04 Sep 2018
At 6,900 square kilometres Kosciuszko National Park is the largest in New South Wales. In 1997 the Park was declared a World Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO. Around three million people visit the Park each year and some 30,000 trek to the top of Mount Kosciusko. Unlike high country regions elsewhere, the Australian Alps are covered by
a layer of vegetation, primarily due to the peat bogs that fill the valleys and hollows. These wetlands act like sponges, retaining water from rain and melting snow. As a result, they help prevent erosion and keep the slopes moist. Some alpine peat bogs are metres deep and contain plant matter over 15,000 years old. This information allows scientists to study the impact of climate change over the years.
Students and teachers had a fantastic time at the Year 9 Geography- High Country Camp. 58 students attended the annual three day excursion. Day one commenced with an informative talk at The Snowy Hydro Discovery Centre in Cooma where students learnt about one of the civil engineering wonders of the world. Each day started with a two hour snowboarding or skiing lesson and the remainder of the day was spent exploring and skiing around the mountains in small groups. It was fantastic to see all the students ‘giving it a go’ and encouraging each other throughout the excursion. By day three, the students had all improved dramatically and were confident to move around the mountains practising what they had learnt. We thank all the Year 9 students for maintaining a great attitude and positive vibe throughout the experience. A big thank you to Mr Barry, Mr Hallett, Mr Ring, Ms Cowan and Ms Hannan.
