Field Trips + Scout Programs

Ambler Farm’s programs have been developed by certified teachers and designed to meet the CT Social Studies Frameworks as well as the Next Generation Science Standards. The extensive colonial program with four stations is 3.5 hours long with a lunch break after two stations. All classes may opt to eat lunch at the farm under our education tent at no additional cost. Program times are 10:00am and 12:00pm. 

Is your child attending a field trip at Ambler Farm? Be sure to complete these forms before they arrive!

Seasonal Field Trips

Fall on the Farm

September and October

Length of Program: 1.5 hours (adjustable for different grades)
Grades: Pre-K to Grade 1
Cost: $17 per student

The field trip experience includes:

• Guided animal visits to learn about the importance of farm animals and their adaptations
• Students will visit the pumpkin patch to harvest their very own pumpkin to take home!
• Identify and taste other fruits and vegetables growing in the garden while learning about the parts of plants
• A tractor ride around the farm
• Time to run through our hay maze (only available for programs after October 1st)

Preparing for Winter: The Colonial Experience

November

Colonists spent most of their year preparing to survive the long, harsh winters. When they were not preparing for winter, they were trying to survive it! Major themes of family and community are reinforced in each station.

Length of Program: 3.5 hours
Grades: 5th Grade
Cost: $40 per student

The field trip experience includes 4 hands-on workshops over 3.5 hours:

• Food Preservation
  Colonists spent an extraordinary amount of time preserving perishable food for the winter. Students will learn and participate in those processes, including salting, pickling, drying and jellying.
• Colonial Animals and Community
  Animals played an important role in the survival of colonists. Students will learn about the role of chickens, oxen, pigs, and sheep by visiting the many animals at our farm. Colonists survived by supporting each other in a community. Students will learn about the importance of community and family jobs.
• Colonial Cooking
  Students will prepare traditional colonial bread and learn about ingredients as well as the triangular trade route.
• Colonial Crops
  Colonists relied on three critical crops to to survive: rye, corn, and apples. Students will use a cider press, a milling stone for grain as well as visit an actual corn crib.

Maple Syrup Program

Winter (February-March weather permitting)

Length of Program: 1.5 hours
Grades: Grades 3 and 4
Cost: $17 per student

This field trip experience includes:

• Learning all about the natural wonder of making Ambler Farm maple syrup from our sugar maples, located right here on our farm
• Hands-on experience for students to “tap” a tree
• Sampling Ambler Farm’s very own maple syrup
• Native American lore of how maple syrup was discovered
• Hands-on experience for students to “tap” a tree
• Sampling Ambler Farm’s very own maple syrup
• Native American lore of how maple syrup was discovered
• The history of tapping, collecting and boiling sap (from Native Americans to Modern Day processes)
• Learning about the parts of a sugar maple tree and why maples are tapped
• Making corn bread and taste testing real verses fake maple syrup

Spring on the Farm

Spring (April-June)

Length of Program: 1.5 hours
Grades: Kindergarten – Grade 2 | Advanced Program for Grade 5
Cost: $17 per student

This field trip experience includes:

• Learning all about the importance of honey bees and pollinator pathways
• Meeting Ambler Farm’s honey bees in our observation hive
• Visiting our farm animals with a focus on rabbits and their adaptations
• The grade 5 program includes extensive details regarding the parts of plants and pollination in addition to a broader discussion of the current threats to honey bee populations
• Includes a hayride around the farm to see what is growing

Scout Programs

Any of our field trips can become a scout program. We can tailor a Scout Program to suit your needs.

Contact Kevin Meehan, Program Director, with program questions.

Contact Betsy Back to schedule a field trip.