Field Trips and In-School Programming with Common Ground Farm
We offer several different program options to connect your students with the local food system, both onsite at our farm, and in your classroom!
Ready to register? Click here to schedule your program now!
Questions? Reach out directly to our Education Manager, Renae, at education@commongroundfarm.org or scroll down for our FAQs.
In-School Programming
Common Ground Farm offers educational opportunities that take place in your own classroom! Schedule a visit with our Farmer or our Chef to bring the farm to you! (Chef in the classroom dates will be available soon)
Farmer in the Classroom
Our Farmer will visit your students in their classroom and teach them about a topic related to farming that supports NYS educational standards for their grade level, that will include a hands-on project. Options for topics include: Seeds, Parts of a Plant, Plant Life Cycles, Needs of a Plant. For example, if the topic is Seeds, students will explore a variety of seeds experientially, learn about their adaptations, and then plant a seed to keep. This program is best suited for grades Pre-K through 2nd grade. For more information, and to discuss potential topics, contact Renae at education@commongroundfarm.org.
Chef in the Classroom
Our Chef will visit your students in their classroom and lead everyone to prepare a dish together, while teaching them about a seasonal vegetable, how to follow a recipe, nutrition basics, and cooking skills. This program is best suited for grades Pre-K through 6th grade. For more information, and to discuss options for dishes, contact Renae at education@commongroundfarm.org.
Field Trips to Common Ground Farm
A field trip to the farm is a hands-on learning experience where children work directly with professionals in our local food system to learn about food and farming. A typical visit to our farm lasts for two hours, can accommodate up to approximately 70 students, and includes three activity rotations. Field trips are best suited for grades Pre-K through 6th grade. Common Ground Farm is located on DEC property and is eligible for the Connect Kids reimbursement grant for public school field trips. Click here to schedule a visit to our farm!
Every Farm Visit Includes:
Field Tour: Every visit includes a tour of our six-acre organic-practicing vegetable farm. Topics covered on the tour vary according to season/ages of the children, and we can include a particular focus for your tour if requested. Common Ground Farm works to fight against food insecurity and as such we donate a large portion of what we grow, so your students will also learn about our food access work. Depending on availability, your field tour may also include foraging or a small harvest of vegetables or herbs.
Food Station: Every visit includes the opportunity to prepare something to eat. For example, your students might harvest kale and then prepare a salad to eat. Recipes offered vary according to season/availability.
Schools May Choose One of the Following:
Soil Science: This activity will involve demonstrations and activities to help your students understand the complexity and importance of soil on a farm. What is soil made of? Who or what lives inside the soil? What important jobs does soil do? (hint: it does more than just feed our crops!)
Invasive and Native Species: Let's learn all about where our food crops come from, what an heirloom vegetable is, what constitutes a "weed", and what happens when a plant ends up in an ecosystem it doesn't belong in. Students will join in helping out our local, native plant populations.
Human Impact of Farming: Farms are a necessary source of local, nutritious food, but they don't come without a cost for the environment. In this activity we will learn about how farming impacts the environment, and how our farmers do their best to work with nature instead of against it.
Barn Visit: Common Ground Farm is a vegetable farm, but we are located on the larger property of Stony Kill Farm. Stony Kill maintains and cares for livestock, including cows, sheep, chickens and turkeys. (And seasonally, pigs). Choosing a visit with Stony Kill's barn animals as the third activity is an additional cost.
Connect Kids Grant
Common Ground Farm is an eligible location for field trip reimbursement through this grant program. Public schools (and some other eligible organizations) can apply to have the full cost of their visit to our farm reimbursed. Click here to learn more about the Connect Kids Grant.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
How many students can attend the programs?
Visits to our farm can accommodate up to approximately 70 students, and visits to your classroom can accommodate three classes per block of time scheduled. A “class” is a typical size class of 20-25 students. Click here to schedule. If you would like to schedule a visit to our farm for fewer than 20 students, or to your school for less than 3 classes, please reach out to Renae at education@commongroundfarm.org.
What grades are appropriate for the programs?
Field trips to our farm and Chef in the Classroom visits are appropriate for PreK-6th grade. Farmer in the Classroom is appropriate for PreK-2nd grade.
Can the programs be customized?
Yes—if you are studying a specific topic with your students, we can tailor your visit to that topic.
How does the Connect Kids grant program work?
First, check the grant program website to make sure that your organization will be eligible. Second, book a field trip date with us at least three weeks in advance, and arrange payment. Third, apply for pre-approval for the grant on their website. Finally, attend your field trip, get a signature from us on your grant application, and submit your paperwork. If your organization and trip are approved, you will likely receive reimbursement for the full cost of the trip and the transportation costs.
Can we stay for lunch at the farm?
Absolutely! Common Ground Farm is located on the larger, DEC-owned property of Stony Kill Farm, which is open to the public dawn to dusk. After your program ends you are welcome to stay and enjoy a picnic lunch. There are also hiking trails and a pond that you can explore!
How do we schedule a program?
Visit our scheduler to choose a program and a time.
For field trips to the farm, you will select a 3-hour time block for 45 students. The field trip itself will last for 2 hours; the 3-hour block accommodates flexibility for your arrival time. There is an add-on option to increase the number of students up to 70.
For Farmer and Chef in the classroom, you will select a 3-hour time block for up to 3 classes. Each class visit lasts 45 minutes; you can arrange the visit schedule to each class in any way you need during that 3-hour block.
If you need to schedule a small field trip (less than 20-25 students) or a single classroom visit, please email Renae directly at education@commongroundfarm.org.