M4 Cross Curricular Field Trip 2025/26

To supplement and support the M4 students’ in-class curriculum studies the students in M4 took part in our annual cross-curricular educational field trip to Khao Yai National Park, Pak Chong, Nakorn Ratchasima. The trip is organized in conjunction with Big Outdoors Education Centre which is a professionally run outdoor education centre.

The fieldwork includes geography and science field study, which is a vital part of education, while English and Math are used extensively in the data handling and presentation. 

The field work included studying the ecology and biodiversity of rivers, including;

• Measuring and recording river speed of flow and river channel cross sections. Identifying and explaining the formation of river features. Field sketching and annotations.
• Pollution assessment and stream invertebrate surveys to determine the impact of human activities on our environment.  Further study of industry and its impact on the environment.
• Studying the vegetation variation and biodiversity along an environmental gradient and identify the adaptations of vegetation in a tropical Forest.
• Undertaking a tourism impact survey of sites around the area. This specifically includes identifying human impact and surveying a tourist site to obtain primary data.

Day 1

Weused a previously used site for our mid-course location. This has excellent access and made the start to the day very easy. Students investigated the speed of flow and spent some time collecting insect samples to determine levels of pollution in the river. Following this, we headed into the park for a great lunch and shop at the visitor centre – and off to do the same tests again at Haew Suwat waterfall. 

Day 2

An early start, into Khao Yai National Park. Students were expectant after the last two years of animal sightings… so the students set off for the biodiversity walk, investigating the flora and fauna of Khao Yai. We didn’t see any animals, but we heard the gibbons all around us and there was plenty of evidence of animal activity.

In the afternoon, we did further investigations of the rainforest, students measured and counted the trees and used belt transects to determine species diversity. In the evening, we all went on the night safari – no elephants this time, but we did see lots of interesting animals, including porcupines, wild dogs and some nocturnal birds and civets.

Day 3

This was spent studying two examples of the impact of tourism, on the environment at the natural spring, another opportunity to play in the water… and then the change in available services for the public as you approach the National Park from the main road. The best bit really is the natural spring, where the students play in the river and the spring and enjoy coffee and soft drinks from the market.

This was a fantastic trip and enjoyed by everyone. Everybody was exhausted for the journey home.