The farm as an educational arena

The farm as an educational arena has aimed to create meaningful and inclusive leisure time for children and young people, as well as to build an intergenerational meeting place where people can meet, learn and grow together.

Through a pedagogical approach, the farm, its animals and environment have been used as support for learning. The activities have grown around three themes: Active Leisure!, Basic Day and Theme Day, with Farm Horses as the hub where all activities have taken shape.

Farm Horses has offered afternoon and holiday activities for children aged 6–12. Here, the children have been able to stay in a calm environment where animals, play, creativity and social interaction have been the focus. All children have been welcome, regardless of needs or background, and the activities have been shaped based on their circumstances.

Base day has been aimed at young people who are outside of school and working life. Through internships and supervision on the farm, the young people have had the opportunity to practice skills, strengthen self-confidence and receive support in taking the step towards studies or work. It has also involved theoretical elements, guidance, responsibility for animals, and a social context.

Theme day has given schools and preschools the opportunity to move the classroom into nature. Here, children have been able to experience how theory can become practice.

The project has collaborated with several actors, including short-term accommodation, associations, the municipality and housing companies. The activities have also led to creative and intergenerational meetings. One example is the stick horse project, where children were helped by grandparents to sew their horses, which were later displayed at an art exhibition at Sigtuna Kulturgård.

The farm as an educational arena has not only achieved its goals for the project, but Gårds-Hästis has also become a place where children and young people can be themselves, develop and feel like they belong.