Student Field Trips

Field trips are offered to Monday through Friday and begin at 9:00am. All of the programs are available for children age three and up.

Programming is designed to:

• Educate students about local natural history and agriculture
• Inspire students to become active stewards of land and resources
• Connect students to forests, fields, livestock and land
• Facilitate a meaningful hands-on experience
• Create a positive experience emphasizing fun and learning
• Integrate State of Maine science and social studies standards.

There is a $5.00 fee per student. Teachers are admitted free.  One adult chaperone is admitted free with every 5 students, additional adults cost $5.00.

In addition to the field trips listed below, we can custom design a program based on your curriculum. There are lots of things to do at Pineland Farms throughout the year. Programs we have designed for groups include cow reproduction, farm tools, tree identification, agricultural careers, and farm field days. We also offer recreation programs including: orienteering (fourth grade and up), cross-country skiing, and snowshoeing. For more information, please contact us. Visit the directions page to find the Valley Farm Education Center.

Pineland Farms' field trips are offered year round, Monday through Friday and last for two hours. Each program is modified for the age of your group. All trips meet at the Valley Farm Smokehouse. Field trip experiences may vary due the nature of a working farm. All field trips will take place rain or shine. We will cancel during thunderstorms and school snow days. If you need to cancel your trip, please give a one week notice. If you cancel after this time you will be billed for the cost of your trip.

To register email mscheuchzer@pinelandfarms.org or call (207) 688-4800 ext. 15. Upon registration, you will receive a pre-trip packet containing field trip goals, activities for you to do with your class, a list of what your students will need to bring, and our farm etiquette rules.

On the Farm

From Moo to You
Have you ever wondered how milk gets to your table? Join us for a hands-on journey in our working dairy barns. We will interact with our Holsteins, play games and explore the barns to discover all that it takes to bring milk to your table.

Cool Chickens
Join us for a hands-on look at poultry farming. By interacting with our flock of organic hens, we will take a look at how eggs get to your table. We will collect eggs, dissect an egg, see what a chick needs to grow, and learn all about these birds. Let's head to the barn and see why chickens are cool.

From Farm to Table (third grade & up)
Join us as we explore where our food comes from. We will head to the farm to explore what our animals need to survive and why we raise them on the farm. We will investigate the products our animals produce and visit the garden to see and try fresh fruits and vegetables (seasonal). We will explore sustainable agriculture, the economics of farming and buying local. This hands-on trip will give you a better appreciation of all the work that goes into getting food from the farm to your table.

Woolen Wonders
Let's explore the world of sheep and fiber. In our sheep barns you will discover what sheep farming is all about; from how to take care of sheep to learning the unique characteristics of wool. We will take a hands-on look at the steps that go into making a hat, a pair of mittens, a blanket or a scarf. All students will have the opportunity to card and spin wool.

Farmyard Explorations
Explore our farmyard from Memorial Day to Columbus Day. You will get an up-close, hands-on experience and interact with our farmyard animals. We will learn why we have these animals on the farm, what they eat and how to take care of them. We will collect eggs, feed some of our farmyard friends and get a chance to explore our garden.

In the Fields, Forests & Ponds

From Seed to Harvest
We need fruits and vegetables to grow up healthy and strong. Come see how we grow them on our farm. Each passing season brings a new stage to gardening. We are excited for you to get your hands dirty and learn as we plant, weed or harvest our crop. Through games and a variety of activities we will learn what seeds need to grow, the parts of a seed, and take a look at the life cycle of a plant. Each student will chose a plant to grow from seed in their own garden.

Scat, Tracks & Animal Signs
Come discover Pineland Farms' wildlife. Children will explore our fields and forests in search of animals' homes, tracks, and signs of animal activity. We will learn what animals need to survive and how to identify what animals call Pineland Farms home through what they leave behind.

Winter Wonderland
Join us as we hike through Pineland Farms' fields and forests in search of animal signs. We will take a look at how animals and plants survive and adapt to Maine winters. Through games, observations, and hands-on activities, we will find out all that it takes to survive outside in winter

Pond Life
Join us at the pond to discover how animals and plants have adapted to life in the pond ecosystem. Through hands-on exploration with nets, cups, and buckets, we will catch, release and identify pond organisms.