Eco-Explorers: Water Cycle and Wetlands (Edithvale)

Eco-Explorers: Water Cycle and Wetlands brings the water cycle and the study of wetlands to life through interactive activities as they explore ecosystems, sustainability and the impact of human actions.

Across a series of indoor and outdoor learning experiences, students investigate how water moves through the environment, explore the importance of wetlands for both wildlife and people, and discover the roles of producers, consumers and decomposers within a habitat. They develop scientific and geographical skills through bird identification, biodiversity audits, water‑cycle modelling, and collaborative problem‑solving activities designed to highlight sustainability and the impact of human choices on the water cycle.

 Bookings opening soon for Term 3, 2026.

Student activities

Students will:

• Spend 45-50 minutes inside the Edithvale Education Centre exploring exploring the water cycle and human impacts. During this time they will:
  • Investigate how water moves through the environment using models, videos and hands‑on water‑cycle activities and the Stormwater Interactive Model.
  • Get hands-on with the Water Sensitive Cities model Lego activity that demonstrates how urban development changes the natural water cycle and how smart design can help cities manage water more sustainably.
• Take the school bus to the Seaford Wetlands Gananyu Bulukul Viewing Platform and spend 30-35 mins:
  • Identify birds and other wildlife using field guides and binoculars while conducting a wetlands biodiversity audit.
  • Record living, once‑living and non‑living features of the wetland environment to assess ecosystem health.
  • Participate in the Wetlands Food Chain game to experience how producers, consumers and decomposers interact—and how human impacts can disrupt these relationships.

This is a sample schedule of how the excursion will run. If you are bringing two classes, the sessions will run concurrently. Maximum of 30 participants in each group.

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes and curriculum links cover all activities supplied before, during and after your excursion onsite. Engage with our teaching resources to prepare your students for their experience.

Year 3-4

Students will:

• Understand how the natural and urban water cycle work and describe how water changes state as it moves through the environment through the process of precipitation, evaporation, transpiration, condensation and infiltration.
• Identify ways human activities impact water quality and wetland health, and propose actions to reduce these impacts.
• Investigate and compare the natural water cycle with the urban water cycle, using models to represent patterns and relationships.
• Observe and record living, once‑living and non‑living components of a wetland environment, identifying patterns in biodiversity and signs of ecosystem health.
• Role play the functions of producers, consumers and decomposers in a wetland food chain and explain how energy moves through an ecosystem.

Curriculum Links

Geography: VC2HG4K03, VC2HG4K09, VC2HG4S05

Science: VC2S4U02, VCS4U03, VC2S4U04, VC2S4U07, VC2S4I04

 

Prepare for your visit

To get the most out of your visit, be sure to engage with the teaching resources and make sure you understand the safety requirements to attend this site before you come. 

Additional Teaching Resources

Teaching resources are coming soon!

Cost and Group Size

$240 per group. 

Maximum of 30 students per group, and two groups maximum per session.

Example: I have 57 Year 4 students that I'd like to bring on this excursion - how should I book?

You would need to book 2 sessions for a total of $480. The groups will run concurrently with each rotating so that everyone gets to experience both Education Centre and the wetlands.

Duration and Availability

Approximately 2.5 -3  hours arrival, welcome and departure.

Available Tuesdays to Thursdays.

Safety and Risk Information

1. Edithvale-Seaford Wetlands Education Centre Venue and Safety Information - All participants over the age of 18 (including parents and teachers) will be asked to sign in and agree they understand the information contained within.

2. Child Safe Standards - We are committed to the safety and wellbeing of children and young people, and providing a child-safe environment in line with our Child Safe Policy. All our Education Officers and Interpretation Officers have the relevant legal requirements (Working With Children Check or Victorian Institute of Teaching registration).

3. Cancellations due to safety - All tours will be cancelled on days of very poor or hazardous air quality and/ or on days of a Total Fire Ban. Please see our full Terms and Conditions when booking.

4. Public Liabilty Insurance - Melbourne Water has current public liability insurance and the certificate will be emailed to you upon booking.

Student supervision and discipline is the school/institute's responsibility. Teachers and adults accompanying school groups should actively supervise students at all times. 

We reserve the right to cancel a booked tour and ask individuals or groups to leave the site immediately if any action or behaviour is unsafe. 

What to bring

All participants must wear appropriate clothing for all weather conditions as activities are conducted outdoors. Clothing must meet these minimum requirements:

• wear long pants/trousers
• wear long-sleeved tops
• wear closed-toe, flat-soled shoes – sandals and thongs are not permitted on site
• Clothing suitable for all weather conditions (hat, sunscreen, raincoat etc.)

Bring food with you as there is none for purchase onsite.

Bring any learning materials (books, pens etc.) with you.

How to get here

By car or bus

The centre is located at 278 Edithvale Road, Chelsea Heights, VIC. View our location on Google maps.

There is a small car park and one bus bay.

Via Eastlink: Take the Greens Road exit then turn left at Springvale Road. Drive past Wells Road and through the first roundabout. The education centre is 100 metres down the road on the left. 

Via Nepean Highway: Turn left into Edithvale Road when you reach Edithvale. Drive through the wetlands until you see the education centre on your right. Continue driving further, u-turn at the roundabout and enter the car park, 100 metres on your left. 

Parking 

Parking is available for two buses at a drop-off zone in front of the centre along Edithvale Road, 100 metres from the roundabout and just after the entrance to the car park. Limited parking is available in the car park in front of the centre.

By train 

Catch the Frankston line train to Edithvale Station. Walk east down Edithvale Road and you will reach the wetlands. The education centre is located on your right at the east end of the wetlands. Walking time is approximately 15 to 20 minutes. There is also a bus that travels along Edithvale Road.