PIPS School Excursions - Philosophy in Public Spaces
2025 PIPS Events
Our 2025 PIPS program continues to build on 15 years of inter-school events in philosophical inquiry that VAPS has offered.
VAPS' Philosophy in Public Spaces (PIPS) excursion events for schools are run to stimulate philosophical thinking in students. Between 3 - 12 schools attend each PIPS event and bring ~10 students each, then those students are mixed up into groups of 10-20 and placed with an expert facilitator. The facilitator is a member of VAPS trained in facilitating philosophical communities of inquiry.
PIPS events are run in locations of cultural significance whereby we have access to thought provoking material. Students observe a chosen stimulus (artwork, exhibition, show) with their mixed-school group and facilitator, before beginning a philosophical discussion about the ‘big ideas’ present in their stimulus to begin their community of inquiry discussion. The facilitator guides students towards philosophical questioning and thought processes, however the topic is chosen by the students themselves based on the ideas that the stimulus provoked in them.
Schools Excursion Events - Philosophy in Public Spaces (PIPS) for 2025
Junior Years (years 4-6) at NGV (16 May) - $30pp
VCE (Unit 3/4 students) at ACMI/NGV (27th June) - $30pp -
Senior Years (years 8-11) at NGV (6th Aug) $30
VCE (Unit 1/2 students) at UniMelb Science Gallery (12th September) - $30pp -
Middle Years (years 5-8) at Melbourne Zoo (17th Oct) - $30pp
Philosophy Camp - Middle Years* (years 5-9) 4 night camp (17-21nd Nov ) - $~500pp
*Please note that for the philosophy camp we require confirmed bookings well in advance (2 terms), as we must secure accommodation for the camp very early. All other events are more flexible with booking times.