A limited number of field trip opportunities are available for the 2021 – 2022 school year. Complete the inquiry form below if you are interested in bringing your students to our campus!
|
program |
description |
season |
time |
cost per student |
|
Seasonal Farm Tour preK – 8th |
Come join us for a farm tour and witness the exciting changes that happen each season. Students can meet the goats and sheep, spend time in the chicken yard and try different foods from the garden.
In the fall, we are harvesting the garden and preparing for winter. Springtime brings seedlings and the addition of new chicks and life on the farm. Classes are encouraged to visit both in the fall and the spring in order to fully appreciate the seasonal changes on the farm. |
fall and spring
|
60 minutes for PreK and K 90 minutes for 1st – 8th |
$10 per child |
|
Harvest Pizza K – 8th
|
Students will trace the path of pizza from the local farm to our dinner table and the important role of sun, soil, water and air in everything that we eat.
Each student will make an individual pizza from scratch and top it with fresh veggies and herbs from the garden. Fall is harvest time and students will also participate in harvesting vegetables, taste testing seasonal foods and visiting the animal yards. In winter, we can visit our greenhouses to harvest some cold weather crops like spinach and other greens! **This program is not offered for the 21 – 22 school year** |
fall and winter |
2 hours |
$10 per child |
|
Eggs, Chicks and Chickens
|
Students will learn about the journey from egg to chick to chicken through observation, demonstration and hands-on investigation. They will spend time observing and interacting with the chickens in the yard, see where the hens lay their eggs, meet a baby chick, and examine the parts of an egg. |
spring only |
60 minutes for PreK and K 90 minutes for 1st – 3rd |
$10 per child |
|
Maple Sugaring grades K – 8th
|
New England forests are rich with natural resources, the sweetest of which is maple syrup!
Students will identify a maple tree, collect and measure sap, investigate the tools we use to tap trees, and learn how we boil the sap down into thick sweet syrup. Students will also learn the history of sugaring in New England, the biology of maple trees and taste test different kinds of syrup. |
March only |
90 minutes |
$10 per child |
|
Sheep and Wool preK – 3rd
|
Students will participate in activities that demonstrate the sheep to sweater process. They will meet the sheep, compare the textures of several varieties of wool, learn the history and process of shearing sheep and experience wool spinning. Each student will comb and finger-spin wool and create yarn to take home. |
late fall and winter |
60 minutes for PreK and K 90 minutes for 1st – 3rd |
$10 per child |
|
Campfire Cooking 3rd – 8th
|
Enjoy the cooler air of fall and winter as we take a short hike through the woods, ending at our campfire circle. Students will learn about tinder and kindling as we gather materials to make a fire together, followed by wrapping dough around sticks to make roasted bannock bread to eat!
This warm and social program is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate as a class and to build group spirit and teamwork among your students. |
fall and winter |
90 minutes |
$10 per child |
|
Wetland Exploration K – 8th |
Tadpoles, frogs, newts, turtles, aquatic insects, and more all find a home in our campus wetland! Students will learn about wetland habitats and their importance in the ecosystem and will use nets and other tools to catch, identify, and observe many kinds of wildlife! | fall and spring |
60 minutes for PreK and K 90 minutes for 1st – 8th |
$10 per child
|
|
Nature Playdate preK – 2nd |
Time to play and explore in nature is essential for young children. Treat your class to a playdate at Common Ground! Imaginative, open ended play is the focus in each of three nature play areas:
|
fall and spring |
90 minutes |
$10 per child |
|
Hike: Team Building
|
Hikes offer a unique opportunity for students to interact with each other in a dynamic setting. While learning about the interconnectedness of the ecosystems of West Rock, students will participate in team building games and challenges that mimic these naturally connected systems.
This is a great option as a class reward, or a way to build group cohesion and cooperation. |
fall and spring
|
2 hours |
$10 per child |
|
Hike: West Rock Adventure |
The diversity of wildlife and unique habitats found in West Rock Park offer many opportunities for urban ecological study. Students will hike through a variety of wildlife habitats including forest, meadow and aquatic habitats while learning about native species and how their needs are met in an urban forest.
The specific trail we take can be tailored to meet the needs of your students, from mostly flat and great for inexperienced hikers to bigger challenges for energetic groups! |
fall, winter, spring
|
60 minutes for PreK and K 90 minutes for 1st – 8th |
$10 per child |