How to Prepare for Your Harvest Meal Field Trip

We are so excited to have your class visit us out on the farm for a Harvest Meal field trip! In preparation for your upcoming visit, we ask that you read through this information carefully.

Sample Harvest Meal Schedule

9:30-9:45 Welcome, Orientation, Split into 3 groups

9:45-10:20 Session 1 (Harvest/Cooking/Game or Activity)

10:25-10:45 SNACK BREAK

10:50-11:25 Session 2 (Harvest/Cooking/Game or Activity)

11:30-12:05 Session 3 (Harvest/Cooking/Game or Activity)

12:10-1:00 LUNCH. Clean-up. Good-bye.

Farm Visit Structure

Our Harvest Meal leaders will meet your group when you arrive on the farm for introductions, orientation to the site, a review of the guidelines and the agenda. Then we will split into three groups. Please instruct parents to join a group and stay with that group as we rotate through different activities (harvest, game/activity, cooking in the outdoor kitchen). Each station will have an RVF2S leader to instruct your group, please help keep students focused and remind them of the guidelines when necessary. Students will rotate through the three stations, with a short snack break in the middle. It is recommended that you bring a snack for your students and a backpocket activity/active game for them to do if they finish their snack early. During snack time, the RVF2S instructors are busy setting up for the next rotation. At the end of the three rotations, the whole group will enjoy a farm fresh meal prepared by you and your students!

Chaperones

If you are able to provide chaperones for your trip, that is much appreciated. We ask that you limit the number of adults to 3-5 so that we are able to feed everyone a farm fresh lunch. If you need to bring additional chaperones, please let us know in advance.

Transportation to the farm

We are more than happy to adjust the start/end time for your field trip to accommodate bus schedules. You are responsible for booking your bus for this field trip. Access to the farm is only permitted on the day of your field trip.

come prepared/what to bring

  • Weather-appropriate clothing, dress in layers, sturdy shoes or boots (closed-toed shoes are required)

  • Snack (lunch will be provided by your students!)

  • Water bottles

  • Name tags for each of your students (having them color coded by group is helpful)

  • Have students divided into 3 even groups before you arrive

  • Make sure you have a signed permission form for each student (if you are visiting The Farm at SOU, adult waivers are also required for teachers and chaperones)

Rogue Valley Farm to School Guidelines

Rogue Valley Farm to School coordinates with local farms to allow students to visit a working farm. We have agreements with each site that must be honored to ensure continued program availability. These guidelines have been developed with the safety of the children and the farmer’s crops in mind. We will review the following rules required of each visitor to all of our farm sites when your class arrives. They are:

  1. Watch where you step - even the smallest foot can damage seedlings and irrigation tubing.

  2. Ask before you pick anything - children will have the opportunity to harvest, but need to wait for instruction.

  3. Stay with your group - sometimes activities are spread out over a large area and we don’t want anyone getting lost.

  4. Respect the people, the farm and the food - tools are to be used with care and for their intended purpose. The produce is to be eaten and should be treated gently.

  5. Pack it in, pack it out - We encourage you to bring snacks that can be composted at the farm, however if you do bring snacks in plastic packaging, please make sure you and your students are prepared to take any trash away. You may want to bring a trash bag to accommodate any waste you will need to bring back to the school.

Seasons on the farm

We will be learning about seasonal activities on the farm as well as harvesting and preparing a farm-fresh lunch from scratch. You can prepare your students by discussing the importance of local agriculture as well as discussing how farmer's jobs change with the seasons.

  • Fall is a busy time of harvesting summer fruits and vegetables and planting cool weather crops, like leafy greens. Many of the plants in the field are at the end of their lifecycle.

  • Spring is the time to plant summer fruits and vegetables and harvest cool weather crops, like leafy greens. Many of the plants in the field are at the beginning of their lifecycle.

If you have any questions or concerns about your field trip, don't hesitate to contact us!