Activities : School Field Trips

Trip Guidelines

Thanks for your interest in Donnell Century Farm field trips & educational tours.

Our field trip is a living laboratory where learning is acquired. Your students will have fun as they learn about their rural heritage. They will experience plant and soil science around our restored mule barn built in the 1920's.

We have prepared the following guidelines which will help to ensure a great field trip. Some of the ideas where developed by Eleanor Shutak, Wheaton Woods E.S. © Montgomery County Public Schools, Rockville, Maryland, 1996.

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Please:

  • Buses Make sure all drivers have complete directions and map as well as the phone number (mobile 731-695-2523).Signs mark our turn around and parking areas.
  • Contact our farm a few days ahead with names - email addresses of teachers and number of students and adults attending.
    • Name tags are optional.
    • They help us personalize your students learning experience. The day before the trip, establish a production line to create name tags for the students. This is a great way to squeeze in some economics. Within an hour your class will have the best name tags available. A simple name tag is great. For younger students each class could use same color animal cut outs ex. cow - red, goat - green, chicken - orange
  • Arrive 15 minutes prior to tour for check-in and welcome. Sign-in, pay fees.
  • Have one teacher designated to collect fees from adults. $5/person.
    Free admission for 1 teacher and 1 aide only per class.
    • Pickup receipt for payment.
    • Tours Begin:
      9:00 - 11:00 School packed lunch after tour
      11:00 - 1:00 School packed lunch before tour
    • Lunch You may picnic underneath our large oak trees or choose to eat in the hay loft. Teachers and parents should bring sheets, blankets or quilts for the picnic area. Please have your students keep the area free of trash and food which might attract unwanted critters.
  • Restroom facilities We do have restroom facilities however, time can be saved when students make a restroom stop immediately before boarding the bus.
  • Safety For your safety and in respect for our farm, please do not allow children to climb fences, machinery, or trees, or run on the grounds. Everyone must wash hands after visiting our animals.
  • Participation Prepare students to respectfully participate in the hands-on program and make comments or ask questions when appropriate. Our program is designed for Pre-K thru 8. Lessons and tours are prepared for grade levels.
  • Dress Remind students to dress appropriately for the weather. Longer pants help protect tender legs. Sometimes classes find it fun to wear white t-shirts and a bandana or western gear.
  • Photography Cameras are welcomed. Let your farm guide know if you would like to pose for a class picture. Please email your photos for our website photo gallery. Families enjoy seeing their child making memories down on the farm.
  • Feedback Please have your children illustrate and write about their field trip experience; what they learned, what they enjoyed, what they saw, heard or touched. All the illustrations we have received are cherished.
  • Testimonials We appreciate testimonials from students and teachers. We would like to include some of these on our website.
  • Suggestions It is our mission to provide a learning experience that helps teachers achieve curriculum standards. Please help us with suggestions on talking points that teach your objectives. We welcome your input:
    • Strengths
    • Weaknesses
    • Suggestions for improvement
  • Running Behind Schedule?
    Contact our farm as soon as possible if your group is running late.

If you have any other questions, then please contact us:
email: roseanndonnell@gmail.com
phone: (731) 424-4526
mobile (731) 695-2523

Field Trip Pictures