To help new immigrant families connect with nature and strengthen parent-child bonds, Yunlin County New Immigration Family Service Center of Eden Foundation on the 3rd, May hosted the “Agriculture in Every Meal” parent-child food and agriculture education event at Dachuan Orchard. Nine families—nearly 30 participants in total—were invited to take part. Through engaging activities such as tree climbing and slackline walking challenges, hands-on burger-making, DIY aromatherapy, and challenge games, participants were able to connect with the land through hands-on experiences while strengthening parent-child bonds.
The event kicked off with a challenging start, as a team of professional instructors guided everyone in putting on safety gear to tackle the rarely experienced activities of “tree climbing” and “slackline walking.” These activities required participants not only to overcome their fear of heights but also to utilize whole-body coordination and stamina. On-site, many children could be seen bravely climbing higher with their parents’ encouragement. Throughout the process, parents and children cheered each other on and supported one another, unconsciously building trust and rapport.
At noon, everyone made their own hamburgers. Parents and children worked together, transforming ingredients into delicious meals. The whole family sat down to share the food they would prepared together—simple hamburgers brimming with a sense of happiness. In the afternoon, the “Ylang Fragrance DIY” workshop took place, where parents and children blended their own unique scents, bringing the essence of nature home as a keepsake. The day concluded with a guided tour of the Orchard and group challenge activities, which used lively and engaging methods to help everyone learn about plants, local agriculture, and the origins of their food.
Eden indicated that last year’s event, held during summer vacation, coincided with heavy rain, which unfortunately prevented many outdoor activities from taking place. Therefore, this year’s event was moved up to May to successfully avoid the plum rain and typhoon seasons, allowing everyone to fully enjoy the orchard tour and challenge games.
Many new immigrants often face challenges communicating with their children while living in Taiwan. Through interactive experiences like this, not only can language barriers be overcome, but the land itself becomes a shared medium for learning. Eden hopes that today’s event will help new immigrant families rediscover a sense of belonging through experiences with local agricultural products, while also allowing children to grow up in a joyful environment and build strong family bonds.
