A local community group has stepped up to help Peninsula students learn about farming practices with the handover of a pop-up camping site on Tuesday, November 24.
The AgFarm program forms part of a collaboration between Umina Beach Rotary Club and Brisbane Water Secondary College Umina Campus to help provide students with knowledge about agriculture and interaction with farm animals.
Umina Rotary members were asked to construct mobile camping sites with the aim of providing students with self-contained accommodation when going on school excursions to farm stays.
Members managed to construct a total of 12 tents, 24 stretchers and four tables.
Secretary of Umina Beach Rotary, Mike Curley, said this was only the first stage of the project, with more plans to come.
“It is hoped that this [tent] could include a trailer that will have male and female showers, toilets plus storage for the tents and stretchers,” Curley said.
“This has been seen by the educators to be the ultimate in helping educate the final learning experience by staying on a fully operational farm.”
Curley said the program was formed in response to many working farms across the state lacking accommodation for students to stay at.
“The best experience is to stay and interact on a fully operational working farm … the teachers have worked frantically to make contacts with some farms that are happy to assist,” he said.
Source:
Media release, Dec 1
Secretary Umina Beach Rotary Club, Mike Curley