Bring agricultural literacy to your school. The virtual field trip teaches where food comes from and how to make healthy choices.
Dairy Council of California's Mobile Dairy Classroom is the original “farm-to-school” program in California, bringing the farm experience to students to teach agricultural literacy since the 1930s.
The live virtual tours are guided by a Mobile Dairy Classroom instructor and are 45-minutes, teaching students about farm life while covering a variety of lessons. Each tour provides an introduction to dairy cows to teach students the anatomy of a cow, the journey of milk, milk production and more. Each lesson also takes students on a virtual tour of a working California dairy farm where students have an opportunity to engage with a dairy farmer. As they explore the farm, students will see how dairy cows are fed and milked, learn how farmers care for their herds, and discover the numerous sustainability measures farms utilize in addition to traditional upcycling practices. Each farm tour concludes with an interactive Q&A session, which provides students with the opportunity to ask questions.
Our virtual field trips are an amazing opportunity for students to experience an unforgettable farm tour field trip. And best of all, they’re free!
Virtual Field Trips will be available two days per month, most often on Fridays with two
assembly times to choose from. Click here to register now.
After you register, you will receive a confirmation email and you can forward the "click this URL to join" (the link is shareable even though zoom says that it is not) or you can have your students individually register by sharing the URL of the
registration page. Teachers can share their screen with the students as long as it isn’t through Zoom. Teachers can also share their screen using other platforms like Google Classroom, Schoology, etc.
We suggest you log into the virtual field trip 5 minutes early to make sure everything is working and you don’t miss any information.
Email us at MDC@DairyCouncilofCA.org if you have any questions.
How do I register for the Dairy Council’s Virtual Farm Tour?
Visit DairyCouncilofCA.org, click on the “What We Do” tab, and navigate to the Mobile Dairy Classroom page. Scroll down and click “Sign up for Virtual Field Trip” to complete your free registration.
What format is the presentation in? Do I need to download any software?
The Virtual Field Trip is a webinar-style presentation on Zoom, where participants can use the chat and Q&A functions but will not have access to cameras or microphones. We recommend testing your sound settings beforehand for the best experience.
Will I receive reminders about my scheduled Virtual Field Trip?
Yes! You will receive email reminders one week, one day, and one hour before your scheduled Virtual Field Trip.
What topics are covered in the Virtual Field Trip?
Students will get an inside look at a California dairy farm, learning about cow care, feeding, digestion, milk production, and sustainability practices that keep dairy cows happy and healthy.
Are there any required or recommended materials before attending?
No materials are required, but we offer free educational resources to enhance the experience. Visit the “Mobile Dairy Classroom” page under learning resources on our website to explore materials in After The Assembly link, tailored to your grade level.
Learn about the evolution of the ag literacy program including innovating through a pandemic.
Watch hereThis video excerpt is an excellent preview demonstrating a live cow + where milk comes from.
Watch hereWe operate across the state, but do have distance restrictions based on cow comfort and care.
