A mobile farm visit works best as rotating sessions: classes of 15 to 25 kids, 20 to 30 minutes each, through a school morning. One setup can serve six to eight classes before lunch. Here is how to plan it.
Before you book
- Pick the space: level grass or blacktop, roughly the size of two parking spaces, with vehicle access for the trailer.
- Confirm the operator's insurance and ask for a certificate naming the school or district.
- Ask which animals are coming and share the list with families — some schools collect allergy notes for hay or animal dander.
- Check district rules on animals on campus; some require administrator sign-off two weeks ahead.
The week of the visit
- Send permission slips if your district requires them.
- Build the rotation schedule with 5-minute gaps between classes.
- Plan hand-washing: the operator brings a station, but a second one cuts the line in half for younger grades.
- Assign one staff member as the operator's contact for the day.
Day of
Operators typically arrive 45 to 60 minutes before the first class to set up pens. Kindergarten sessions run best at 20 minutes; older grades can go 30 with a Q&A. Kids wash hands on the way out, not just at the end of the day.
Find mobile farms in the directory — PAWS members agree to our animal-care and safety standards, including hygiene stations at every event.