What To Expect

• Does your child need any special medications? Inform the teacher of any, and be sure that he or she brings them along.
• Listen to the current weather forecast and be sure that your child has the appropriate clothing and footwear. They will be outside for the majority of their visit. *Shorts are not appropriate wear for activities even during warm weather.
• Students will get dirty, and may also get wet. Please encourage your child to wear clothes that they won’t mind getting messy, and wear old shoes that can get wet and muddy.
• We request 1 chaperone for every 10 students (depending on age), and our instructional groups usually consist of 10-15 students. If you are interested in being a chaperone, contact your child’s teacher.

Our programs are all about bringing kids out into nature. While we do provide indoor activities during thunderstorms and other severe weather events, all our regular programs are done outdoors and during all sorts of weather.

Students have more fun if they don’t have to worry about their clothes and shoes, so please make sure students follow the following guidelines:

• All visitors should wear long pants and comfortable walking shoes.
  • Shorts and sandals are not recommended, even in warm weather.
  • Walks in the woods and farm may be through tall grass, mud and ever briars. Long pants and closed shoes will also help to deter ticks and poison ivy.
• An extra pair of shoes and extra socks are strongly recommended.
• Shoes and clothes may get dirty or muddy.
• Bring raingear or warm clothing you can layer if wet or cold weather is forecast.

If you are attending an overnight program, download the Gear List (available in Spanish) to be sure your students are prepared.

We challenge students, chaperones and teachers staying overnight or visiting for a day to pack “trash free” lunches and plan a trash free visit. You can do this by using reusable containers for lunch items and bringing food in containers that can be recycled! If you are visiting our educational campus at the farm, we recycle glass, metal cans and aluminum foil, plastic, cardboard, paper, milk cartons, and juice boxes. We have dishes and flatware available for you to use during your stay. Download our Trash Free Lunch guide (Spanish version available here.)

To learn more about packing trash free, your child can play the interactive Trash Free Lunch game and view helpful tips in the Take Out the Trash lesson.

Overnight groups will be staying in a lodge equipped with all the comforts of home. There are separate bunkrooms and bathrooms for the girls and boys. Be sure your child has everything he or she will need for the night. Overnight Checklist (available in Spanish). The students are responsible for keeping the facilities clean during their stay, and will be asked to pitch in with the chores. Chaperones and Teachers are asked to supervise and assist as needed.

Stewardship of our local, state and national parks is important. While you’re in the park, consider how parks can educate, inspire, and provoke thought.

• Remember, no collecting of any type is permitted.
• Take only photographs, leave only footprints.

Important! Be sure to bring signed copies of the image release form for each of the students and chaperones (Spanish & English language form available).

Have fun! You and the chaperones are role models for the students. Your positive attitude and enthusiasm will greatly enhance the students’ experiences at our programs. Encourage students to listen to instruction, try new things and be open to new experiences.