Let a farm be your classroom for the day. Visiting an apple orchard and pumpkin patch is a great way to teach kids about plant biology and nutrition while having some outdoor fun. During a farm tour children learn where their food comes and gain an appreciation for local farmers. At the farm they will get to take a hay ride, pick apples, sip some cider, and pet farm animals.
There are hundreds of apple orchards across the country that offer school field trip programs in the fall. Each farm is unique in the activities they offer. Visiting the farm’s website or facebook page is the best way to get a complete description of the available programs. Here is a list of some activities you may find at your local apple orchard.
- Guided tour of orchard with education discussion about apples
- Hayride through the orchard and around the farm
- Chance to sample different apple varieties
- Up close look at cider press in action
- Cup of apple cider and fresh doughnuts
- Time to meet and pet farm animals
- Lesson on honey bees
- Picnic area for a gathering place
- Pumpkin Patch for additional learning experience
A few items to consider when planning an apple orchard school field trip. There will be a group fee or a per person charge and reservations will be required. Most farms open in September and continue through October. Some farms will have a minimum attendee requirement. Plan to spend several hours during your visit and dress the kids for outdoor fun.
If you live in a state with apple growers you are likely to find a local orchard that offers school field trips. Listed below are just 10 farms that we found just to get you started. To find an apple orchard near you go to the upickfarmlocator.com home page and enter apples and your state. Once you find the apple orchards in your state you can narrow the list down and contact the farms closest to you for more information about kid’s events.
10 Apple Orchard School Field Trips
Treworgy Family Orchards, Levant, ME
All Season’s Orchard, Woodstock, IL
Stepp’s Hillcrest Orchard, Hendersonville, NC
Parlee Farms, Tyngsboro, MA
Aamodt’s Apple Farm, Stillwater, MN
Apple Holler, Sturtevant, WI
Wickham Farms, Penfield, NY
Great Country Farm, Bluemont, VA
Wiard’s Orchard, Ypsilanti, MI
Grim’s Orchards & Family Farms, Breiningsville, PA