Week-Day School Tours

ChiIdren's Tours and Activities

One of our favorite offerings involves our children's programs. We look forward to families and children's visits because we know there is little opportunity for many children to see how their food is grown. Four generations of Cleveland area school children have come to Patterson's to learn how the wonder of nature and the science of agriculture combine to produce the nutritious and delicious fruit we love so much.

The Patterson family is pleased to share their love of the land and welcome you to beautiful Geauga County for an educational class visit. We also encourage teachers and educators, prior to your visit, to go to the US Apple Association for educational material and interesting children links. Another useful site to visit is OhioApples.org.
 
As our own children grew up, they had the advantage of the wide open spaces and woods in which to create their own adventures. We have tried to recreate some of the fun activities our own children enjoyed for YOUR children. We call this our Family Fun Fest. Classes can enjoy this area as well as individual families. We reserve weekday mornings and early afternoons for school groups.    

Educational Visits for Kindergarten, First and Second Graders

Farm Market and Orchard Visits: At our 11414 Caves Road location these tours are specifically and carefully scheduled on week-days in September and October.  This indoor/outdoor walking trip includes an apple to eat and a drink of cider. They visit an orchard and the farm market where they watch apples being washed, sorted and sold.
 
   Cost: $3.00 per person (children and adults with no charge for teachers and teacher  
   aides)
        
   Length of Visit: 45 minutes
    
   Maximum Number: 30 people per tour guide; 2 guides available at the same time.
 
Scheduling Requirements: While arrangements can be made at any time, we get the most calls during August and early September for scheduling. It is best to schedule via email: connie@pattersonfarm.com. We send a confirmation that acknowledges cost, times and date along with specific directions for the drivers once you have confirmed your arrangements with us.
  
Weather Information: Usually tour groups are expected regardless of weather and we do our best to make this as fun as possible. It is mandatory to call 440-729-9809 as early in the day of a tour as possible if there are concerns about weather.  Do NOT cancel your tour before you have talked with us.
  
Connecting Your Tour With a Visit To Our Family Fun Fest At 8765 Mulberry Rd: Often groups attend the fest for physical activity "on the farm", for lunch, a short wagon ride and further appreciation of "a farm".  These locations are 1 ½ miles apart and you use your transportation to change locations.
 
           Added Cost: $3.00 per person
           Added Length of Stay: As long as you like but at least 1½  hours
 

                                     Visits for Preschool Groups

Family Fun Fest Area: At 8765 Mulberry Road this area provides safe, creative physical activity on our farm directly beside one of our orchards.  An apple is included via our apple-on-a-string activity.  This area is open from mid-September through October.
 
       Cost: $3.00 per person (children and adults with no charge for teachers and
       teacher aides.
          
       Length of Visit: There is no structured schedule and you can stay as long as
       you like.  You can bring a snack or lunch.
        
       Maximum Number: We expect that you will have adult supervision at a ratio of
       at most 3 students per adult.
  
Scheduling Requirements: While several schools may be in attendance at the same time as your group, we limit the total number at any given time. In order to get the day you prefer, it is good to call in August or early September. It is best to schedule via email: connie@pattersonfarm.com. We send a confirmation that acknowledges cost, times and date along with specific directions for the drivers once you have confirmed your arrangements with us.
  
Connecting Your Visit With an Orchard Walk: Specifically designed to the level of your group's age, this is a great introduction to where apples are grown, the seasons of the year, how an apple gets its food and how apples taste (an apple and a drink of cider are included). The orchard is a very short walk from the Fest area.
  
               Added cost: $1.00 per person
               Added length of stay: ½ hour
  
Recommended age: While the Fest is geared toward 2 – 5 year old preschoolers and elementary children, the orchard walk is best suited for 4's and 5's.

Special Tours for Special Folks
8765 Mulberry Location

We welcome groups who have older children, teens or adults who require wheelchair, special care or simpler explanations of our farm because of shorter attention spans and special needs.

You will have a guide to lead you to your own pavilion where you can have lunch (if you bring it) and stay as long as you like.  The guide will take you on a 20 minute wagon ride around the orchards where you can pick apples if you would like (95 cents a pound) or one 10 pound bag for $9.50). You can select pumpkins or visit the apple barn for fall decorations. Cost is $3.00 a person (no cost for staff) with a minimum of $50.00.  If paying by purchase order we must have the number in advance.

Cancellations must be phoned in early morning so we can cancel our tour guide and driver.

Maple Tours in March

While these tours are for groups of 25 at most, a second or third group can be added by allowing additional time.  Each group goes out to the woods to see where the maple trees have been tapped.  Hopefully they will see sap running or dripping out of the spiles into the buckets. They will learn about some history of maple syrup making as well as view the evaporator once they are inside the sugarhouse. Finally they will have mini pancakes as a way of sampling real maple syrup.  While we never know if we will be making syrup, we try our best to help the children understand the process.  Must be dressed for outdoor ride on wagon to the woods. 

         Cost: $4.00 per person (no charge for teacher or staff); minimum $60.00.
         Location: 8765 Mulberry Rd sugarhouse
         Time: Minimum of 45 minutes per group of 25

Strawberry Picking Time

Summer children's groups can schedule a time to come to the pick your own strawberries fields at 8765 Mulberry Rd. The children board a wagon to travel around the farm making stops at the apple trees to see the progress of the little apples, at the maple trees to see how different those trees are that produce maple syrup, at the barn to see where the horses live, at the pond to note how important water is to farming and finally to the strawberry fields where they learn to pick strawberries and actually pick a large cup of strawberries. Back at a pavilion they can have lunch, play or simply relax a bit.

         Cost: $4.00 per person who picks strawberries; minimum $60.00.
         Time: 45 minutes per group of 25.

Click here for School Tour Form

To schedule your class call or e-mail Connie
Phone  440-223-4159  e-mail  connie@pattersonfarm.com@pattersonfarm.com

Copyright 2010 Patterson Fruit Farm