Canopy Room
The Canopy Room is a unique classroom that features two 65 inch LCD screens and two live feed digital microscopes. Students are immersed in an environment that includes live native animal exhibits, preserved specimens, and a variety of interactive educational displays.
Animals that call the classroom home include pythons, lizards, turtles and others. Digital displays provide information on real-time solar energy generation and consumption.
The visual nature of the Canopy Room means that students are never short of stimulus material to engage the senses and challenge their knowledge and understanding.
Reverse cycle air conditioning ensures that the room is comfortable for students all year round.
Understorey Room
The Understorey Room is located on the ground floor of the EcoCentre, and is predominantly used as a wet lab to investigate water samples using stereo microscopes and a variety of technologies. Students are able to view and record specimens in real-time via a 65” LCD screen.
The Understorey Room overlooks a freshwater pond, opening out to the heath understorey of Toohey Forest beyond. It is a popular space for students and teachers alike, as well as some of the opportunistic reptiles and birds that have made their home in the EcoCentre surrounds.
Conference Room
The Conference Room is a more traditional classroom which can cater for up to 100 students in lecture format, or 65 in small working groups. The room features the latest in AV, including two 75 inch LCD screens and the option of video conferencing. The room looks out through the canopy trees of Toohey Forest which is home to a variety of bird species, particularly some very inquisitive King Parrots.
The conference room also offers the benefit of its own private deck area which can serve as a relaxing breakout space or lunch area. Koalas are occasionally sighted from the deck space and serve as a reminder of the EcoCentre's links to Toohey Forest.
Reverse cycle air conditioning ensures that the room is comfortable for students all year round.
Outdoor Classrooms
Many educational programs involve students learning in outdoor classroom settings, which may vary from collecting water samples in Mimosa Creek, conducting quadrat studies in a variety of different ecosystems, to a bushwalk focused on native species and their adaptations to the environment, fire ecology and indigenous uses of select plant species.
The walking tracks in the immediate surrounds of the EcoCentre offer a relatively easy bush walk option for people of all ages and abilities. The tracks feature signage detailing various aspects of ecology, nest boxes, as well as showcase a wide variety of native plants. The natural surrounds are a great way to engage students curiosity, and provide rich contexts for learning.
The outdoor classrooms also offer the keen observer the opportunity to see koalas in the trees along Mimosa Creek, lace monitors meandering through the open forest areas, or the elusive Powerful Owl roosting in preparation for a night of hunting.