plants from different alpine geographical areas including the Himalayas, Eurasia, South Africa, South America and North America. International biodiversity at your fingertips!
Plants For Senior Science
(Senior Science)
The majority of the course work required for the topic 'Plants' covered in this single day excursion. Students have a unique opportunity to examine propagation techniques of the specialist nursery at the Blue Mountains Botanic Garden, Mount Tomah. Find out about different watering systems and how efficient they are. Practical trials of different germination techniques including smoking and scarification techniques. The Wollemi Pine story of discovery, naming, propagation and marketing and ongoing conservation.
Plant Adaptations & Classification
Investigate the special features of plants that help them survive in environments ranging from the rocky heights of the Himalayas, the North American woodlands, the plains of South Africa and rainforests of the South America. Alternatively concentrate on Australian plants and their strategies and adaptations for staying alive in our variable climate. Compare woodland plants to tall forest and closed forest (rainforest).
Geology of Mount Tomah
(Science, Geography, Earth & Environmental Science)
The Blue Mountains Botanic Garden, Mount Tomah provides a unique opportunity for science students to examine and compare geology of sandstone, shale and basalt areas. The vegetation changes and human uses due to the different soils derived from these rocks can be observed all at the one site. This lesson can also include transects and vegetation change for higher stage students.
Maintaining a Balance - Plants
(HSC Biology)
Study individual plants and examine adaptations for maintaining the heat/ water balance to enable photosynthesis and enzyme reactions to continue under Australia's extreme climatic conditions. Includes exercises to measure the surfaces of plants with infrared sensors, recording surface temperatures and how plants change their environment.
Evolution and Adaptation of Australian Plants
(Biology)
Senior Biology students investigate adaptations of Australian plants for pollination, seed dispersal and a range of environmental conditions including fire, arid and low nutrient soils. Evolution is bought to life with numerous living examples of flora from throughout our Gondwanan past.
A Search For Better Health
Visit the nursery and examine measures taken to enable quarantine of disease. Learn about identification and control of pests and diseases in the garden. Complete a practical exercise with items actually confiscated by customs, the students have to work out possible vector threats from each and why they were taken.
Ecosystems At Risk - Rainforest Ecosystems
Australian Biota Study Day
One day workshops (only available at set times) with educators combining from the Taronga Zoo, Australian Museum and Botanic Gardens. Explore millions of years of Australia's evolution and observe adaptions of flora and fauna to a drying continent.
Live From Taronga Zoo!
Have a personal encounter with Australian animals, such as the echidna, parrots, possums, skinks and snakes. Examine adaptations of these native animals to their environment.
Fossils from the Australian Museum!
Study fossil ancestors of modern day native animals and using your detective skills match them with modern skeletons of native animals.
Growing at the Blue Mountains Botanic Garden, Mount Tomah!
Look at mechanisms for pollination and seed dispersal in ancient and modern plants. Compare the rare Wollemi Pine to other plants and fossils of the Araucariaceae and Proteaceae families from Gondwanan continents.
People and Economic Activity - The Blue Mountains Botanic Garden, Mount Tomah Case Study
Learn about this Blue Mountains Tourist Attraction as an economic enterprise with influences of location, ecological dimensions and environmental constraints, climate and human impacts on the environment. Other impacts include internal and external linkages and flows of people, ideas, goods, services and effects of global changes.
Senior Geography Skills Study day
(Senior Geography)
Look at Mount Tomah as a case study to build skills for students so they can improve their Senior Geography Project. Different parts of the Geography Syllabus may be put together for a full study day.
Enviro-Maths Excursion
(Stage 4 Maths)
Students will work mathematically outdoors with environmental data collection, measurements, calculations, data analysis and statistics in a stunning environment of rainforest and rock gardens. Look at teaching volumes, rates, relationships, areas in the great outdoors! Maths with a 190km view!
Mount Tomah is approximately 1 hour 50 minutes from Sydney..
Risk Assessments are available for all lessons.
Lessons are designed to run in a fun and safe way and are taken by education professionals.
The garden has trained first aid staff and full NSW State Government public liability.
The Garden Education Service will accept large groups of students.
For Bookings or enquiries please ring Education Officer - Rusty Worsman on phone (02) 4567 3015 or .
