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Swiss Farm Visits For Children

In short

We, at the Young Explorers Club, run Swiss farm visits for children. These visits deliver hands-on learning about animal care, seasonal farm work and local…

At a glance
Hands-on lessonsVisits teach children about animals and farming and connect them to the source of their food.
Seasonal varietyOfferings change by region and season — spring lambing, summer alpine pastures, harvest events and cheese-making demos.
Plan logisticsCheck hours, book ahead, confirm transport and pack weather-ready clothing like boots and rain gear.
Follow safety and hygieneSupervise kids closely, wash hands after animal contact, and obey requested biosecurity steps.
Match activities to ageChoose farms with fenced petting areas and playgrounds for little ones, and supervised chores or pony rides for older children.
On this page
  1. Swiss Farm Visits for Children
  2. Summer camps in Switzerland
  3. Sources

Swiss Farm Visits for Children

We, at the Young Explorers Club, run Swiss farm visits for children. These visits deliver hands-on learning about animal care, seasonal farm work and local food production. Kids get to pet animals, watch milking demos and try simple cheese making geared to families and school groups. Hosts usually offer guided tours or farm-stay options. They’ll ask for advance booking and expect visitors to follow safety and hygiene rules. Plan for activities that match children’s ages and abilities.

Typical Activities

Common farm activities designed for children include:

  • Petting areas and supervised animal contact
  • Milking demonstrations and feeding times
  • Simple, family-friendly cheese-making or butter-tasting sessions
  • Seasonal events such as spring lambing, summer alpine pasture visits and harvest festivals
  • Guided tours, farm-stays and short educational workshops
  • Age-appropriate chores, pony rides and playground facilities where offered

Booking & Logistics

To make the visit smooth and safe, follow these practical steps:

  1. Check hours and seasonality — offerings vary by region and time of year.
  2. Book ahead — many hosts require advance reservations for groups and school visits.
  3. Confirm transport and arrival times with the host.
  4. Pack weather-ready clothing — boots, rain gear, sun protection and a change of clothes.
  5. Tell hosts about allergies or special needs in advance.

Safety & Hygiene

Farms will expect visitors to follow simple rules to protect people and animals:

  • Supervise children closely at all times around animals and equipment.
  • Wash hands after animal contact and before eating.
  • Follow biosecurity steps requested by the farm (boot cleaning, staying in designated areas).
  • Wear closed-toe shoes and appropriate clothing for muddy or uneven terrain.
  • Choose age-appropriate activities — fenced petting areas and playgrounds for little ones; supervised chores and pony rides for older children.
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Summer camps in Switzerland with Young Explorers Club

Young Explorers Club runs summer camps in Switzerland and Europe for children and teenagers aged 6 to 17, a week at a time, from CHF 1'080 / week.

Three of our camps:

  • Adrenaline Multisports — Climbing, Football, Mountain biking · Chalet Budokan · Ages 8–13 · From CHF 1'080 / week
  • Rock Climbing — Climbing · Chalet Budokan · Ages 8–13 · From CHF 1'080 / week
  • MTB and Cycling — Mountain biking · Chalet Budokan · Ages 8–13 · From CHF 1'080 / week

See all our summer camps in Switzerland, with their dates and prices, or get the brochure.

Sources

  1. Swiss Federal Statistical Office — Agriculture and forestry bfs.admin.ch
  2. Agroscope — Agricultural economics agroscope.admin.ch
  3. SUVA — Accident statistics suva.ch
  4. MySwitzerland — Farm holidays myswitzerland.com
  5. Schweizer Bauernverband — Bauernhof & Schule sbv-usp.ch
  6. Zürich Tourismus — Family activities zuerich.com
  7. Bern Welcome — Family activities in Bern bern.com
  8. Region du Léman — Family experiences region-du-leman.ch
  9. Eurostat — Agricultural farm structure statistics ec.europa.eu
  10. Federal Office for the Environment (BAFU) — Agriculture bafu.admin.ch
  11. WHO Regional Office for Europe — Urban green spaces and health: a review of evidence euro.who.int
Written by

Pierre Martin

Young Explorers Club

Writes the Young Explorers Club's guides for parents.

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