PIPS Camp 2025
In November 2025, VAPS will run a PIPS (Philosophy in Public Spaces) Camp.
Any school is able to express interest in attending.
The camp is targeted at Years 6-9 (but there is flexibility depending on the schools that end up attending).
The camp will run from 17-20 November (4 days, 3 nights) in Beechworth.
The expected cost is still to be finalised, but is expected in the range of $500 per student
Express interest via this form - Please register early, as accomodattion will be finalised 4-6 months in advance.
VAPS will provide documentation, including camp details, itinerary, risk register, and risk assessments. This will allow you to present to your principal / school council for approval with little work involved.
Below are some details of our previous PIPS camp to get you excited to join us in 2025!
The camp was attended by 6 different schools and was hosted at the Narmbool Lodge, maintained by Sovereign Hill. Narbool is primarily a science and environmental camp program. VAPS collaborated with Sovereign Hill educators on programming, with educators providing stimuli and VAPS leaders then facilitating philosophical communities of inquiry about that stimuli.
Some testimonials from PIPS are below:
From all accounts, our students had an absolute blast. They loved every aspect of the camp; the location, mixing with other schools, the activities and the discussions. Most of them said they loved the discussions more than anything! You have provided my students with opportunities to engage in new ideas with new people and it has really taken hold. Thank you.
I was surprised to hear that this is the first time you have run a Philosophy Camp – it seemed so intentional and seamless. I’m afraid my feedback form won’t be terribly helpful as it will simply be glowing. I was not only taking notes for how to implement Philosophical Inquiry across the school, I also took numerous notes on how to run a camp (and I have been on many camps in my time). To be honest, I’m not sure our school will have any camps that aren’t Philosophy Camps in the near future!
Principal - Government Primary School
I loved the environment, it was a great place for me to grow and think critically with peers. I was exposed to different perspectives which enabled me to develop deeper ideas. It was a great opportunity.
Student - Government secondary school
“PiPS, to put it simply, was life changing. My peers and I had the opportunity to interact with discussions put forward by a variety of schools and stimuli. I was able to delve under the shallow surface of the way we are taught to think and have a taste of what philosophy really is.”
Student - Government secondary school
From the bottom of my heart, thank you. Today was a truly special day... it is wonderful that these events allow the students to experience the act of deep thinking and listening with students who they haven’t met before. That is so cool... There were many goosebumps moments for me listening to the thoughts of our students in these group discussions... I was so proud of all of our kids – and kids from the other schools too.
Teacher - Non-government primary school
