Field Trips at Coastal Roots Farm offer hands-on environmental, food system, and climate education, especially for school classes and community groups. Aligned with California learning standards, Field Trip curriculum integrates STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, Math), nutrition, and universally-meaningful Jewish values through tactile and participatory activities. Bring students into the "field" to explore the great outdoors, fuel phenomena-based learning, and apply classroom knowledge in an agricultural setting.
Program choices include:
Come explore and play at the Farm! Our littlest visitors will have the opportunity to experience the wonder of exploring outdoors on the Farm.
Students might...
- Taste a rainbow of farm-fresh produce
- Explore the many colors of our growing Farm
- Create an art masterpiece
- Sing and dance on the Farm
At Coastal Roots Farm, we have plants AND animals! Come meet some of the little critters who live at the Farm and learn about how plants grow.
Students might...
- Meet our Farm chickens
- Explore vermicompost (worms!)
- Taste the parts of a plant in the fields
- Plant seeds
Enjoy an exciting day on the Farm, digging into how food is grown and learning more about who grows it.
Students might...
- Taste produce grown on the Farm
- Search for critters in our garden spaces
- Visit the chickens and learn how they help us grow food
- Deepen their curiosity as they explore nature
Associated NGSS:
- K-LS1-1. Use observations to describe patterns of what plants and animals (including humans) need to survive.
- 1-LS3-1. Make observations to construct an evidence-based account that young plants and animals are like, but not exactly like, their parents.
- 2-LS4-1. Make observations of plants and animals to compare the diversity of life in different habitats.
Can you imagine a world without fruit, flowers, chocolate or honey?! Learn how pollination works and the role of pollinators in producing many of our favorite foods.
Students might...
- Observe pollinators in action
- Play a game to understand how bees play a part in plant pollination
- Prepare a pollinator-inspired snack
- Investigate pollinator adaptations
Associated NGSS:
- K-2-ETS1-3. Analyze data from tests of two objects designed to solve the same problem to compare the strengths and weaknesses of how each performs.
- 1-LS1-1. Use materials to design a solution to a human problem by mimicking how plants and/or animals use their external parts to help them survive, grow, and meet their needs.
- 2-LS2-2. Develop a simple model that mimics the function of an animal in dispersing seeds or pollinating plants.
Learn about what plants and animals need to survive and thrive on the Farm! Discover different organisms’ adaptations and how we can work with nature to grow our food.
Students might...
- Observe and draw different plant structures
- Learn each plant part’s main function
- Meet the chickens and investigate their role in our farming practices
- Prepare and enjoy a farm-fresh, plant-part lettuce wrap
Associated NGSS:
- 3-LS3-2. Use evidence to support the explanation that traits can be influenced by the environment.
- 4-LS1-1. Construct an argument that plants and animals have internal and external structures that function to support survival, growth, behavior, and reproduction.
- 5-LS2-1. Develop a model to describe the movement of matter among plants, animals, decomposers, and the environment.
There’s a whole world happening right underneath our feet! Dig into soil health on the farm and experience first-hand how soil can impact what grows.
Students might...
- Meet our vermicompost worms and learn how they benefit the soil
- Plant a seedling to start their own gardens
- Make a clay pinch pot to investigate soil texture
- Taste farm-fresh produce and understand how soil helps it grow
Associated NGSS:
- 3-LS4-3. Construct an argument with evidence that in a particular habitat some organisms can survive well, some survive less well, and some cannot survive at all.
- 5-LS2-1. Develop a model to describe the movement of matter among plants, animals, decomposers, and the environment.
- 5-ESS3-1. Obtain and combine information about ways individual communities use science ideas to protect the Earth’s resources and environment.
The agriculture industry has a profound opportunity to change the fate of our climate destiny. The Farm will showcase regenerative growing methods that prioritize thriving ecosystems and societies.
Students might...
- Compare regenerative and conventional agricultural practices
- Explore and record data on the Farm’s compost operation
- Identify soil-building practices, including crop rotation, integration of chickens, and mulching
- Calculate food miles and practice making food with local, seasonal produce
Associated NGSS:
- MS-LS2-3. Develop a model to describe the cycling of matter and flow of energy among living and nonliving parts of an ecosystem.
- HS-LS2-7. Design, evaluate, and refine a solution for reducing the impacts of human activities on the environment and biodiversity.
California by itself is the 5th largest supplier of food in the world! The food system at large offers a spectrum of career opportunities that students will explore throughout this work-based learning experience.
Students might...
- Be exposed to a number of food systems career options in a hands-on way
- Reflect on the training and social-emotional competencies needed to pursue a food systems career
- Hear Farm staff's personal experiences about their employment journey
- Discuss how workplace decisions can be made with the environment in mind
California Environmental Principles and Concepts:
- Principle V – Decisions affecting resources and natural systems are based on a wide range of considerations and decision-making processes.
Food is culture, family, health, and life. Students will engage in intentional conversations on how to promote fair access to fresh food for all on an individual and community scale.
Students might...
- Understand the concepts of food inequality and justice
- Prepare a farm-fresh snack with a thought-provoking twist
- Identify food justice solutions they can promote in their own communities
- Take action through volunteer tasks to help CRF feed community members
Character education guiding principles touched on, as stated in California Education Code Section 233.5(a):
- Compassion – Kindness. The desire to help others in distress. To show kindness and concern for others in distress by offering help whenever possible.
- Initiative – Eagerness to do something. To take responsible action on your own, without prompting from others.
- Responsibility – Accountability. To consider oneself answerable for something. To demonstrate that you consider yourself to be accountable for your actions and that you follow through on your commitments.
Work alongside the Coastal Roots Farm Education Team in helping maintain our production spaces as we fulfill the Farm’s mission of “nourishing community”.
Students might...
- Complete farm tasks relevant to the season
- Get dirty working as a farmer for the day to feed local food insecure communities
- Give back to their community
Click here for a PDF of the full list of the Field Trip options including associated Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS).
Program Costs:
- $200 for up to 15 participants
- $390 for up to 30 participants
- $630 for up to 50 participants
- $915 for up to 75 participants
- $1,170 for up to 100 participants
Program Details:
- Available Sundays – Fridays
- Start times between 9am and 3pm
- 2-hour long duration
- Larger groups may be split into multiple days
Scholarships are available for low-income, Title-I, and Title-V schools in order to help pay for Field Trip program fees and transportation costs. Transportation scholarships are pending availability and awarded up to $600 per bus.
Click to learn about accessibility accommodations on the Farm. For questions regarding accessibility at Field Trips contact Valerie.
Cancellation policy
Please note: To reserve your spot, a $50 deposit will be due 2 weeks after your Field Trip is confirmed by CRF staff. The deposit will be applied to your total Field Trip fee and full payment of your remaining balance is due by the date of the visit.
- Cancellations 3+ weeks prior to the scheduled visit are eligible for a deposit refund minus a 10% processing fee.
- Cancellations less than 3 weeks prior to the schedule visit are ineligible for a deposit refund.
- Cancellations initiated by Coastal Roots Farm due to extreme weather will have the option of rescheduling their visit (pending availability) or of receiving a full refund.
SCHOOLS THAT HAVE VISITED THE FARM
