What a class trip includes:

• An age-appropriate, behind-the-scenes walking tour of our working farm, including our greenhouses, orchards, and seasonal machinery
• Farm animal petting barn, provided by My Little Petting Farm (animals may vary)
• A safe, peanut-free, smoke-free environment for learning
• A memento from the farm for each child
• Spring tours will focus on planting activities on the farm, including seeds & plants in our greenhouses, as well as out in the fields.
• Fall tours focus on harvest time, with special emphasis on the pumpkin patch, apple orchard, and corn maze.
• We do not offer Summer or Winter tours at this time, but we'll let you know if that changes!

Educational content includes:

• Information correlating to current Illinois Learning Standards
• Topics relating to farm life, such as weather, technology, seasons, seeds/plants, food chains, nutrition, farm safety, Illinois geography & history, economics, problem solving, measurement, and estimation
• Tour topics may vary depending on group's grade level and interests, as well as tour guide's teachable moments encountered

Please be aware that we are a working farm, so there are no:

• Carnival rides, playgrounds, or inflatable jumpers
• Gift shops
• Paved pathways at this time
• Drinking fountains and permanent bathrooms (portable potties on site)
• Picnic or concessions facilities at this time (no gum, candy, or food allowed on farm)

We will tour rain or shine, with limited shelter in barns and sheds. The tour is conducted along gravel trails and grass, so boots or sneakers are highly recommended.

Farms can be muddy!

School Trips: Preschool - Grade 2

Tours are offered Thursdays and Fridays at 9:30 a.m., 11:00 a.m., and 1:00 p.m., in the Spring (April & May) and in the Fall (late September-October)

Tours will last approximately 1 hour.

The minimum group size is 15 students; maximum number per tour is 30 students. Tours can be done for classes smaller than 15, but will be assessed the fee for 15 students.

2 tour/class slots are available for each time (i.e. 2 classes of 30 for a total of 60 students at 9:30).

Fees: **Same prices as last year!** $6.00 per student; $4.00 per chaperone (minimum one teacher/chaperone for every 5 K-2 students, 1:4 for preschool); teachers and school staff are free of charge.

Teachers and chaperones must remain with the tour and are in charge of discipline and monitoring the whereabouts of students at all times.

Cell phone use is prohibited during the tour.

Sibling attendance for preschool tours is allowed at the school's discretion. Keller's Farmstand tour staff must be notified in advance, as it may affect the number of tour slots necessary to fit your group. Siblings aged 2 yrs. and up will be charged the $6.00 student fee. Children younger than 2 yrs. are not recommended due to the swift pace of the tour and the distance that must be traveled on the farm.

Payment must be received 2 weeks prior to tour date. Adjustments to tours and headcount must be made by 2 weeks prior to date. No refunds for cancellations made less than 1 week prior to date. No refunds issued for absent students or chaperones.

Cancellation policy: To cancel a tour, you must notify Keller's Tours at least 1 week prior to tour date. Cancellations less than 1 week in advance forfeit 50% of total balance. We reserve the right to cancel any tour if payment is not received 2 weeks prior to tour date. Tours may be cancelled by Keller's in the case of severe weather.

Keller's is not responsible for navigational errors of group drivers or chaperones. Groups arriving late for a tour will receive a shortened tour of the farm, at the tour guides' discretion.

To schedule your tour:

1. Fill out our school tour request form.
2. We will respond in a timely fashion by email. Every effort will be made to schedule your first choice of date/time, however staffing and animal availability may make it necessary to place you on a different day and/or time.
3. After confirmation of your date and time, we'll mail you an invoice and information packet.
4. Payment must be received 2 weeks before your scheduled tour.

Here's what teachers have to say:

"This was a terrific fieldtrip-- very "hands on" and engaging for the children..."
K.M., Yorkville, IL

"They (students) liked how large the farm is. They really enjoyed planting the tomato plant."
J.A., Montgomery, IL

"We loved the trips! We will be back in the fall!"
K.H., Joliet, IL

"It was a very good trip! Thanks!"
Montgomery, IL