Prepare the exit in advance

• Define a learning objective per group (seasonality, professions, production, land-food link).
• Choose a farm suitable for the public by controlling accessibility, reception capacity, hygiene and safety.
• Define the roles of adults: reception, supervision, animation, note-taking.
• Retrieve parental authorizations, health consents and emergency contacts.
• Plan transport, schedules, breaks, fallback weather and rescue.

Design the process

A stable sequence follows five stages: introduction, observation, practice, synthesis, extension. Each time remains short, predictable and leaves room for questions.

Drive there

• Start with the safety rules and the traffic plan.
• Facilitate guided observations and simple manipulations according to age.
• Alternate short explanation and discovery in action.
• Note the points of collective interest for the final restitution.
• Close with a mini-summary of learnings.

Continue after the visit

• Share a 5-minute report with a central concept + a useful discovery.
• Keep photos, notes and materials for use in class or in the workshop.
• Propose a creative restitution: poster, notebook, audio capsule.
• Measure your achievements with a before/after mini-questionnaire.
• Reserve an improvement point for the next outing.

Recommended steps

• Step 1 — Clarify the educational objectives and the target audience.
• Step 2 — Choose the farm by validating security, access and reception conditions.
• Step 3 — Build a process in co-construction with partners.
• Step 4 — Finalize authorizations, logistics, roles and materials.
• Step 5 — Communicate the rules and expectations to the group.
• Step 6 — Spread the visit into active, short activities.
• Step 7 — Restore and capitalize on learning.
• Step 8 — Evaluate and record areas for improvement.

Practical checklist

• Educational objectives defined and shared.
• Sufficient adult supervision depending on the age of the group.
• Authorizations and health records present.
• Safety instructions explained and reminded.
• Transport and emergency plan verified.
• Prepared field supports (sheets, quizzes, notebook).
• Method of restitution and evaluation planned.

Learning objectives

• Understand the food production cycle from field to plate.
• Identify the role of soil, water, biodiversity and climate.
• Discover agricultural professions and their functions.
• Differentiate between local production, processing and distribution.
• Develop a critical view of labels, origin and cost.

Recommended programme

• 00:00-00:10 — Reception and rules.
• 00:10-00:40 — Field tour: production, buildings, animals, soil.
• 00:40-01:10 — Workshops and guided manipulations.
• 01:10-01:25 — Break and check notes.
• 01:25-01:50 — Focus “from farm to fork”.
• 01:50-02:00 — Final restitution and extension.

Adaptation by audience age

• Kindergarten: sensory journey and short instructions.
• Primary: guided observation, simple manipulations, visuals.
• Secondary: argumentation, data, debates.
• Adults/families: consumption link, budget, quality, seasonality.

Examples of learning activities

• “Recognizing crops” workshop (leaves, seeds, smells).
• Mini-survey: “what happens to a food from the farm to your plate?” »
• Producer/transformer/distributor/consumer role play.
• Simple measurement of soil texture, coverage and water retention.
• Anti-waste cooking workshop with seasonal products.

Prevention and safety

• Prohibition zone around sensitive machines and animals.
• Wash hands before and after each handling.
• Reinforced supervision at risk points.
• Interior fallback plan in case of rain or heat.
• Management of allergies and dietary restrictions confirmed.

Budget items to plan

• Transport (car, carpooling, public transport).
• Welcome and farm entertainment package.
• Educational materials: sheets, printouts, supplies.
• Field equipment: gloves, overshoes, cleaning.
• Unexpected margin (10 to 15%).

Evaluation method

• Before/after questionnaire to memorize learning.
• Collective output: posters, audio, logbook.
• Self-assessment of participants.
• Feedback from the operator and points for improvement.
• Organizing report: lessons learned + recommended follow-up.