School Field Trips

Let your students experience the wonders of nature first‐hand! Fernbrook Farms Education Center offers field trips with a variety of subjects and layouts to fit your individual needs. Field trips are organized so that students are broken up into small groups. Each group then rotates to themed Investigation Stations around the farm where a professional Environmental Educator guides them through activities. Field trips are limited to 60 students per field trip day in order to provide them with the most interactive and hands‐on experience possible. If you are interested in booking a Field Trip to Fernbrook Farms Education Center, or would like more information, please contact Jennifer Totora at or 609‐298‐4028.

Unit of Study Programs

During our Unit of Study Programs, a Fernbrook Farms instructor comes to your school to teach 2 classes to your group, and then your school group comes to the farm to see what they learned about. After your trip, your instructor will return to your school to teach a follow‐up class to your group. This means a total of 3 days of school‐based classes, and 1 day of a Field Trip. Topics offered in the Unit of Study Program include:

Wetlands Study

Students will come away from this program with a better understanding of how everything they do to the environment impacts a much larger area than they could have guessed, from a Forest Bog all the way to the Ocean. Investigation Stations during your field trip might include: Watershed Hike, Pond Study, Meadow Study, and Creek Study.

Aligns with NJ 2009 Core Curriculum Content Standards:
Science 5.1.A, 5.1.C, 5.3.A, 5.3.B, 5.3.C, 5.3.D, 5.4.C, 5.4.G
Social Studies 6.1.B
21st‐Century Life and Careers 9.1.A, 9.1.C, 9.4.A(5)
Comprehensive Health and Physical Education 2.2.D, 2.5.A
Visual and Performing Arts 1.3.C

Forest Ecology Study

During this program, students will understand the importance of forests, both to wildlife and to humans. Investigation Stations during your field trip might include: Tree ID Hike, Soil Investigation, Forestry Techniques, and Swamp & Water‐based Forests Hike.

Aligns with NJ 2009 Core Curriculum Content Standards:
Science 5.1.A, 5.1.B, 5.1.C, 5.3.A, 5.3.B, 5.3.C, 5.3.D, 5.3.E, 5.4.C, 5.4.G
Social Studies 6.1.B, 6.3
21st‐Century Life and Careers 9.1.C, 9.4.A(2), 9.4.A(3), 9.4.A(5)
Comprehensive Health and Physical Education 2.1.A, 2.1.D, 2.2.B, 2.5.A
Visual and Performing Arts 1.3.C

Farm Study

Students learn exactly where the food they eat comes from during this program, and how farming practices could affect the surrounding environment. Investigation Stations during your field trip might include: CSA Hike, Farm Tractor Ride, Farm Animal Care, and Pond and/or Creek Study.

Aligns with NJ 2009 Core Curriculum Content Standards:
Science 5.1.A, 5.1.C, 5.3.A, 5.3.B, 5.3.C, 5.3.D, 5.3.E, 5.4.C, 5.4.G
Social Studies 6.1.B, 6.2
21st‐Century Life and Careers 9.1.A, 9.1.C, 9.4.A(2), 9.4.A(3), 9.4.A(5), 9.4.A(6)
Comprehensive Health and Physical Education 2.1.A, 2.1.B, 2.1.D, 2.2.B, 2.2.D

Adaptations Study

This program will introduce your students to the concept of genetics. Students will learn about how plant and animal adaptations make them especially capable to survive in their specific environment. Investigation Stations during your field trip might include: Farm Animal Characteristics & Selective Breeding, Ornithology (Bird) Hike, Meadow Insect & Arachnid Study, and Pond Amphibian & Macroinvertebrate Study.

Aligns with NJ 2009 Core Curriculum Content Standards:
Science 5.1.A, 5.1.C, 5.3.A, 5.3.B, 5.3.C, 5.3.D, 5.3.E, 5.4.G
Social Studies 6.3
21st‐Century Life and Careers 9.1.A, 9.1.C, 9.4.A(2), 9.4.A(3)
Comprehensive Health and Physical Education 2.1.D, 2.2.B, 2.5.A

Coming Soon: Garden Study

Students (and teachers) will learn how to better utilize their own school gardens. This program will involve activities at your school that teach subjects like Botany and Horticulture. Investigation Stations during your field trip might include: Soil Investigation, Greenhouse Investigation and/or Seed Planting, CSA Hike, and Farm Tractor Ride. This program is only for schools that have an existing school garden.

Standard Field Trips

During our standard field trips, your group of 60 students or less can choose from a wide variety of field trip themes and Investigation Stations. Each Investigation Station is typically 20‐30 minutes in length, and we also allot time for welcoming your group to the farm and having a wrap‐up at the end. Field trips typically take between 1.5 and 3 hours total depending on the size of your group, and the number of Investigation Stations selected. Your group may also choose to have a scheduled lunch time of 30‐45 minutes on the farm. Lunches must be brought to the farm, and we will provide a covered eating area.

Field Trip Themes

  • Wetlands Study
    Investigation Stations during your field trip might include: Watershed Hike, Pond Study, Meadow Study, and Creek Study.
  • Forest Ecology Study
    Investigation Stations during your field trip might include: Tree ID Hike, Soil Investigation, Forestry Techniques, and Swamp & Water‐based Forests Hike.
  • Farm Study
    Investigation Stations during your field trip might include: CSA Hike, Farm Tractor Ride, Farm Animal Care, and Pond and/or Creek Study.
  • Adaptations Study
    Investigation Stations during your field trip might include: Farm Animal Characteristics & Selective Breeding, Ornithology (Bird) Hike, Meadow Insect & Arachnid Study, and Pond Amphibian & Macroinvertebrate Study.

Additional Investigation Stations

Depending on interests, your group may wish to add:

  • Orienteering
    Students will learn how to use a compass, read maps, and navigate in unfamiliar territory.
  • Wilderness Survival
    Students will learn the basic steps to survive in various situations. This includes: How and where to build a shelter, how to build a fire, and most importantly, how to stay calm under pressure.
  • Rock the Boat: Barnyard Boogie
    One of our outreach programs, the Rock the Boat band’s fun, quirky, and original songs about the environment, nutrition, and playing outside are sure to have your students up on their feet and dancing!