An excellent field trip for elementary school children. The Children’s Farm offers a wonderful opportunity for children to experience a real working farm. They see first-hand all the different types of farm animals, how they live, what they eat, how they feel and sound. They learn why all the different animals are raised, how the farm produces its own food, and how that food is harvested and stored.
The Children’s Farm truly is a real working farm where chickens lay eggs, sheep grow wool, goats give milk, and horses eat hay harvested right from our fields.
As the greater Chicago Metropolitan Area expands in all directions, The Children’s Farm offers a unique opportunity for young people to experience a part of our Illinois heritage and history.
Group Tour Information
Your trip to The Children’s Farm will begin with a guided tour through our barns. You will be invited into each animal pen where children will be encouraged to have hands on interaction with our “farm friends.”
The Children’s Farm offers a unique educational opportunity for school groups, churches, or birthday parties to experience a real working farm. Children are given the chance to touch and see various farm animals while being educated on how they feel and sound, as well as what they eat and how they live. Children will also learn about each animal’s role on the farm and the overall importance of farming in our society.
Following the farm tour, groups have the option to participate in a hayride around our farm, weather and work permitting. Though the Children’s Farm is a rural working farm, we have modern and clean facilities including rest rooms, a drinking fountain, and a picnic pavilion for shared use. If your group chooses, you can enjoy a picnic style lunch overlooking our beautiful pond.
The farm tour is approximately one hour in length and can be scheduled for various times slots throughout the day.
New Tour Options Available!
Count Your Chickens – 1 Hour Program for Grades 1st-4th
This program begins with an introduction to the farm, moves up to the chicken coop for hands-on experience with our chickens, collecting eggs, and learning to identify parts of a chicken. Afterwards, the group heads down to the inside classroom to learn about embryology, egg inspection, and egg sales.
Straight from The Horse’s Mouth – 1 Hour Program for Grades 2nd-5th
This program begins with an introduction to the barn, moves up to the arena (indoor or outdoor) where we will talk about caring for horses and get the opportunity to brush them. The group will then move to the corral where we will discuss herd behavior.
New tour options have limited availability. Please contact Tara Garcia to discuss booking one of our new tour options.
Group Tour Times by Reservation Only
Due to COVID-19, The Children’s Farm is adhering to state recommendations regarding social distancing and face coverings. We have also increased our facilities sanitation to minimize the risk of exposure.
FALL 2020 Tour Offerings
- Reservation days available are Tuesday and Thursday
- Reservation times available are 10:00am & 11:30am
- 1-day advanced reservation required
- Online registration and payment HERE!
Let us expand Your Nature!
Questions? Contact Tara Garcia.
What will I see when I come to the farm?
The natural life cycle of our crops and animals, allows us to offer seasonal opportunities for your consideration.
OCTOBER is a fun filled fall experience here at the farm! In addition to the guided farm tour, group tours during October are treated to a complimentary hayride, weather permitting, to our pick-your-own pumpkin patch. Here, each child may select a pumpkin to take home. October pricing applies.
In October, the pick-your-own pumpkin patch and the farm are open extended hours, Thursdays – Sundays from 10:00 am – 4:00 pm. No reservations needed. The pumpkin patch requires no admission fee however to enter the barn, visit with the animals and access the children’s attractions (Haunted Hay Tent & Spooky Woodshed) there is an $8 per person fee for all guests ages 2 and up.
DECEMBER trips to the farm are live nativity reenactments. Students are dressed as shepherds, wise men, angels, Mary and Joseph and portray the first nativity. Mary rides the donkey to the manger, the angels bring in baby Jesus, and the shepherds bring sheep, goats, and chickens to “Bethlehem.” We ask that parents and chaperones attend, creating an audience for the participants. We supply all animals and costumes, you supply the children!
SPRINGTIME is an exciting time at the farm with the arrival of new baby animals. Tour groups will get to interact with chicks, ducklings, goslings, piglets, calves, goat kids, and lambs. Since many of our babies are born on site, you may be lucky enough to see something being born right before your eyes. Spring tour season runs April through May.
