Tours and Field Trips

The Columbia Center for Urban Agriculture strives to educate all members of the community about the benefits of urban agriculture. Visit our Urban Farm at 1209 Smith Street for a farm tour or field trip!

As a small nonprofit, we do charge for a modest fee of $3.00 per participant. A portion of this fee will sponsor low-income participants to visit the Urban Farm! Chaperones for groups of children can participate free of charge. Our minimum group fee for farm tours and field trips is $30.00. Fee for civic organizations will be capped at $60.00 no matter how many people participate. No group will be turned away for lack of funds, so please ask us to work out your visit!

Urban Farm tours are a great way to introduce gardening newbies to concepts of urban agriculture. Seasonal farm tours are offered for all age groups (preschool to adult) and are 90 minutes long. This is the best educational option for groups on their first visit to the Urban Farm. Participants will see all parts of the farm and have plenty of time to ask questions! Snacks will be provided with every tour. Please see registration for more information. Some of the stops on our tours include:

• Composting bins
• Chicken flocks
• Bee hives
• Rain garden
• No-till vegetable production rows
• Fruit trees and bushes

Please let us know if you want to cover a specific topic during your farm tour! CCUA can focus tour sites to discuss food systems, water management, sustainable agriculture, ecosystem management, and more!

Field trips are arranged by topic and age group. Field trips are typically 90 minutes long as well. All field trips will include a short farm tour for first timers. Lessons for each age group are available to focus on a variety of topics and can fit into school curriculum in Science, Math, Social Studies, and other tracts. Lessons are available before visits upon request. Snacks will be provided with each field trip. Please see registration for more information.

Preschool: WHAT IS A FARM?

• Students can engage with our laying hens to learn about egg production how to care for chickens.
• Seasonal vegetables will be available to taste and harvest.
• Every edible part of plants can be discussed.
• Games and songs can be used to aid in understanding.
• Age appropriate lessons include, but are not limited to: farm animals, basic plant needs, edible plant parts, compost, and water.

Kindergarten – 2nd grade: WHERE DOES FOOD COME FROM?

• Students can interact with chickens and seasonal vegetables and fruits.
• Lessons will provide insight about the food system and will encourage students to engage all their senses through experiences with vegetables and animals at the farm.
• Students will learn about the interconnectedness of life on the farm and participate in hands on activities to aid with understanding.
• Age appropriate lessons include, but are not limited to: food miles and local food, basic production, basic plant care, soil structure, uses for vegetables, and water.

3rd – 5th grade: HOW DOES A FARM WORK?

• Students will be given a short lecture about the various parts of the farm.
• Students will learn about the development of farming techniques and how processes and equipment have changed over the years.
• Students will participate in hands on activities to aid in understanding of the functions of farm equipment, the types and kinds of compost, and soil structure as it relates to growing plants.

6th – 8th grade: HOW DOES FARMING BENEFIT THE COMMUNITY?

• Students will be given a short lecture about the history and mission of CCUA in the Columbia area.
• Students will learn about the challenges and rewards of urban farming though hands on experience and interactive activities.
• Lessons include, but are not limited to: pest management, irrigation and water management, soil science, farm tools and techniques in urban agriculture.

9th – 12th grade: PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS OF FARMING

• Students will be given a farm tour that will include detailed information about farm functions.
• Areas of instruction will include reasons for row structure and plant positioning, water systems, soil structure and composition, benefits of chickens, and farm machinery.
• Students will participate in hands of activities such as bed maintenance, planting and harvesting, basic construction, and maintenance of chickens.

Service learning and internship opportunities are also available.

Tour and Field Trip Registration

Register your class, group, or organization for a field trip or farm tour by selecting from CCUA’s available visit times! Choose Morning, Afternoon, or Evening (exact times are negotiable) and your date. Specific information, including Permission Slips and What To Bring/Farm Rules, are available on each registration page as well as the top of this page. CCUA’s Education Coordinator will contact you about any details. Online registration and pre-payment are encouraged, if possible. If you need a special date or set of dates, contact the Education Coordinator directly at education@columbiaurbanag.org.

To schedule a custom tour, contact:
Heather Gillich, VISTA Volunteer and Education Coordinator
education AT columbiaurbanag DOT org
(573) 514-4174

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