TAKE IT OUTSIDE
The guidebook for getting back outdoors and connecting with nature and that natural environment of Hong Kong
task
You will be tasked with developing collaboratively a field/nature guide for a specific area/route in Hong Kong of your choice. The purpose of the guide is to promote Hong Kong's natural and wild areas and demonstrate the benefits of visiting these places and being outdoors in nature. You will first need to visit your chosen place or route and document its natural features. You will also need to design a series of challenges (games, activities, experiences) that a family could have/undertake while on this adventure.
Audience
The purpose of writing a field/nature guide is to promote Hong Kong's natural environment. It will be distributed to ESF primary school children and their parents to encourage them to explore Hong Kong and to get outdoors more often.
FORMAT
As a group you will be given a designated webpage on a shared weebly site to put all of your information to promote . Students will need include the following information as outlined in a given webpage design template.
- Location or route name
- Map - Drawn of the local area
- How to get there - public transport (train, bus, taxi), car parking facilities.
- History - additional historical interests of the area.
- Things to see and do on route - must include a variety of photographs to promote the location/route.
- Distance and topography of route - Use Strava data to produce this
- Tree/Plant Species - 3 to 5 species to identify, give some facts about these species.
- Bird Species - 3 to 5 species to identify, give some facts about these species.
- Animals Species - 2 to 3 species to identify, give some facts about these species
- Activities - you will design a series 3 to 5 activities that a family could do while on this walk or at your groups chosen location. You should ensure that a list any additional resources that might be needed is also provided. You must photograph yourselves undertaking these activities.
- Risks - Highlight 3 or 4 of the major risks that people need to be aware of when visiting your location/route. You must state how people should mitigate (reduce) these risks
roles
You will need to divide the below roles between your group. Remember though, this is a group activity, so if one person finishes before the other then the work load must be shared!
Editor in Chief & Group Leader
ON TRIP
GUIDEBOOK
Editor in Chief & Group Leader
ON TRIP
- As group leader, you should ensure that each group member has undertaken the various activities prior and during the visit to your chosen location. These can be found under the 'ON TRIP' section for each of the roles below. Ensure that the group completes and undertakes all the required assignments in the field before you depart.
- You are responsible for researching the sorts of things that visitors can see and do when they visit your location or walk along your chosen route. Note down any information that you might find while at the location.
GUIDEBOOK
- You are responsible for ensuring that the workload is evenly shared amongst the group and that if one member finishes their work early, they support the other team members with their roles.
- You will need to write a description around the sorts of things that visitors can see and do when they visit your location or walk along your route. This should NOT include the series of fun activities/games that have been designed by your group, but rather things that are available for everyone in situ at your location.
- You are responsible for overseeing the below work from the group and then uploading it onto your groups Weebly page as it is completed. You need to follow as much as possible the format of this as outlined in the sample page at this link. As Editor in Chief, you will receive an additional training session on how to use Weebly. You will then have to demonstrate this to your group members afterwards.
Designer & Historian
ON TRIP
GUIDEBOOK
ON TRIP
- You are responsible for taking the photographs that will market your chosen location/route as a 'must go to' place in Hong Kong. Within this, you should take some images of your transport to the chosen location, images of things to do and see there, images of the group undertaking the chosen series of fun activities/games that you have designed and images of plants, and possibly birds and mammals. You should also photograph possible hazards and then most importantly document your experience throughout. Remember some of the photographic 'rules' that we have looked at in this unit!
- You will need to design/draw a map of your location/route. Sketches will need to be done while in the field to support this.
- Identify any historical information that you might find from local visitor centres, government information boards and other sources while in the field.
- Note down all the information that you can find about the various methods of transportation to get to your chosen location. Consider different types of transport (bus, car, MTR), costs, and routes that you might take.
GUIDEBOOK
- Draw a detailed map of your chosen location/route. Ensure that your map has a key / legend and a scale.
- You will need to research and write up the history that is linked to your location. Think about the areas former uses, the people that lived there and changes the place gone through. You could add some historical images to help you express these changes.
- You will need to write step by step instructions of how to get to your chosen location. Ensure that you consider different types of transportation (bus, car, MTR), costs, and routes that you might take.
Ecologist
ON TRIP
GUIDEBOOK
ON TRIP
- You are responsible for downloading Strava or making sure that someone in your group has downloaded this application onto a mobile device. If you are doing a hike then you will need to record your route as you go.
- You are responsible for the identification and research of the types of mammals, birds and plants that might exist at your chosen location or along your designated route using the mobile apps that have been given to you. Try and identify at least 3 bird species and 3 plant species while you are in the field.
GUIDEBOOK
- You will need to write up some interesting facts about each mammal, bird and plant species you identify. Try and not state the obvious (the bird is black and white), but rather offer interesting and unusual facts that someone would not know from a simple observation. Support each species you identify with at least one image. You will need to research and write about the following:
- 2 to 3 mammal species
- 3 to 5 bird species
- 3 to 5 tree species
- You will need to include the following information from Strava so that visitors have an understanding of your route.
- Topography graph showing elevation
- Distance & estimated time to complete the route
Risk & Activities Coordinator
ON TRIP
GUIDEBOOK
Need some help with ideas for possible fun group activities and games? Have a look at some of the websites below.
ON TRIP
- You are responsible with developing 3 to 5 activities that you will undertake at your chosen location/route. The activities must be shared with the group prior to your departure and all group members must agree to these as your chosen activities.
- You are responsible for the coordination of any additional equipment that is needed to be brought in order to undertake the above activities.
- Review the location/route that you are taking and highlight what the major hazards might be for your group when you go there. Communicate these with your group and come up with control measures together that you can undertake in order to mitigate (reduce) those hazards leading to an injury.
- Ensure that your group has an agreed emergency plan if something does go wrong. You MUST have an emergency contact person (an adult) that is aware of your location/route and activities. You should check in with them on a regular basis and report to them when you return so they know you are safe.
GUIDEBOOK
- You will need to write up step by step instructions of how other people can undertake your chosen activities. This should include photographs of your group undertaking these activities or related images and a list of any equipment that is needed to undertake these.
- You will need to write a standard kit list of essential items that you recommend visitors take with them on this trip.
- You will need to develop a risk assessment for visitors to be aware of.
Need some help with ideas for possible fun group activities and games? Have a look at some of the websites below.