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Ramsey's
farm has offered educational farm tours since 1996. Over the
years our tours have truly evolved, keeping what works and
trying new things all the time. One of the most important
reasons that Ramsey's Farm offers educational tours is our
belief that folks of all ages need to understand how
agriculture/farming fits in societies grand scheme and the fact
that food basically comes from the farm and soil, not a plastic
bag from the store. We also feel that the farm is an incredibly
stimulating and fun place for students to learn.
The
following pictures and words try to capture what a typical
school group should experience during their fall visit. For the
purposes of our tour we have selected mostly pictures of clear
blue sky's with no rain in sight. In reality when the sun is
shining our farm is even more beautiful then these pictures
will portray, but again "in reality" we don't control the rain
or sun.
An
important part of your visit is the student activity/coloring
book that goes home with each student. This resource will
reinforce concepts taught at the farm. The book makes a great
conclusion to a successful field trip. Our book contains a
farm word search, estimating and matching activities.
Click here to Know "Why Should Your
School Visit Ramsey's Farm".
Educational Standards
While
enjoying your visit to Ramsey's Farm, students in grades K
though 3rd will participate in several areas that
meet state educational standards for Delaware and Pennsylvania.
While our program hits on many other standards our focus is in
the following areas:
Delaware:
Science
Content Standards
Standard Four - Earth in Space
Standard Five - Earth as a Dynamic System
Standard Six - Life Processes
Standard Seven - Diversity and Continuity of Living Things
Standard Eight - Ecology
Pennsylvania:
Environment and Ecology
4.4.4 Agriculture and Society
4.5.4 Integrated Pest Management
4.6.4 Ecosystems and their Interactions
Mathematics
2.2.3 Computation and Estimation
Science
and Technology
Before you book your visit with us…
Look at our
calendar and determine days that you are
available to visit our farm. We recommend that you have two
days in mind. We suggest that you call or email early to book
your visit and also choose a rain date. Consider visiting the
farm early in our season when the farm is less crowded. It
also allows more flexibility for rescheduling because of
weather.
Unfortunately, the weather is something that we cannot
control. At times, we may need to modify our program because
of muddy field conditions. We may find it necessary to do our
“teaching” under the tent if our fields are too muddy for the
hayride or if it is drizzling. We recommend that children wear
boots or old shoes to the farm. Even if the field is not wet
because of the rain, it is often wet because of the dew in the
morning. We know that everyone enjoys the hayride, but your
safety on our farm is our main concern and we cannot offer the
hayride if we feel it would be unsafe. Also, if you book early
there is more flexibility in rescheduling your tour because of
bad weather.
Determine
whether or not your group will be having lunch/snack at the
farm and make sure to indicate you intentions at the time of
booking. (We do not have food for sale on week-days.)
Booking your visit
Included
with your visit is an educational narrated hayride, student
pumpkin (chaperones receive a small pumpkin or gourd), visit to
one of our mazes, student activity/coloring book, class
pumpkin chosen by the teacher and farm goodie box (corn ears,
gourds and more). Our 2006 prices are $6.00 for students and
chaperones. Teachers are always free!
When you
are ready to book your visit or have questions about our farm
you will leave a message for Jane on our voicemail at (302)
477-1499 - mailbox 1 or contact her via the Email form below.
She will get back to you to schedule your specific tour date
and time.
Teachers
should remind parents to dress children appropriately (sturdy
shoes or boots are suggested, jeans or long pants, hats and
gloves depending on temperature, coats, etc.
Students
may get dirty.
Arrival at the farm
Someone
from the farm (usually Yogi) will greet your bus and provide a
run down about the activities for the day and farm rules. Each
class will receive at least one Activity Rotation Card. Your
activity card indicates what order your group will do the
following: hayride, pick pumpkins, visit the maze, and have
lunch if applicable. After each activity, your group
should visit the central greeting area to receive instructions
about their next activity.
Farm Rules:
Please walk at all times!
An adult should always lead the group!
Payment
Payment is
expected at the time of your visit. A good time to make
payment is when you first arrive. If you school requires an
invoice before they will issue a check, please discuss this
with Jane at the time of your booking. Receipts will be
available on the farm. Checks should be made payable to
Ramsey’s Farm. We also accept cash.
Hayride
Our
educational hayride typically lasts about 30 minutes. Your
hayride will be narrated by either Farmer Stewart or his
sister, Jane. We discuss different crops that we grow on our
farm and go into detail about the pumpkin growth cycle. We
also go into detail about how the
weather affects the farmer and other living organisms on the
farm. The importance of seeds to the farmer is discussed.
Students and adults are encouraged to ask questions while at
the farm, particularly during the hayride. We try to evaluate
and make our hayride age appropriate,
please feel free to remind us your class’s grade level when
boarding the wagon.
Pumpkin Picking (about 20 to 30
minutes)
Prior to
picking pumpkins, students will receive a Ramsey’s Farm bag to
put their name on. Students and chaperones will then go into
our field and choose their pumpkin. Their special pumpkin
should fit inside the Ramsey’s Farm bag provided.
Once
everyone has selected their pumpkin as a group, you will then
proceed to the pumpkin corral marked with your school name. It
is near the fence above the parking lot. The pumpkin corral is
a safe place to put your pumpkins that keeps them organized by
school.
Maze: Straw Bale Maze, Sorghum,
half the Corn Maze, or the full Corn Maze. (20-to-60 minutes)
The farm
offers several mazes for different age groups. Our youngest
visitors (4 years and younger) typically enjoy our straw bale
maze. Our next most challenging maze is our sorghum maze,
recommended for four to six year olds. Our corn field maze is
the largest and the most difficult of our mazes. We have
divided our corn maze in half to allow groups with time
constraints to enjoy it.
The farm will provide three levels of trivia to help navigate the corn
maze (kindergarten, first and second grades). You may also
develop your own custom trivia using the template we provide.
Customizing your trivia can make
your maze experience even more exciting to your students. Your
custom trivia questions will need to include 4 multiple choice
answers with only one correct answer. Our template will be
available by about September 1st and will indicate
which slot (A,B,C,or D) the correct answer must go in.
 
Students are reminded to walk and please do not throw things in
the maze!
Lunch or Snack
Groups are
welcome to enjoy lunch/snack at the farm. 
We ask that you notify Jane at the time of booking of your
plans to have lunch/ snack at the farm.
Please be courteous and leave our farm as clean as when you
arrived. Farmer Stewart is passionate about litter control.
Several trash cans are provided to keep litter in its place!
Departing
When
departing our farm please be sure to have children walk to the
buses. Also be sure that children have gathered all of their
belongings. Your activity/coloring books and goody boxes for
teachers will be given to the bus drivers if the buses stay at
the farm. If your bus leaves the farm during your visit,
please be sure to see someone in charge so that your group
doesn’t leave without the activity books and goody box that has
been gathered for your group. In the goody box, teachers will
receive different crops that are grown on our farm and
discussed while you are visiting our farm. Your box will
include things such as: feed corn from our corn maze, popcorn,
gourds, sorghum and different types of seeds.
Please be
sure to fill out the teacher survey and return it to us. We do
appreciate your input and we strive to make your visit as
enjoyable and educational as possible. We use the information
from our surveys to improve our programs each year.
Note from Farmer Stewart
We work
throughout the year to improve your experience at Ramsey's
Farm. We always welcome your feedback and suggestions in any
form you wish to give them. I hope your group can visit our
farm this fall and participate in all it has to offer.
Warm Regards
Stewart Ramsey
(Farmer Stewart)
Email –
farmerstewart@ramseysfarm.com
Or
Ramsey's
Farm
P.O. Box
7560
Wilmington,
DE 19803
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