PRIMARY and secondary school students in the greater Melbourne area will get an insight into modern farm life without even leaving the classroom.
A six-month education program being delivered by the Port Phillip and Westernport Catchment Management Authority in partnership with Ausveg Vic is seeing farmers answering students' questions and giving virtual farm tours.
The Farms2Schools program uses school incursions and excursions to introduce students to farmers and agricultural industry workers from their local area.
The workers will will share information about farming systems through a range of visual and practical activities.
School incursions will involve a farmer or industry professional visiting the school to share their experiences and insights with the students. Sessions will be tailored to meet the needs of each school.
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The sessions will provide students with the chance to directly ask a farmer their own questions and learn about topics such as how food is grown, managing an agricultural enterprise and life on the land.
Incursions will be delivered virtually throughout term three and continue throughout term four.
Excursions will involve students visiting a local farm and/or agricultural facility to gain a direct insight into how farms and other enterprises operate.
Excursions are expected to begin later in the year, subject to public health directions.
The program will be delivered throughout the remainder of 2020 across the south east (Western Port and Mornington Peninsula catchments), north (Yarra catchment) and west (Werribee and Maribyrnong catchments) areas of the Port Phillip and Western Port region.
The program is free for schools in the Port Phillip and Western Port region.
Schools interested in participating can learn more and register their interest at: ppwcma.vic.gov.au/farms2schools.
Farms2Schools is also looking for farmers and agricultural industry businesses to be part of the program.
It has put a call-out to farmers to get involved by visiting the same website: ppwcma.vic.gov.au/farms2schools.
This project is supported by the Victorian Government through the Agriculture Workforce Plan.
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