Careel Bay Wetlands: A Place-Based Geography Resource

About this project

My name is Casey Howes and this digital learning resource has been created for the unit, Careel Bay Wetlands Visit. The purpose of this site is to demonstrate how Careel Bay Wetland Reserve can be used as a  place-based learning context for Stage 2 Geography. The Careel Bay Wetland is part of the Broken Bay estuary and contains the largest area of estuarine wetlands in Pittwater. The Bay is about 2.5 kilometres long, covering an area of 1.5 square kilometres and is less than five metres in depth. The intertidal flats and foreshores support mangroves, saltmarsh, Casuarina forest and provide habitat and food for marine life, and supports bird nesting sites.(Pittwater Online) By walking through the wetland and absorbing the sights and smells and reading theg information on the plaques provided by Pittwater Council Environmental Team, students can have an enjoyable, meaningful hands-on experience. The wetlands boardwalk is flat and easily accessible for all students, including any with mobility issues. Through this direct engagement with the local mangrove and wetland ecosystem, students can develop conceptual understanding of interconnection, sustainability, and human–environment interaction. This resource provides contextual information, curriculum links, and inquiry-based learning experiences designed to support teachers in embedding meaningful, community-based learning within the NSW Geography syllabus.