10 benefits of farm school visits for children

Visits to educational farms have become one of the most popular activities for families with children in Catalonia. And it is no coincidence: direct contact with nature and animals offers benefits that no indoor classroom can replicate. At Granja Natura, located in Navàs (just one hour from Barcelona), we watch boys and girls transform every weekend when they touch, feel and discover the natural world first-hand.

1. Emotional connection with animals

Touching a tortoise, feeding an emu or stroking a goat generates emotions that children remember for a lifetime. This direct sensory experience develops empathy and respect for living beings. At Granja Natura we have over 30 animal species that children can meet up close during our guided visits.

2. Experiential, meaningful learning

Children learn best when they experience things. A visit to an educational farm turns abstract natural-science concepts into real, tangible experiences. When a child feeds an animal, they understand the food chain in a way no textbook can match. School trips to educational farms complement the curriculum in a uniquely effective way.

3. First-hand environmental education

At a time when environmental awareness has never been more important, farm schools offer the perfect context for teaching children about sustainability, respect for nature and biodiversity conservation. Every visit includes explanations about animals’ natural habitats and the importance of protecting the environment.

4. Screen-free time

Children today spend many hours a day in front of screens. A nature excursion breaks this routine and offers real sensory stimuli: smells, textures, animal sounds, the breeze of the countryside. Visiting an educational farm near Barcelona is the perfect way to give children a healthy and enriching alternative.

5. Developing responsibility

Understanding that animals depend on daily care, feeding, cleaning, affection, teaches children the value of responsibility. During farm activities, children actively participate in looking after the animals, which makes them feel important and needed.

6. Physical activity outdoors

Walking around the farm, following the guides, running through green spaces… A visit to a farm school involves constant movement in a natural setting. Physical activity outdoors improves health, mood and children’s ability to concentrate.

7. Socialisation and teamwork

Group activities at the farm foster cooperation and communication between children. Sharing the experience of touching a bird of prey or discovering an exotic animal creates bonds and shared memories. Family and school excursions near Barcelona are ideal for strengthening relationships among classmates or within the family.

8. Understanding local biodiversity

At our enclosures, children can meet farm animals like pigs, goats and chickens, but also exotic species such as emus, iguanas and land tortoises. Learning about animal diversity broadens their worldview and sparks scientific curiosity. What is more, at the Taller de Tarda workshop you can fly a Harris’s hawk and a barn owl yourself.

9. Stimulating curiosity and creativity

“Why can’t the emu fly?”, “How does the tortoise sleep?”, “Why does the goat have a rectangular pupil?”… The questions never stop during a farm visit. This natural curiosity is the engine of learning, and educational farms fuel it like no other activity.

10. Unforgettable family memories

Beyond the educational benefits, a visit to an educational farm creates family memories that last for years. The photo with the emu, the first time they touched a barn owl, the laughter when the goat tried to eat a jacket… These are moments that bring families together in a special way.

Why contact with animals leaves a mark

Educators and families agree on one thing: direct contact with animals and nature leaves a mark on children. Stroking a goat, watching an emu eat or discovering the texture of a tortoise’s shell awakens empathy and curiosity in a way that is hard to achieve inside a classroom.

This kind of experience both relaxes and stimulates: the rural setting brings calm while activating every sense with real smells, textures, sounds and movement. That is why many families who visit us for the first time end up coming back, and each season schools return knowing the value of a good day out in nature.

Come and experience it at Granja Natura

At Granja Natura (Navàs, Barcelona province) we offer guided visits for families on weekends and public holidays, plus school activities Monday to Friday. With over 30 animal species, our nature education centre is the perfect destination for an outing that is both educational and fun. Book your visit and discover why so many families and schools visit us every year.