We offer a one- to two-hour outdoor educational program to pre-K through 12th grade students, college students, and adults that includes a tour of the farm, a discovery activity, food sampling, and an age-appropriate work project.  The Education Coordinator will tailor the visit according to each group’s goals, interests, and time frame. Possible focus topics include:

• Observation activity
• Exploring soil and compost
• Planting and transplanting
• Learning about bees, bugs, and worms
• Understanding food sources
• Understanding food deserts
• Investigating ecosystems
• Sustaining our environment
• Learning to love vegetables
• How to become an urban farmer

If you would like to schedule a visit, please complete the Field Trip Application form.  Please note that all youth visitors must have their parent or guardian complete a waiver before they arrive on the farm.

Group Size

Maximum group size is 25 students.  Larger groups should contact the Education Coordinator at rffeducation@civicworks.com to make special arrangements.

Chaperones

• For PK-5th grade, there should be a minimum of one and no more than two adults for every five students.
• For 6th – 12th grade, there should be a minimum of one and no more than two adults for every ten students.

Adults include teachers, administrators, parents, and teacher aides.

What to wear/bring

A Real Food Farm field trip is an outdoor experience, rain or shine (except during severe weather such as lightning or heat advisories, in which case we will relocate into indoor spaces when possible until the conditions are safe).  Visitors should dress appropriately for the weather and wear sturdy shoes for walking in grass and dirt paths.  Visitors are encouraged to bring reusable water bottles, sunscreen, and bug spray with them.  All visitors must sign a waiver before their visit – minors require a parent/guardian’s signature.

Scheduling procedures

Field trips are generally available 9:30 – 11:30 a.m. and 1:00 – 3:00 p.m. on weekdays. If you have special scheduling requests let us know and we may be able to make adjustments.

Prices

• Groups from schools with a Real Food Farm Education Package agreement – no fee
• Groups from other Baltimore City Public Schools, non-profit organizations, or public colleges – $50 flat fee per 25 participants
• Groups from private, parochial, independent, home schools and colleges- $100 flat fee per 25 participants

Checks should be received in advance, made payable to Civic Works, Inc. attn. Real Food Farm, 2701 St. Lo Dr., Baltimore, MD, 21213.  Fees are fully refundable if trip is cancelled by Real Food Farm and in cases of extreme weather and/or emergency school closing.  50% will be refunded if the trip is cancelled by the school.

Getting to the farm

We are located on the Historic Lake Clifton High School Campus, 2801 St. Lo Drive, Baltimore, MD 21213.  Visitors can park in the lot next to the three hoophouses at the front of the farm. Please visit our website at www.realfoodfarm.org/directions/ for driving directions.

Rain or Shine Policy

Here at Real Food Farm we like to get our hands in the dirt come rain or shine, and we’re ready for field trips in almost any weather. On a recent field trip a group of first graders from F.L. Templeton Preparatory Academy, who were troopers throughout the gloomy, rainy morning, helped sift through our live worm compost, and picked and tasted some delicious turnips at the end of the trip. We expect groups to arrive prepared for the weather, but also have sheltered places on the farm where we can do activities and stay protected.

Follow-up

After your visit, group leaders will be asked to complete a short online survey to provide feedback to Real Food Farm staff.  We can also provide materials (reflection questions, readings, or learning evaluations) that connect with the farm-based activity for leaders to use with their group after the visit.

Student Safety

Urban soils can contain pollutants related to the land’s former use. We are continually testing for soil contamination and will keep students safe by containing farm visitors in the safest spaces. Please contact us with your questions or concerns.

All of the above information, plus the waiver forms, can be found in the following documents:

Field Trip Packet for K-12 schools

Field Trip Packet for Colleges

Waiver forms for education activities (also included in packets)