Penrith Lakes Environmental Education Centre - NSW Environmental Education Centres

Penrith Lakes EEC

Penrith Lakes Environmental Education Centre (PLEEC) is proud to be one of 24 Environmental and Zoo Education Centres operated by the NSW Department of Education, supporting both students and teachers through authentic environmental education and fieldwork experiences.

At PLEEC we believe in creating permanent memories through immersive, hands-on learning experiences. Each year, we engage over 10,000 students from Kindergarten to Year 12 in high-quality, curriculum-linked fieldwork programs designed to support learning across multiple Key Learning Areas (KLAs).

Our programs aren’t just educational—they’re impactful. From exploring the Blue Mountains National Park to participating in our much-loved Kitchen Gardens in-school initiative (with over 117 schools involved and counting), we’re committed to fostering student growth in areas of education, wellbeing, and sustainability.

Located within the scenic Sydney International Regatta Centre and drawing from the Penrith Lakes Scheme, our centre provides a unique and inspiring outdoor classroom. Whether students are visiting us on-site or participating in off-site programs, they’re encouraged to connect deeply with the environment and understand their role in creating a sustainable future.

Our Culture

At PLEEC, we aim to deliver high quality curriculum based learning experiences for all students and empower them to effect positive changes for a sustainable future.

We look forward to welcoming your school soon—for a fun, meaningful day that students will never forget.

Penrith Lakes EEC is on Darug Country.

Visit Penrith Lakes EEC website

Maps end here

K-6

Penrith Lakes Safari

Science and Geography

Students conduct an investigation of a Penrith Lakes Parkland and create links between them and their environment.

Activities include : Introduction and tour of Penrith Lakes, tree and bug search, catching aquatic bugs, and live animal presentation.

Key syllabus inquiry questions are:

Geography – Features of places

What are the features of, and activities in, places?
How can spaces within a place be used for different purposes?

Science – Living World

What are the external features of living things?
How can we improve a local environment to encourage living things to thrive?
How do living things change as they grow?

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7-12

Changing Biomes at Penrith Lakes

Geography

Stage 5

Students will investigate first hand how humans have altered the natural biome in the Penrith Lakes Parkland Area.

Activities include: Introduction and tour of Penrith Lakes and Field sketch, water and soil testing, Invertebrate survey, bird observation and water management practices.

Areas covered:
Examination of human alterations to the physical characteristics of biomes and assessment of environmental impacts of human alternatives to biomes.

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Resources

Kitchen Gardens program

Penrith Lakes Environmental Education Centre (PLEEC) has developed a Kitchen Gardens program where students are engaged in one-hour cooking and gardening lessons each week for up to four classes per day. The program is designed for students to achieve educational, wellbeing and sustainability outcomes through curriculum embedded, cross KLA lesson sequences. The PLEEC Kitchen Gardens program teaches a range of life skills, supports critical thinking, communication, problem solving and teamwork skills.

Learn more aout Penrith Lakes kitchen garden program.