Teachers, are you looking for school field trip ideas? BC Agriculture in the Classroom Foundation (BCAITC) can help! BCAITC is offering new fall self-guided tours at The Pencil Patch in September and October for K-12 classrooms. Located in Abbotsford, the BCAITC learning garden includes fun opportunities for students to learn about BC agriculture including milk history, raised garden beds, pollinators, water, soil, pollinators, growing zones, the Agriculture Land Reserve, invasive species, greenhouses, crop rotation, medicine wheel concepts, and more.

As hot summer days transition to milder weather, September and October are ideal months for students to experience the beautiful changes of the seasons in an agriculture setting. Students can form connections to the fall harvest and environmental stewardship as they learn about pumpkins, squash, carrots, herbs, and various other autumn foliage and flowers. 

Self-guided tours, run by trained local volunteers and/or BCAITC staff feature grade-specific activities with curriculum connections to primary and intermediate/secondary level Agriculture, Environment, Science, Math, Fine Arts, and Language Arts subjects. Extended learnings are also available for school gardening. 

The Pencil Patch provides an interactive outdoor learning experience in a safe environment. The large outdoor garden space provides plenty of fresh air and is large enough to allow for adequate social distancing measures in today’s “new normal” environment.  

The Pencil Patch is conveniently located near Highway 1 and Highway 11 (Sumas Way) in Abbotsford and is an ideal location for schools visiting from the Lower Mainland or the Fraser Valley. Free parking is available onsite. 

If you are interested in booking a free 90-minute tour for your class, contact Jessica Birchall or call 604.854.6064 for more information. Space is limited, so book now.

For more information on The Pencil Patch, click here.

Special thanks to Glenda Kavolinas for these stunning photos of The Pencil Patch.