Johnson's Orchards
School Tours Information
We are happy that you can take your class trip to our apple orchard. The following tips will help your tour go smoothly and will stretch the value of the time you spend "in the field". The tips come from our experience in hosting tours, and by teachers who have taken their classes to the orchards many times. If this is your first trip, we would be happy for you to visit the orchard on your own before you bring the whole class. Introduce yourself, pick up relevant information, and try to watch another class having the tour if possible.
WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO SEE?
A working fruit orchard where apples are raised for distribution and sale, both retail and wholesale.
WHAT DO YOU NEED TO DO BEFORE GOING?
Make sure you have a confirmed reservation, have completed your identification-fee paperwork, and have your travel route time firmly established so you may arrive at your scheduled time. Prepare your class and yourself for inclement weather and field conditions. We are prepared to continue tours despite weather conditions. Orchards and pasture fields are often located on hillsides and have cool breezes and wet morning grasses. Advise use of "older shoes". Don't forget bee kits if you have students who are allergic.
Since we give each child their own bag to pick apples and it is "special" to have "their apples", we advise making a label with each child's name that can be stuck onto the bag. It saves time over the magic marker method after arrival. We provide a cardboard container for storing the bags onto the buses.
Plan your time. A complete orchard tour is approximately one hour and thirty minutes. Allow time for the inevitable bathroom breaks and lunch arrangements. Although we have facilities for hand-washing it is convenient for you to bring handi-wipes or a similar product.
WHAT DO YOU DO WHEN YOU ARRIVE?
Park in area designated for you by sign or parking attendant. Remain on buses until greeted by tour guide or host. Assist in dividing groups into fairly equal numbers so they may be sent to learning stations quickly. Advise of any special needs of children or time constraints at this time. Have a designated person or persons give the identification-fee paper to attendant in retail sales area and collect materials for students and teachers.
PLEASE REMEMBER!!
An apple orchard is a busy place! While we, as your orchard hosts, have made a commitment to teaching children about apples, this is not our primary job. Please be active in control of your class and careful in the selection of your chaperones. Orchards and farms are full of equipment and workers who are rushing to get the crop harvested and shipped. To assure your safety and quality of experience, we have planned our presentation within this busy context. There may be other schools or classes nearby who are in a different part of their tour. Please help your students to experience the beauty of the farm and orchard and to recognize that it is not a playground.
WANT TO SEE PICTURES FROM PAST SCHOOL TOURS?
Click on the Apple Basket!
Web Page Designed By:
