Wild Willow Farm & Education Center
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FIELD TRIPS & GROUP ACTIVITIES
Empowering students of all ages to take an active part in growing food through educational, hands-on field trips.
Watch the Emmy-nominated TV segment produced by Cox4 San Diego for their Salute to Education program.
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Field Trips & Group Activities
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On-Farm Field Trips
Take part in a variety of hands-on farm lessons, from composting to farm insects to the importance of soil. Larger groups will be split up into smaller groups and rotated through three to four hands-on activities. This experience includes a walk though our sensory herb and flower garden, a visit to the animals to understand their role on our farm, learning about the importance of composting, and a visit to our crops and orchard to see where food comes from! Our lessons are connected to NGSS so that field trips provide a fun complement to classroom learning.
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Please let us know if there is a special topic you would like to learn more about, as we can tailor lessons to your needs or interests. We can also book multiple visits to create a customized project-based learning experience.
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Virtual Field Trips
We currently have three virtual field trip lessons to offer to schools who cannot afford our in-person field trips. Each video will cover a typical field trip rotation (e.g. compost, farm animals, planting / harvesting, and local food systems), and they are designed to watch either individually or as a set. Upon booking your virtual field trip, we will send you a link to the videos and arrange for an educator to join you and your students after your viewing session for a 30 minute discussion. We will provide additional learning resources to complete during the virtual field trip as well as before or after. If you are interested in a virtual field trip, please fill out the field trip application and specify that you would like our virtual option.
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Group Activities
Enjoy a 30 minute introductory farm tour to understand what regenerative sustainable farming means, followed by a farm activity. Farm tasks are always changing, but you might be planting, weeding, watering, bed-building, composting, mucking out animal enclosures, and more depending on the farm needs for that day. This is a great way to participate as a group and an excellent team building experience.
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Girl Scout Badge Experiences
Wild Willow Farm is officially a Girl Scouts Community Partner! Bring your troop for a Badge Workshop and learn about farming, healthy eating and nature. During this hands-on, two-hour field trip, scouts will focus on one topic and then earn a badge! There are many badges to choose from:
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Daisy: Outdoor Art Maker, Eco Learner, Math in Nature series
Brownie: Outdoor Art Creator, Eco Friend, Bugs, Senses
Junior: Outdoor Art Explorer, Flowers
Cadette: Outdoor Art Apprentice, Trees
Senior: Outdoor Art Expert, Locavore
Ambassador: Outdoor Art Master, Water
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​During these programs, scouts can accomplish everything needed to earn a badge.
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Kids Birthday Party
Have a birthday to remember with amazing photo backdrops and fun activities for your child's special day. We will start with a 1 hour activity based on age followed by a birthday celebration in a space just for you. All you have to do is bring the cake and decorations!
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Scheduling your Visit
We are currently booking field trips and group activities on the following days and times:
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Wednesdays: 8:00 am - 3:00pm
Thursdays: 8:00 am - 3:00 pm
The maximum group size we normally accommodate is 45 students. Please contact us about larger groups.
The minimum group size we can accommodate is 10 students.
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Pricing​
*** Please note that the cost of field trips and group trips has changed starting July 2024.***
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Note: A deposit of $100 paid at least two weeks in advance of your event is required to hold your requested date; the balance can be paid anytime up to or on the day of your visit. Your trip is not confirmed until we have received the $100 deposit.
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Your school or organization is required to complete a liability waiver covering the whole group. A waiver will be emailed to you upon receipt of your payment.
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*Chaperones are to monitor and assist participants with their engagement of the farm activities. Additional chaperones can register for an additional $15.
**Add-on: We offer groups the opportunity to extend their visit by staying for a 30 minute lunch in our barn and a 30 minute nature walk. Lunch is not provided.
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2 Hour Trip
2 Hour Trip**
+Lunch & Trail Walk
1 Educator Program
(15 Students/
3 Chaperones MAX*)​
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2 Educator Program
(30 Students/
6 Chaperones MAX*)
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3 Educator Program
(45 Students/
9 Chaperones MAX*)
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4 Educator Program
(60 Students/
12 Chaperones MAX*)
$280 $325
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$450 $540
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$675 $810
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$900 $1080
Frequently Asked Questions
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Q: Do you teach the same way to all ages?
No way! We explain the same principles to everyone, but alter the way we deliver lessons according to the age group we are presenting to in order to keep them curious and engaged. Our lesson plans are based on Next Generation Science Standards to help teachers complete academic goals and complement classroom learning.
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Q: What is the application process?
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Application: First submit an application with your specific dates and information. Your date will be tentatively held in our calendar until we receive the deposit or full payment.
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Scheduling & Payment: Our education team will respond to your application shortly to confirm available dates. Instructions on how to pay your deposit, a liability waiver, and additional information on how to prepare for your visit will be emailed.
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Confirmation: Payment of a non-refundable $100 deposit is required to hold your date. Upon payment of the deposit, we will send you a confirmation email with an updated invoice to reflect the balance, due on the day of your visit.
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Q: Can we have lunch on the farm?
Yes! We offer a one-hour add-on that includes lunch in our barn and a 30 minute nature walk on our local trails, led in small groups by our educators. If you would like to add this option, please select it on the application. An additional fee of $5 per person is charged for this activity (excluding teachers and up to two chaperones). The helps to cover educator time, as well as the costs of sanitation and trash disposal. Lunch is not provided by the farm.
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Q: Can parents join a school field trip?
Parents are welcome to participate! Each trip is allowed one free adult chaperone per ten participants. For example a group of thirty students will be allowed three free chaperones. Additional chaperones are charged at $7.50 per person.​
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Q: How can we prepare for our visit?
Please wear closed-toe shoes (required), sun protective head covering, and sunscreen. Long pants and long sleeve shirts are a good idea to protect your skin from the sun and shrubs. Bring snacks and a refillable water bottle (we have filtered water). Don't forget to bring any medication you may need if anyone has allergies to bees, plants, animals, etc.
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Q: What if it rains?
Even though it only rains 10" a year on average in San Diego, when it does rain, it can get uncomfortably muddy on the farm. If there is a prediction of significant amounts of rain for your scheduled date, the trip will be rescheduled. We will be in close contact with you if these conditions are present.
Supported by our Community
Our field trip rates are based on minimum staffing levels required to keep your students engaged and safe. Because of donations and sponsorships, we are able to keep rates as low as possible to provide opportunity for more schools to visit our farm.
Donate so Title 1 schools can participate in our programs. Just specify you would look to donate towards field trips!