Arcadia Farm Field Trips
Hands-on educational experiences for 2nd, 3rd & 4th grade students to explore the farm-to-table process!
Arcadia Center for Sustainable Food & Agriculture has a sustainable farm located at Woodlawn, a National Trust Historic Site in Alexandria, VA. The D.C. Farm to School Network hosts Arcadia Farm field trips for DC and VA schools, which are designed to connect second, third and fourth grade students with where food comes from while meeting age-appropriate curriculum standards.
Download a pdf overview of our field trips for Washington, DC schools HERE and for Virginia schools HERE.
Our spring field trip schedule is FULL, but please email Katherine at katherine[at]dcfarmtoschool[dot]org to get on the list for the fall!
What’s a field trip schedule like?
A field trip to Arcadia Farm begins at 10:30am with a scavenger hunt, where students familiarize themselves with the farm through sensory observation. Students then become farmers, rotating through a series of interactive stations where they explore such topics as edible plant parts, plant life cycles, natural systems, crop rotation, seasonality and pest control. Skills students will practice include measuring, adding/subtracting, active observation, critical thinking, making predictions, written/oral presentation and cooperative learning. Students then harvest produce from the farm for Arcadia’s salad bar, and students make healthy salads to eat with their lunches.
What will students learn on the farm?
After a farm field trip, second, third and fourth grade students will be able to make the connection that healthy, fresh food comes from the earth, and will understand the process of growing food sustainably. Students will be familiar with and recognize fruits and vegetables that grow near Washington, DC, so that they will be more likely to eat those healthy foods when they see them in the cafeteria or at home.
To learn more about how Arcadia Farm field trips meet 2nd, 3rd & 4th grade learning standards, click HERE for DC standards and HERE for VA standards.
When do field trips take place?
Arcadia Farm field trips in spring 2012 will take place on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10:30 am to 1:30 pm beginning Tuesday, April 9th through Thursday, June 14th, 2012. Weather cancellations will be rescheduled for Fridays during the season.
How much do field trips cost?
In order to cover the cost of staff, materials and upkeep on the farm, some schools will be charged a small fee for field trips on the farm. Field trip fees are calculated according to the percentage of students eligible for Free or Reduced Price (FRP) Meals at your school:
75-100% eligible for FRP meals = no cost for students
50-74% eligible for FRP meals = $1/student
25-49% eligible for FRP meals = $2/student
0-24% eligible for FRP meals = $3/student
Every participating school must mail in a $50 deposit upon registration, which will be returned once a field trip is completed or put towards the field trip fee. The deposit can not be returned if a school cancels during the two weeks prior to a scheduled field trip, unless we cancel due to inclement weather. Payment of the field trip fee is due in full on the date of the field trip. The fee increases $5 per day for each day it is late. Schools must pay for their own transportation to and from the farm, but a limited number of transportation scholarships are available for qualifying Washington, DC schools.
Download our full payment and cancellation policy HERE.
What are the requirements for participating schools?
- Have a school point person fill out an online registration form for 2nd, 3rd and/or 4th grade groups interested to come to the farm – contact Katherine@dcfarmtoschool.org for the link
- Mail in field trip contract and $50 check for a deposit
- Arrange for bus transportation to and from Arcadia Farm (transportation scholarships are available for qualifying DC schools)
- Have parent/guardian for all participating students sign Arcadia health/photo release
- Work with our field trip team to discuss logistics and customize trip
- Provide the appropriate number of chaperones – at least one teacher or chaperone per 10 children, with a maximum number of 5 adults per field trip
- Have students bring bagged lunches or arrange for to-go school meals
- Have students fill out pre-test prior to field trip
- Have students and teacher fill out post-test after field trip
Where can I find more information?
For more information, and to register for a farm field trip, please contact Katherine@dcfarmtoschool.org. Registration is open until March 30, 2012. After you fill out the online registration form, we will contact you to confirm the date and logistics of the field trip, discuss specific curriculum connections, and tailor the trip to your specific needs. To see more pictures or read stories about past field trips, visit Arcadia’s blog or Flickr page.
We hope to see you out at Arcadia Farm soon!
