In Level 3 Geography this term, the geographers have been learning about natural processes that operate to shape a New Zealand geographic environment. Head of Social Sciences, Sam Keegan, runs us through the river trip.

Considering the Hutt River / Te Awakairangi is right on our school's doorstep, the context for this unit is a no brainer.  In the first five weeks of the term the students have been learning about fluvial processes and how they shape the river. 

As part of the course they also have to generate a hypothesis and collect data in the field to confirm or falsify their hypothesis. 

On the 17th March, 42 students embarked on an adventure in their trusty steed (a public bus) and travelled from Kaitoke Regional Park, following the river all the way south to the river mouth at Petone. The weather was atrocious. 7.5mm of rain was expected to fall but luckily for us the river level was low (not so much in the afternoon). 

The students, filled with excitement, jumped off their steed and into the shallow waters of the Hutt River collecting data including sediment size, water velocity/discharge, pH levels and macro/micro invertebrates. 

The trip was cut short due to the geographers looking like a clowder of wet cats. Shout out to Ms. Elliott and Mr. Blank for their expertise. At the end of the day, there were no losers, just happy Geographers.