Plan Your Farm Adventure!
Planning an outing to the farm with your group? Read on for everything you need to know to book your visit and prepare your group for a farm-tastic trip!
š Booking Requirements
To ensure a safe and fun experience, all groups of 10 or more participants (including schools, childcare centres, and summer camps) must book their visit in advance.
Notice Required: At least 48 hours in advance.
Availability: Our calendar fills up quickly, especially in the spring, so we highly recommend booking early in April or May.
Why book? We have a maximum visitor capacity for the farm and the goat petting area to keep everyone safe and happy. If you don’t have a booking you may not be able to visit with the goats in the petting area.
ā° Arrival & Timing
Spring & Fall – Earliest Booking Time: 10:30 AM
July & August – Earliest Booking Time:Ā 11:00 AM
š Early Bird Tip: You are welcome to arrive at 10:10 AM to cheer on the goats during the morning stampede and explore the rest of the farm before your scheduled entry into the goat petting area!
š„ Supervision Ratios
To keep your group safe, we recommend the following adult-to-child ratios:
Pre-School to Grade 5 (Ages 2ā10): 1 adult per 6 childrenĀ
Grade 6 to Grade 12 (Ages 11ā18): 1 adult per 10 youthĀ
āļø How to Book
Ready to visit? Send an email to bhcfvictoria@gmail.com with the following details:
Your name & phone number
Name of your school, childcare, or group
Requested date and time of visit
Number of children/students & their grade or age range
Number of accompanying adult supervisors
ā ļø Please note: Your booking is only valid once details are finalized and you receive a confirmation via email or phone.
ā Cancellation Policy
If you need to cancel or reschedule, we appreciate a minimum of 24 hours notice so we can open up the time slot to another group.
Making a Donation
The farm runs on donations, which help to keep the animals housed, fed and cared for. This year’s suggested amounts are $7 adult and $6 per child, however any amount you can give for your group is greatly appreciated.
Group Visit Information and Guidelines
General Health Rules
Please only come to visit the farm if everyone in your group feels healthy. Thank you for helping us to protect the health of the animals, the staff and the other visitors.
Remember to wash your hands before and after visiting with the animals.
Adult supervisors should monitor young children to ensure that they do not put their fingers or any objects in their mouth while in animal areas.
Washrooms
Please be aware that there are no public washrooms inside the farm. The closest washroom is near the playground in the park, about a 3 minute walk from the farm entrance.Ā
General Farm Rules
Before you enter the farm, please discuss the rules below with your group to ensure the safety and wellbeing of the animals and people at the farm:
Children must be supervised by an adult throughout their entire visit
- Children must stay together with their adult leader while exploring the farm.
- Inside the goat petting area, please keep children in small groups under close, arms-reach supervision.
Please treat the animals with respect
- No feeding any of the animals
- No poking the animals with sticks or throwing objects at them
- No pulling or stepping on feathers
Quiet voices at all times
- No yelling or shouting at the animals or other people
- Please do not loudly imitate the animalsā voices
Walking feet only inside the farm
- No running, jumping, or chasing after any animal
- No climbing on fences or other structures
Goat Petting Area Rules
Please obey the signage posted at the petting area gate and follow directions from our staff members. Some of the most important rules include:
- Children need to be accompanied and actively supervised by an adult who is responsible for the childās behaviour.
- Always show respect for the goats by using quiet voices, walking feet and gentle hands when in their home.
- No picking up or restraining the goats.Ā
- No feeding the goats.
- Do not chase the goats.
- No climbing or standing on the rocks or stumps.
- Do not let the goats nibble on fingers or hair.
- Do not pick up or kick the sawdust (it is the goatsā bathroom!)
- Please do not remove hay from the ground or the hay feeders.
- No playing with the water buckets.
- No backpacks or human food inside the goat petting area.
Please feel free to:
- Pet the goats with gentle hands
- Brush the goats
- Sit down and wait for a goat to climb into your lap, or crouch down to invite a goat to climb onto your back.
Please understand that these rules are in place for the comfort and safety of our animals. Not following these rules could result in stress, discomfort, injuries, or health risks for the animals.
As a group leader, you are responsible for your groupās behaviour. Farm staff will step in to remind you and your participants to follow these rules. If repeated intervention from our staff is necessary, the noise level is too high, or the animals are not treated with respect, your group will be asked to leave the goat area or the farm.
We thank you for teaching your group how to respect the animals and their home.
We hope your trip to the farm is fun and educational. Please donāt hesitate to ask Farm Staff any questions your group may have about the animals or the farm!
Questions? Please send us an email at bhcfvictoria@gmail.com.
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