Become a Biodiversity Guardian at The Farm Byron Bay
This Term 3, Farm Kids Mini Farmers will become biodiversity guardians as we explore the incredible insects, birds, reptiles and native animals that help a healthy farm thrive.
Held every Thursday at The Farm Byron Bay, this eight week program gives children aged 5 to 12 the opportunity to experience farm ecology through real observation, hands on investigations, creative projects, nature journalling, movement and practical farm experiences.
Grounded in Northern NSW farm ecology and regenerative farming principles, children will discover how pollinators, pest controllers, seed spreaders, habitat builders, decomposers and predators all have an important job to do. Along the way, they will learn why healthy farms work with nature rather than against it.
Children will explore the farm, observe wildlife and habitats, investigate tiny creatures, create with natural materials and take part in practical activities including butterfly hatching, beeswax candle making, Bug Olympics, seed dispersal experiments, seed ball making, bird sound maps, compost investigations and building a lizard lounge.
Term 3 Mini Farmers Sessions
Thursday 30 July | 9am to 3pm
Week 1: Bees, Flowers and Farm Food
Discover the tiny creatures behind so much of the food we eat. Children will explore bees and other flower visitors and learn how pollination supports flowering plants, food production and biodiversity on a regenerative farm.
Thursday 6 August | 9am to 3pm
Week 2: Butterflies and Transformation
Explore the fascinating life cycle of butterflies and the important role butterflies, moths and other pollinators play in the farm ecosystem. Children will investigate transformation, observe nature and discover the connections between insects and plants.
Thursday 13 August | 9am to 3pm
Week 3: Meet the Pest Control
Who keeps garden pests in check? Children will meet some of nature’s smallest farm workers, including ladybirds, spiders, praying mantids, skinks, frogs, parasitic wasps and insect eating birds.
Thursday 20 August | 9am to 3pm
Week 4: Helping Nature Keep Balance
Discover why a healthy farm doesn’t need to control everything. Children will investigate predators, prey and natural pest management while exploring how biodiversity helps maintain balance within a regenerative farming system.
Thursday 27 August | 9am to 3pm
Week 5: How Plants Travel
Seeds have some ingenious ways of getting around. Children will explore seed dispersal, investigate how animals help plants travel and experiment with different ways seeds move through the landscape.
Thursday 3 September | 9am to 3pm
Week 6: Homes, Corridors and Habitat
What does wildlife need to thrive? Children will investigate food, water, shelter and safe movement corridors while discovering how farms can provide valuable habitat for birds, mammals, reptiles and other native wildlife.
Thursday 10 September | 9am to 3pm
Week 7: Nothing in Nature Goes to Waste
Take a closer look at nature’s clean up crew. Children will investigate worms, fungi, ants, beetles, dung beetles and other decomposers and discover how decay and decomposition help create healthy living soil.
Thursday 17 September | 9am to 3pm
Week 8: Predators and Misunderstood Creatures
The term finishes by exploring some of the farm’s most fascinating and sometimes misunderstood residents. From blue tongue lizards and goannas to carpet pythons, kookaburras, owls and raptors, children will discover why predators are essential to a balanced ecosystem.
Eight Weeks of Real Farm Learning
Across the term, children will move from tiny pollinators to the larger wildlife that shares our landscape, gradually building an understanding of how everything within a healthy ecosystem is connected.
Nature walks, biodiversity observation, creative making, practical farm activities and plenty of time outdoors give children opportunities to learn through doing rather than simply being told how nature works.
Families can book individual Thursday sessions or join us for the full eight week Mini Farmers journey and receive a 33% full term discount.