Motivating kids to do homework has been a challenge during the pandemic, so Gilberts Arizona Goat Yoga helped by offering virtual tours for classes to meet yoga goats, alpacas and chickens.

I have three kids of my own and I see how hard it is now that school is online to get motivated to really do it, said Arizona Goat Yoga owner April Gould. I was trying to think of a way that we might be able to help and so we decided to do virtual field trips and that has been so much fun.

Gould takes teachers and students around the Gilbert farm to show them the animals daily lives. The farm has 58 goats, 19 of whom are babies, two alpacas and six chickens.

Goat Yoga expects to reopen June 6 for in-person field trips, though Gould said the online versions will continue because they have become a hit in and of themselves. Her first two online sessions next month are already full as are the first two in-person field trips.

We are so excited, said Gould. Its already full, so we will be adding more and taking all precautions and recommendations from the CDC and Governor Doug Ducey.

We will also be continuing virtual goat yoga classes, Zoom field trips/birthday parties, alpaca meetings and Goat Grams... so there is still plenty to do for those who are not ready to go out or anyone out of state who cant attend a class.

The pandemic kept the farm from hosting goat yoga, during which baby goat parade in rainbow tutus, prance around at guests feet and run across their backs.

Its really sad right now that were not able to do goat yoga because we have so many babies who need lots of love and attention and human interaction, Gould said. Its unfortunate for them that theyre not getting a lot of human interaction from hundreds of in-person people.

During a field trip I just walk around and show the animals and talk about them and then theres a lot of Q&A, Gould said. I get questions as simple as, What is their name? to How long do they live? A lot of questions are super cute.

According to Gould, some teachers asked their students to research the animals first and then they discuss what theyve learned with the class. This makes the experience both fun and educational.

The kids were coming back with all these facts about alpacas that I didnt even know, which is pretty neat, Gould said.

Gould said the virtual field trips, which were free for teachers, were well received.

The best thing for me is seeing the kids having fun and it being so different for them, Gould said. As soon as we get on, all I hear is, Aww. I just love the excitement of the kids.

Teachers thanked Gould for breaking up the monotony of their new everyday life having school online.

Since its virtual its fantastic because you can do it anywhere, Gould said. Kids can get to see not only the goats and alpacas and things like that, but they also get to see another place in the United States of what life is like right now in Gilbert.

Besides the teachers free field trips, guests can visit virtually for 10 minutes for $35; have a customizable goat gram for $35 or a 30-minute alpacalypse conference call for $75. The conference call brings alpacas Kip or Napoleon to virtual business meetings for 30 meetings.

Ive been getting a lot of requests for birthday parties, which is a whole new level, Gould said. Im excited for that because, apparently, virtual birthday parties are going to be kind of the thing for right now.

Gould is anxiously awaiting her first goat breakup gram customer. The goat comes online with a sign that reads, We can still be frieeeends.

Im super excited for it when that day comes, Gould said. Let a goat break up and do all the dirty work. It makes the let down a lot easier that way.

Aside from the fun, Gould and her team had a tough time through the pandemic.

For us, like many small businesses, it really hurts, Gould said. Our whole business is based on a lot of people in close gatherings, everything that were not allowed to do right now.

Its been really tough on us, but also really hard on the animals. I know that sounds funny, but the goats are getting really depressed. Theyre not used to just grazing and being bored.

The animals are still playing, sleeping, eating and nursing throughout the day as if they were still doing goat yoga without an audience.

As for continuing the online trips, she said, I think its just become a new creative thing and maybe keeping it on going for the people out of state or out of the country.

I think it would be so neat to have a virtual tour or field trip to see somewhere different and this kind of opened up a door for new ideas in that aspect.

Information: 480-269-4144, goatyoga.com, owner@goatyoga.com

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Goat Yoga now has real and virtual field trips - East Valley Tribune