I am looking to take my kids to a local or somewhat local farm this summer. I would like them to learn about how a farm operates and what farmers do. Any ideas of farms that offer tours? Any home school Moms out there that have done something like this for a field trip? Also, any other ideas of local field trips I can take my kids on for some fun summer educational experiences? I am thinking fire and police station too. Thanks in advance for your time!
Angelic Organics Community Supported Farm in Caldonia, IL has some interesting activities sponsored by their learning center. The name and location should be enough for you to find their website.
Good luck and have a great summer!
A.
Children's Farm at the Center, Palos Park is excellent hands on.
I'm echoing Joy -- I was going to say Kline Creek farm in Wheaton and Fair Oaks in Indiana. Fair Oaks is fascinating -- it was featured on the Discovery Channel's "Dirtiest Jobs" show. It isn't hands on -- you're on a mini tour bus driving around the property, and you are behind glass and well away from the animals when you are in the dairy buildings, but they have a wonderful, informative tour, and good ice cream too! Also, they are a real, working, big business. You are almost guaranteed to see a calf being born if you want to because they have so many animals there that 4-5 calfs are born every day and there are "stoplights" around the farm that tell you (red, yellow, green) when to go to the birthing barn to watch the magic. My kids loved it there -- worth the drive. Kline Creek has good programs too, our school has the 1st graders go there for a field trip each year. They do different seasonal activities and have a good house tour as well. Have you been to Naper Settlement in Naperville? Not really a farm, but lots of interesting historical stuff that's geared toward kids. Enjoy!
My kids had a field trip at Heritage Farm in Schaumburg, Il. I chaperoned and we all enjoyed our visit. http://www.parkfun.com/spring-valley
There's also a farm called Klien Farm in Wheaton that's supposed to be fun, yet educational and it's closer to Romeoville. (I want to take my kids there this summer.) http://www.dupageforest.com/page.aspx?id=228
We stopped at a farm about 2 or 3 hrs. away while traveling through Indiana that was a lot of fun. (I know you mentioned IL or WI, but I thought I'd share it even though it not one of those states.) It's called Fair Oaks Farm. Here's their website. http://fofarms.com/en/home#Scene_1
Sometimes I just google "fun things to do with kids in Chicago" and I will get a lot of ideas. Metromix is a good site. Oaklees guide is another good site and so is kidwinks.
Enjoy your summer and I hope this helps.
