PEEC is an Education Queensland campus where primary-aged children connect with nature. We provide full day excursions for primary school classes and professional development workshops for leaders and teachers as we work together to grow Connected Learners.
Who can visit PEEC?
PEEC is an Education Queensland facility, open to visiting school groups from P - 6 during school terms. Parents and carers can visit with the class as helpers, with prior arrangement with class teachers. Unfortunately we cannot accommodate younger siblings or children who are not in the schooling system, and we are not open to the general public or outside school hours.
When can class teachers book into a program?
The best time to book into a program for the following year is in September, once the Prospectus for the following year has been released. They are in high demand so be early to express interest. Please try to anticipate the number of classes for that grade so PEEC can try to accommodate your whole cohort.
How do I book into a program?
Submit a booking form here. We will then send an email to the specified contact person confirming your booking. Our booking process is detailed step-by-step here.
How do I know what the programs are about?
Every PEEC program delivers teaching and learning about connecting to nature and living sustainably. More information about each of our programs can be found here, and in our Prospectus.
How do I know which program is relevant to my year level?
There is an indication of the ideal grade for each program on each program page and in the Prospectus.
Are there any extra resources that you would recommend when planning and conducting my unit?
Every teacher receives a program-specific guide (Teacher Guide) that contains pre and post-excursion resources and activities to assist in both planning and teaching their Storythread Unit. These guides are sent out eight weeks prior to your excursion date so as to help facilitate your unit planning. You will also be sent links to our 'Guide videos' to assist you in navigating the essential preparation; and an invite to join the program-specific Teams chat group for sharing of preparation strategies and queries. Other resources are available in our Teacher Resources and Documents sections.
How much does an excursion to PEEC cost?
PEEC programs are offered at the cost of $20 per student, bar the Year 6 Wander the Way of the Water program, where travel is included for $48 per student. PEEC makes the bus booking for this program due to navigation requirements for drop off and pick up in the authorised access areas of Karawatha Forest. For all other programs, bus travel to and from the centre needs to be organized by the school and this cost must also be factored in for your students. For grades Prep to three it may be appropriate to organize car-pooling with adult drivers staying as helpers for the day. Please see the PEEC Prospectus for more details or phone us with any queries.
I can't send in my Excursion form and Class list by the due date because I don't have payment and / or confirmation yet from all of my class parents / carers...
Please fill in the Excursion Information form and Class list (located in your Teacher Guide, or in the Excursion forms folder on the Documents webpage) with only any known non-attendees ommitted from your class list, so that we have maximum student numbers and all possible needs noted at a minimum of 5 days prior to your excursion day. We appreciate any updates you become aware of after your form due dates, but if these are last minute we can also update forms with reduced numbers etc on the day. We will only invoice you for students that do attend on the day.
How are you addressing the Australian Curriculum?
Storythread is a powerful Pedagogy of Place that can help schools implement the Australian Curriculum in the following ways:
- Storythread offers teachers rich opportunities to deepen, extend and personalise student understandings of the content, ideas and processes carried within nominated Science, English, HASS, HPE and/or Arts units.
- Storythread offers teachers an imaginative way of focusing on the Cross-Curriculum priority of Sustainability that connects students in highly personal ways to the Organising Ideas of Systems, World View and Futures.
- Storythread offers teachers access to a creative values education process that supports the development of the General Capabilities, in particular Literacy, Ethical Understanding, Critical and Creative Thinking and Social and Personal Capability.
Are you part of Education Queensland or are you an independently run centre?
We are part of Education Queensland. As such, all visiting adults to our site are required to hold a current MAST Key Messages completion declaration (valid for 12 months).
All personel on program are QCT registered teachers with relevant teaching qualifications. We also have various other talents and qualifications that enrich our work at PEEC.
Do people plan their whole units of work around an excursion to PEEC?
Teachers can use the suggested pre and post excursion activities from the Teacher Guides. These offer scaffolding for whole units of work. You are welcome to contact us to discuss further integration of our programs into your classroom learning.
I need to do my curriculum planning now. Can you please send me my program booklet early?
We send out Teacher Guides at the end of the term before your visit. We are constantly updating and improving our program guides so it is unlikely we can send you one earlier than this. However, if you need more information about the program for planning purposes, we can provide you with reference material and more information upon request.
What happens if it rains on my excursion day?
Most PEEC programs can still go ahead in light rain (with raincoats), however adverse weather conditions (strong wind, heavy rain, extreme heat, bush fire) may require us to postpone a program. This decision will always be made by the PEEC principal in consultation with the class teacher. If postponing a program is necessary, an alternative date will be arranged.
Can you help us with our Curriculum Risk Management processes?
Yes. PEEC’s risk management process aligns with the Department of Education and Training’s procedure: HLS-PR-012 Managing Risks in School Curriculum Activities External link. Program relevant Curriculum Activity Risk Assessment information is available in your Teacher Guide or within our Documents section.
Can Parents / Carers come to help on the excursion day?
Yes. Additional adults are welcome in small numbers and your program booklet will provide guidance around the number of recommended adults (additional to class teachers and support school staff). However, please do not allow parents to bring younger siblings.
Are your programs similar every year?
We are constantly updating our programs to suit curriculum priorities, best practice, and in response to feedback from visiting teachers and students. At the end of your PEEC excursion day, visiting adults (volunteer parent / carers and school support staff) attending will be asked to engage with our short online 'visiting adult feedback form', while class teachers will be asked to complete a class teacher feedback form External link (link also emailed to you post-program) to assist us with this process. If you would like to provide us with feedback about any other facet of your visit, please send us an email. We would love to here from you.
Can I travel to PEEC by public transport?
It’s possible but please allow extra time. The 444 bus travels along Moggill Road (Route: GoMA, Cultural Centre, Roma St, Chapel Hill, Kenmore, Moggill. See Translink External link). Please get off at Moggill road, Pinjarra Hills between Moggill Road and Grandview Road (approximately 81m from Grandview Road). Walk along Grandview Road for 1.9km (approximately 25 minutes), continuing past Pullenvale State School. Pullenvale Environmental Education Centre is on the left.