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Kelmarna

farm education programme​

Educational Visits with the Kelmarna Gardens Education Programme

Come experience our
 city farm as an authentic context where academics meets hands-on, and enable your learners to immerse themselves in this dynamic organic setting perfect for building direct relationships between their studies and the real world.​

We're keen to help you get your learners outside, observing & interacting with the natural environment, investigating key concepts, and practicing essential skills, all while having a great time!
​
​Our experiences
​
​The Kelmarna Gardens Education Programme works to make the unique resources of our certified organic urban community farm accessible to tamariki and learners of all ages through hands-on experiences that guide you to explore, discover, and have fun! 

Our Education Team is committed to facilitating learning experiences that encourage learners to expand their understanding by asking questions, taking action, and cultivating connections with the environment and each other.
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​Get in touch with our Education Manager, Sean, who is available to arrange

​
bespoke experiences that suit your schedule and meet your learning objectives!
Nature-Based

Learning that takes place in nature and involve activities that utilise the environment and natural systems as an authentic context to engage with any subject or skill

Inquiry-Based

​Learning driven by questions, observations, and ideas
where curiosity prompts investigation, developing critical reasoning skills to satisfy a personal investment in discovery
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  • Creating a supportive learning environment
  • Encouraging reflective thought and action
  • Enhancing the relevance of new learning
  • Facilitating shared learning
  • Making connections to prior learning and experience
  • ​Providing sufficient opportunity to learn
  • Teaching as inquiry
One-Off Visits

Join us for a single session, at a time that works for you, to complement your busy term schedule with an inquiry-based exploration and unique learning experience on the farm
Regular Visits

Join us on a regular basis, to integrate nature-based learning into your schedule, and encourage your learners to build on their knowledge and experience on the farm over time
Charges

Delivering educational experiences requires planning, coordination, and a dedicated Education Team to ensure that we can provide learners with an enriching experience in a safe and inspiring environment. We use a tiered pricing system to help make opportunities as accessible as possible to groups of all sizes, and for learners of all ages and levels.

As a programme of the Kelmarna Gardens registered charitable trust, all funds generated by educational visits contribute directly to operational costs, including staff and volunteer time, maintaining and renewing resources, managing educational opportunities, and sustaining our community space. Charges and rates listed below are GST exclusive.
​
ECE

​$4 per learner, up to 1hr

$3 per learner, per +hrs

Up to 3 hour total visit time

$80 minimum booking fee
Primary & Intermediate

$5 per learner, up to 1hr

$3.50 per learner, per +hrs

Up to 3 hour total visit time

$100 minimum booking fee
Secondary

​$6 per learner, up to 1hr

$4 per learner, per +hrs

Up to 4 hour total visit time

​$120 minimum booking fee
Tertiary & Adult

​$8 per learner, up to 1hr

$6 per learner, per +hrs

Up to 6 hour total visit time

​$160 minimum booking fee
By taking part, you are working directly to foster a resilient, regenerative food system

​
and to connect the next generation with essential skills for a more sustainable future!
Health & Safety

At Kelmarna Gardens, we take all possible care to make sure that everyone is safe in our space.

Our programme and participants recognise that the benefit and enjoyment of nature-based education is derived in part from the inherent risks that come with getting hands-on and working outdoors.​ ​That's why we do everything we can to coordinate and cooperate with you to understand the needs of your learners and to provide appropriate support to safeguard your health and well-being.

To best prepare for an experience with us, please read through our rules for the garden with your group and refer to our risk assessment overview for site visits.
Guide to Farm Etiquette
Site Visit RAMS Overview
Testimonials

We do our best to make sure that everyone enjoys their experience in the garden, that
 learners are challenged while having fun outside, that educators meet their objectives, and that everyone gains a fresh perspective to inspire their ongoing learning journey.

​Here are a few words from schools and community groups who have joined us:
The students had a great time at the gardens learning about taonga. At Kelmarna Gardens they learnt about how rubbish can be turned into treasure. This experience sparked their curiosity and motivated them to want to start a compost/worm farm at school and plant their own community garden.
Room 6 had a great time at Kelmarna gardens. The staff were friendly and very knowledgeable. The students had fun getting their hands dirty and loved the 'smelly' compost. I would highly recommend this experience!
Students loved the hands on activities like searching the compost for worms, holding tiger worms, tasting mint, seeing the compost heap, and patting Jafa. They were really engaged, excited, focused, and asking questions.
The general tour describing all aspects of the garden and how they work together was very important - the holistic approach. However, the hands on doing - planting, weeding - was equally important for the children as children need to be actively involved. The bioblitz was fun because it was specific and quantifiable and something they can have fun applying in other locations.
Kei runga noa atu koutou! Tamariki were engaged and came back with a lot more knowledge of how to look after our plants and environment. Getting tamariki to touch and feel things was good because it kept the tamariki curious, engaged, and wanting to know more. Tumeke koutou! Keep up the awesome work.
I took my class to Kelmarna Gardens in Spring, 2020. It was a wonderful visit. What I had wanted to provide for them was an example and experience of a holistic approach to farming and gardening. The Kelmarna permaculture garden provided that beautifully. The diverse life and healthy interconnectedness is exactly what we need to be holding up as an example to our children of sustainable, respectful practice. Many thanks for making this space available.
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​Book an Educational Visit
    e.g. "Year 6, ages 9-10" or "Years 3 & 4, ages 6-8"
    e.g. "29 students" or "16 x Year 3s and 19 x Year 4s"
    e.g. "Looking for a Monday in March, the 15th would be perfect"
    e.g. "In the morning, between 10 and 12"
Submit

Education Programme Policy - Terms & Conditions
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For enquiries, get in touch with our Education Manager, Sean, at education@kelmarnagardens.nz
Kelmarna Gardens Community Farm
Charities registration CC51662
  • Home
  • About
    • The farm
    • Our team
    • Supporters
    • Paddock development
    • Farming animals
  • Get Involved
    • Farm Dinners
    • Volunteer
    • Farm shop
    • Farmhands programme
    • School Visits >
      • Links & Resources for Distance Learning
    • Horticultural therapy
    • Visit & tours
    • Photo / Film Location
    • Corporate & team experiences
    • Meat pack sales
  • Workshops
  • Soil Factory
  • Contact
  • Donate