Farm Field Trips

   

Fall Harvest Time Field Trips

In October Tuesday-Friday only
Recommended for 1st through 2nd grade

Educational Focus:
To learn and understand the farm's role in food production during Fall pumpkin season.

Highlights:
Tour guides will share some of Belvedere Plantation's unique history.
Trained staff farmers lead a series of learning stations.
Teachers pick a pumpkin to take back to their classrooms.
A farm hayride to the Pumpkin Patch where each visitor picks a pumpkin to take home.
Souvenir is provided for each student and a classroom gift for the group.
Playtime in the Fun Barn or on the Pumpkin Mountain Slide as time, space, and age group allows.

Learning stations:

• The Pumpkin Life Cycle/Honey Bee Station - Covers plant growth, plant parts and the role of bees in pollination.
• I'm a Farmer! Station - Interactive learning game where students learn the challenges a farmer faces in growing pumpkins.
• Olde Barnyard Station - Animal observation and fun facts about farm animals.

Download Teacher Planning Guide for Fall Harvest Time Field Trips

Pumpkin Science Lab Field Trips

In October Tuesday-Friday only
Recommended for 2nd through 5th grades

Educational Focus:
The Science Lab, led by Belvedere Staff with participation of parents and teachers, involves a number of grade-appropriate observation and data collection exercises. Science and math topics are emphasized. Labs are adjusted to grade level.

Highlights:
Trained staff farmers lead students in science lab activities and experiments.
Teachers pick a pumpkin to take back to their classrooms.
A farm hayride to the Pumpkin Patch where each visitor picks a pumpkin to take home.
Souvenir is provided for each student and a classroom gift for the group.
Playtime on the Pumpkin Mountain Slide or in the Fun Barn as time, space and age group allows.

Learning Stations:

• Pumpkin Science Lab Station - Covers scientific observation and data collection exercises and measurement activities.
• Bee Pollination Station -- Covers various pollinators (honey bee, squash bee, bumble bee) and their importance for growing pumpkins.
• Olde Barnyard Station - Animal observation and fun facts about farm animals.

Download Teacher Planning Guide for Pumpkin Science Lab Field Trips

Maize Maze Adventure in Learning

In October Tuesday-Friday only
Recommended for 3rd through middle school grades

Educational Focus:
This field trip provides various interactive learning tools to teach children the history, growth, uses, importance and impact of corn on our daily lives, as well as problem solving lessons.

Highlights:
Students will have the opportunity to work together in small groups to solve Belvedere's world-class maze.
Solving the maize maze is done in small groups designed to promote team problem solving skills. One chaperone per 5-6 students is REQUIRED to accompany the students through the maze.
Children will have the opportunity to learn about map reading, perseverance, problem solving and decision-making as they solve the maze.
A farm hayride to the Pumpkin Patch where each visitor picks a pumpkin to take home.
Students may enjoy the pedal tractors OR the Pumpkin Mountain Slide, as time and space allows.
Olde Barnyard Station - Animal observation and fun facts about farm animals.
We provide a souvenir for each student and a classroom gift for the group.

Learning Stations:

• The Great Adventure Maize Maze is the eight-acre theater for this field trip.
• Olde Barnyard Station - Animal observation and fun facts about farm animals.

Download Teacher Planning Guide for Maize Maze Adventure in Learning Field Trips

Learn-N-Play Day

In October Tuesday-Friday only
This field trip is specifically designed for active preschoolers and kindergardeners.

Educational Focus:
Children will experience the growth of a plant, the communication of honey bees, and the transfer of pollen from one plant to another.

Highlights:
Trained staff farmers lead a series of learning stations. Teachers pick a pumpkin to take back to their classrooms. A farm hayride to the Pumpkin Patch where each visitor picks a pumpkin to take home. Souvenir is provided for each student and a classroom gift for the group. Playtime in the Fun Barn and the Little Farmer's Coral as time and space allows.

Learning stations:

• Preschool Station - Physical activity where the children will grow like a plant, dance like a bee, and 'fly' from flower to flower to collect pollen. Each child will receive a pumpkin gift to take home.
• Olde Barnyard Station - Animal observation and fun facts about farm animals.

Download Teacher Planning Guide for Learn-N-Play Field Trips

Teacher Appreciation Days
September 29, 2012   10am-10pm
September 30, 2012   10am-6pm
Free admission for teacher (with official school ID)
On both Teacher Appreciation Days at 2pm, meet with our
Field Trip staff for a brief field trip program overview and refreshments.

Home School Day
October 11, 2012   9:30am-1:30pm

We have been hosting farm field trips for over 20 years, emphasizing on-the-farm learning, as well as fun. This is truly an enhanced classroom learning experience for students and teachers alike.

A Belvedere Plantation field trip takes place in an outdoor farm setting with trained guides. All programs are designed to provide hands-on learning about the natural world in the context of seasonal farm activities. Additionally, programs have been designed to help teachers meet objectives in a range of Virginia Standards Of Learning.

October Field Trip Schedule
Tuesdays - Fridays, starting 9:30-10:30am. Allow at least 2 hours for field trip plus approximately an additional hour for lunch/snack and play time. (If you do not allow the 3 hours, available activities will be limited).

The typical field trip itinerary:
 · Groups check in at the admissions booth upon arrival at the farm
 · Groups gather at your assigned 'group flag'
 · Welcoming remarks and farm orientation
 · Hayride to the pumpkin patch
 · Visit farm learning stations
 · Participation in farm activities
 · Enjoy a snack or lunch
 · Released for play as time allows until departure

Reservations Required
Space is limited!

Field Trip Fees
$9.00 per child
Non-participating children 2 and under are free.
$6.50 per adult
One teacher or para-professional free for every 10 paid children
Minimum Field Trip group fee of $50

Terms
A single payment for the entire group is required. Groups that do not have a single payment for their entire group will be required to wait until all other groups are checked in. Groups that do not show or do not contact us prior to reservation date to cancel and/or reschedule are subject to a $75 cancellation fee.

Concessions: Picnic area provided for your lunch or snack. Lunch concessions are available during October at the Red Rooster Grill.