Why choose a farm school for your school trip near Barcelona

School trips to educational farms are one of the highest-return investments a school can make. Direct contact with animals, nature and rural life creates experiential learning that a classroom can rarely replicate. At Granja Natura (CAN, Centre d’Apropament a la Natura), in Navàs, around 80 km and one hour from Barcelona, school groups find programs designed for every stage, from P3 through upper secondary and vocational studies.

This article is not a price list: it is a guide for teachers who want to understand why a farm trip is worth it, what students work on and how it fits the curriculum. If you are looking for the practical details and booking, you will find them on the school activities page.

Experiential learning: why it is worth the investment

Farm schools offer a learning environment that combines environmental education, animal contact and outdoor activity. When a student touches the wool of a sheep, watches a Harris eagle fly or discovers why a tortoise lives so long, concepts stop being abstract and stick in a way that a textbook cannot match.

On a school visit to the farm, students:

• Observe and interact with farm animals, exotic species and birds of prey in a safe, supervised setting
• Understand biodiversity, ecosystems and food chains through real examples
• Develop empathy and respect for living beings
• Connect curriculum content with first-hand experiences
• Spend a full day outdoors, away from screens

Curriculum alignment: what students learn

Programs are designed to fit the curriculum of the Catalan Department of Education. The areas covered include:

Curricular area	Content covered	Stage
Natural Environment Knowledge	Living beings, habitats, food chains, life cycles	Early years and primary
Natural Sciences	Biodiversity, ecosystems, adaptations, animal classification	Primary and secondary
Values Education	Respect for animals, sustainability, responsibility	All
Mathematics	Counting, measurement, estimation woven into the activities	Early years and primary
Language	Specific vocabulary, oral expression, post-visit writing	All

After the day, each school receives a pedagogical report and educational worksheets to continue the work in class and consolidate what the trip taught.

Much more than science: emotional development

A farm trip does not only cover science content. Caring for an animal, waiting your turn to feed it or patiently observing a behaviour all help build responsibility, calm and teamwork. For many students it is the first real contact with a living animal that is not a pet, and that experience leaves a mark.

The benefits of these visits for children range from better attention to stronger positive bonds with the natural world.

Programs adapted to each stage

Programs are adapted from early years through upper secondary and vocational studies. Each stage has its own focus and per-student price; accompanying teachers and monitors enter free.

• Early years (P3-P5): first sensory contact with the animals, with supervised contact with rabbits, chickens, African goats and tortoises, and discovery of sounds, smells and textures. 10.50 EUR per student.
• Primary: a full guided tour with farm animals, exotic species (iguanas, snakes and more) and birds of prey (barn owl, eagle owl and Harris eagle), plus hands-on workshops suited to the age group. 11.50 EUR per student.
• Secondary, upper secondary and vocational: a more scientific, critical approach, observing species from the angle of conservation and animal welfare, with research workshops. 12.50 EUR per student.

What a full day looks like

School visits are full-day, Monday to Friday, from 10:00 to 16:00. A typical day combines:

• A guided tour of the different farm zones with a specialist monitor
• Supervised interaction with the animals, adapted to the group’s age
• Lunch in the covered picnic area, with a barbecue service available
• Afternoon workshops on the animals and nature

Large groups split into smaller subgroups that rotate through the activities, so the experience always stays close and hands-on. The farm hosts a maximum of around 60 students at once.

Practical information for teachers

How to get there

Granja Natura is in Navàs, in the heart of the Bages region, around 80 km and one hour from Barcelona. Access is via the C-16, exit 71 (Navàs Sud). The final stretch is a dirt track suitable for cars but not for coaches, so it is worth checking group access options in advance. You will find all the details on how to get here.

Timetable and season

• School visits: Monday to Friday, 10:00 to 16:00
• Busiest seasons: spring (April to June) and autumn (October and November). If you want these dates, book early.

Prices and booking

• Early years (P3-P5): 10.50 EUR per student
• Primary: 11.50 EUR per student
• Secondary, upper secondary and vocational: 12.50 EUR per student
• Accompanying teachers and monitors: free

Bookings are made directly online on the website, at least two weeks in advance.

School trips to a farm school are an experience students remember for years and that keeps paying off in the classroom long after the visit. With over 30 species of rescued animals, programs for every stage and teaching materials to use in class, Granja Natura is a go-to destination for schools in Barcelona and central Catalonia. Explore the school programs and book your visit to bring nature into your classroom.