Hidden Magic of the Farm
A Parent & Child Nature Experience
Saturday, September 12, 2026 | 9am-10:30am
Sunday, October 11, 2026 | 9am-10:30am
Saturday, November 7, 2026 | 9am-10:30am
Experience Overview
This 1.5-hour guided farm experience invites children into an immersive exploration of Blue Heron Farm’s orchards, compost systems, garden edges, soil, and surrounding ecosystems.
Rather than a formal lesson, the experience is designed as a slow, guided nature walk where children are encouraged to observe, ask questions, and engage their senses as they explore the living systems of the farm.
Throughout the tour, children are introduced to simple observation tools inspired by the BEETLES Project, including “INIWIRMO” (“I Notice, I Wonder, It Reminds Me Of”), which helps them slow down and look more closely at the world around them.
The experience highlights the idea that “magical” things are constantly happening in nature - from decomposition in compost to the hidden relationships between soil, plants, trees, and living organisms - and that learning to notice these systems changes how we see the world.
Experience Details
Time
9:00–10:30 AM
Saturday, September 12, 2026
Sunday, October 11, 2026
Saturday, November 7, 2026
Dates
$15 per child
Participating adult attends for free.
Cost
Designed for young explorers, approximately ages 5–12.
Each child must attend with a parent, grandparent, or caregiver. This is a shared experience designed to help families explore and discover together.
Who It's For
What Children Will Experience
Children will:
Explore orchards and observe seasonal changes in trees and plants
Observe garden systems from the outside, noticing patterns and relationships in food-growing spaces
Learn about composting, decomposition, and soil as a living system
Discover the interconnectedness of plants, insects, fungi, and soil organisms
Practice observation and curiosity using INIWIRMO
Engage in sensory-based exploration and guided noticing
Experience nature as a living, interconnected system rather than separate parts
Guiding Approach
This experience is rooted in:
Curiosity over correctness
Observation over instruction
Wonder over memorization
Connection over information delivery
Children are encouraged to slow down, notice details, ask questions, and trust their natural sense of curiosity.
The goal is not to teach a traditional science lesson, but to help children develop the tools to see the living systems already present in nature.
Facilitator Bio - Venessa Smith
Venessa Smith is an educator, nature-based guide, and lifelong student of the natural world. She holds a credential in Geoscience education and has taught Earth Science, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, and Environmental Science. She also has a background as a geologist and is a certified Master Gardener, Master Food Preserver, Learning & Life Success Coach, and certified Forest Therapy Practitioner.
Through her work at Blue Heron Farm, Venessa guides children through immersive nature experiences that encourage curiosity, observation, sensory awareness, and connection with living systems. Her approach weaves together science education and nature-based learning practices, helping children slow down, ask questions, and engage more deeply with the natural world around them.
She believes that some of the most meaningful learning happens when children are given the opportunity to observe closely, wonder freely, and discover the “hidden magic” already present in nature.