School Groups
As a working alpaca farm, school students are offered an insight into farming alpacas in Australia.
We offer educational programs and excursions for schools and school holiday programs, which can be adjusted to suit your desired learning outcomes. We can cover the following topics on your visit:
- Textile – Fibre use and processing needs, skirting of fleeces, dyeing of yarn and fibre, how to felt and card fibre.
- Agriculture – Farm tour, land use, water and feeding needs, alpaca health, husbandry and halter training, basic first aid needs, weed management etc.
- Inclusive Activities – depending on your class age and focus, as part of your excursion, we can offer you one of the following demonstrations: dyeing yarn and fibre, spinning fibre, wet felting, agricultural aspects (e.g. matings subject to seasonal availability and parents permission). Please note: these types of demonstrations are especially relevant to secondary textile and agricultural students.
- Meet the Blackwattle Team.
- Introduction to the Farm.
- Farm Safety Discussion.
- Listen and Learn Session – learn the difference between alpacas and llamas, learn where they come from. This section includes interactive resource cards on a white board and ‘touch and feel’ resources (e.g fibre, yarn, felt, food etc), includes question and answer time.
- Meet one of our llamas – hand feed and take a photo with him.
- Hand feeding session – from across the fence, feed our happy herd some yummy alpaca muesli.
- Add on any Additional Extras (activities and catering) – see options below.
Prices:
- 2 hour visit – $25 per student
- 3 hour visit – $30 per student
- 4 hour visit – $40 per student
- Teachers are free of charge (excluding catering)
Group size: We can cater for up to 50 students at one time. Have a larger group? Please reach out to us.
Visiting times: The farm is open to the public Friday to Sunday 10am to 4pm. School visits are welcome both within or outside of these operating hours, and are subject to availability.
We are closed 24, 25 and 26 December, every Monday and all public holidays.
Amenities: Bus access and parking, disability accessible toilets, wheelchair access, undercover outdoor patio and seating locations available.
Australian Curriculum Content
The Australian Alpaca Association, PIEFA, Primezone and AgriFutures have developed the ‘All About Alpacas’ Program, which has been tailored to meet the Australian Curriculum (linked to AC Codes 8.4 and 9). The full resource package can be supplied at the end of your excursion for use in the classroom. The curriculum content pillars we focus on, during our programs, are:
Foundation – Yr 2:
Explore how plants and animals are grown for food, clothing and shelter.
(AC9TDE2K03)
Yr 3 – 4:
Describe the ways of producing food and fibre.
(AC9TDE4K03)
Yr 5 – 6:
Explain how and why food and fibre are produced in managed environments.
(AC9TDE6K03)
Yr 7 – 10:
Analyse how food and fibre are produced in managed environments and how these can become sustainable.
(AC9TDE8K04)
Yr 7 – 10:
Analyse and make judgements on the ethical, secure and sustainable production and marketing of food and fibre enterprises.
(AC9TDE10K04)
Add on activities
Want more? What about adding one of our three crafting activities to the school excursion. Choose from Pacca and Paint, Wet Felting and Decorate an Alpaca. Please note: the time for these activities will need to be added to your visit, this means if you have booked a 3 hour tour and chosen the Pacca and Paint Add On , then the tour will be 4 hours in total.
PaccA and Paint
Let your students unleash their artistic creativity by painting their favourite alpaca or llama!
All materials are supplied.
Duration: 1 hour
Cost: $15 per student
Suitable for all age groups
wet felting
Learn how to wet felt their own decorative felted pod. Use at home to store things or give as a gift!
All materials are supplied.
Duration: 1 hour
Cost: $25 per student
Suitable for secondary school students
decorate an alpaca
Students will enjoy creating their own version of their favourite alpaca using alpaca fibre, colouring in pencils and pens.
All materials are supplied.
Duration: 30 minutes
Cost: $10 per student
Suitable for young primary school students
Excursion Catering
Catering during the excursion can be provided as noted below:
- Morning or afternoon tea – $5 per student or teacher (chocolate brownie)
- Lunch – $15 per student or teacher and can be either: one ham and salad sandwich or 2 beef sausages with onions and sauce on bread ($15 per person)
- Table water is free of charge for catered excursions
Want other catering options? Please reach out to us as the above options are flexible and can be adjusted to suit your needs. All catering requirements, including total number of people (students and teachers), food allergies or concerns, are required 7 days prior to excursion.
Please note we are not a gluten or nut free kitchen. We are unable to guarantee food totally free of allergens. Students and teachers with food allergies and intolerances are permitted to bring their own food.
risk management, Insurance and Accessability
Blackwattle takes your safety seriously. The farm is fully insured and the following documents are available for your information regarding your school excursion. Please let us know if you require a copy of any of the below:
- Work, Health and Safety Management Plan
- Risk Assessment
- Certificate of Currency (Public Liability)
