The programme "school farm" of VNP Stiftung Naturschutzpark is meant to address 3. to 6. grade school classes. The stay is 5 days from Monday till Friday. Only one class at a time is accommodated on the farm Hillmershof in Wilsede. A combination of work in small groups and common activities strengthens the social cohesion within the class.
For the duration of the stay, the pupils are put together in small groups of 4 to 5 that will then work on different fields and topics. The work groups take over various tasks under guideance in the stable, the fields, in the garden, in the wood, on the meadow, at the bee keeping house and in the farm kitchen depending on the weather and the season. The programme is about "real" work like feeding, mucking out, planting seeds, harvesting, cooking and baking.
Off course the programme offers leisure activities for the class like enjoying bonfire and baking "bread on a stick", doing a carriage ride or a night walk. During leisure times the big nature garden allows playing and a kind of fun games.
Framed by old oak trees the buildings of the more than 600 years old farm Hillmershof a located amidst of wide heath, fields and wood.
The old thatched farm house offers space for 31 persons:
: one 8-bed room
: two 6-bed rooms
: two 4-bed romms
: two rooms for teacher /camp counselor
The rooms have their private bathroom.
Additional:
: kitchen
: day room
: dining room
All meals are prepared by the work groups with the help of an professional house economist in the farm kitchen. Table and scullery service is done by rotating the work groups.
180 EUR per pupil, additionals by agreement
Various foundations in Lower Saxony and Hamburg award scholarships for school classes. Please find direct links to the foundations on the right hand side of this page.