About Field Trips and Farm Visits

Acta Non Verba: Youth Urban Farm Project (ANV) offers outdoor educational programs to pre-K through 12th grade students, college observation activity students, and adults that includes a tour of the farm, a discovery activity, food sampling, and an age-appropriate work project. Our Farm Manager will tailor the visit according to each group’s goals, interests, and time frame.

Please click here to complete the field trip application!

Scheduling Your Field Trip

Field trips are generally available 9:30 – 11:30 a.m. and 1:00 – 5:00 p.m. on weekdays. If you have special scheduling requests let us know and we may be able to make adjustments. Please contact Aaron De La Cerda at farmmanager@anvfarm.org or 510-878-7235 with any questions.

Prices

$200 is our base price, but are flexible depending on how long the field trip lasts, how many participants, what type of activity, and if ANV will be providing snacks from the farm.

Payments should be received in advance, made payable to Acta Non Verba: Youth Urban Farm Project. 1001 83rd Ave. Oakland, CA 94621. Fees are fully refundable if trip is cancelled by ANV and in cases of extreme weather and/or emergency school closing. 50% will be refunded if the trip is cancelled by the school/ group.

Possible Field Trip Focus Topics Include:

  • Exploring soil and compost
  • Planting and transplanting
  • Learning about bees, bugs, and worms
  • Understanding food sources
  • Understanding food deserts
  • Investigating ecosystems
  • Sustaining our environment
  • Learning to love vegetables
  • How to become an urban farmer
  • Mapping a seasonal garden

If you would like to schedule a visit, please complete the Field Trip Application form. Please note that all youth visitors must have their parent or guardian complete a waiver before they arrive on the farm.

Group Size

Groups larger than 25 should contact the Farm Manager at farmmanager@anvfarm.org to make special arrangements.

Chaperones

For Pre-K through 5th grade, there should be a minimum of one, and no more than two adults for every five students.

For 6th through 12th grade, there should be a minimum of one, and no more than two adults for every ten students.

Adults include teachers, administrators, parents, and teacher aides.

What To Wear and Bring

An Acta Non Verba: Youth Urban Farm Project field trip is an outdoor experience, rain or shine (except during severe weather such as lightning or heat advisories, in which case we will relocate into indoor spaces when possible until the conditions are safe). Visitors should dress appropriately for the weather and wear sturdy shoes for walking in grass, mud, and dirt paths.

Visitors are encouraged to bring reusable water bottles, sunscreen, and bug spray with them. All visitors must sign a waiver before their visit. Minors require a parent/guardian’s signature.

How to Prepare Your Students

We’d appreciate your help preparing your students for the trip by sharing our farm’s rules with them before they arrive:

  • Keep your feet on the paths to avoid trampling any plants growing in the raised garden beds.
  • Ask permission before picking and eating any produce or using any tools.
  • Leave sticks, woodchips, and rocks on the ground.
  • Try out a new food and be polite if it’s not your favorite. No saying “gross,” “yuck,” or “nasty” – you might influence someone else to not like it.
  • Stay calm around insects.
  • Practice active listening, be curious, and ask questions!

How to Prepare Your Chaperones

We love working with enthusiastic chaperones who help their youth enjoy the farm! We like to remind our adult guests of a few guidelines before the trip:

  • Help the youth stay safe on the farm by monitoring their movements – reminding them to stay on the paths, not throw sticks or rocks, and to be cautious when using tools.
  • Please help maximize student learning by letting the youth answer the questions and allowing them to experience the activities first.
  • Demonstrate enthusiasm for trying new experiences and tastes by either working alongside the youth or keeping quiet about your own likes and dislikes.
  • Help us practice environmental responsibility by reminding youth to only use one drinking cup while visiting and to pick up any litter they generate.

Getting To The Farm

We are located on the corner of 83rd Avenue and E Street in east Oakland behind Tassafaronga Recreation Center (975 85th Aveue). If you are using a GPS to find us, please type in 1001 83rd Ave. Oakland, CA 94621. Map link for directions: http://goo.gl/maps/mAsWz

Visitors, please park along E Street and NOT on 83rd Avenue. You will be ticketed and possibly towed. If you are taking AC Transit, take the # 98 – towards San Leandro St. It will drop you off on the corner of 85th and E Street and you can find us from there.

Rain or Shine Policy

Here at Acta Non Verba we like to get our hands in the dirt come rain or shine, and we’re ready for field trips in almost any weather. We expect groups to arrive prepared for the weather, but also have sheltered places on and near the farm where we can do activities and stay protected.

Follow-Up

After your visit, group leaders will be asked to complete a short online survey to provide feedback to Acta Non Verba staff. We can also provide materials (reflection questions, readings, or learning evaluations) that connect with the farm-based activity for leaders to use with their group after the visit.