Fall Tours in 2009

It's best to schedule early.

NEW,  REGISTER BY EMAIL.  WE'LL CONFIRM AND PHONE YOU TO ARRANGE DETAILS.

Day in the Life of a Farmer · Short_Pumpkin_Tour
Nature_Knowledge · Pilgrim_History · Registration form

Each day we are blessed with farming and we welcome the opportunity to share our experiences with our neighbors and friends by opening our farm for educational and entertaining programs.

Choose from 1 of 4 weekday tours for your group. On weekends or weekday evenings, your group can enjoy a campfire or corn maze program. Birthday parties, family groups, scouts or church groups will want to check out our weekend or evening options.  We have group packages without campfires or check out the campfire options. 

We're a working family farm with soybeans, corn, small grains, animals, greenhouses and pumpkins, located on 520 acres in Western Howard County, just 12 miles from Columbia and 7 miles north of Olney, Md. We would like your family or group to visit us this autumn.

A Day in the Life of a Farmer (Full Educational Tour) Top
(Best for 4 & up) (Available in late-Sept. to mid- November

• This deluxe tour is packed full of fun and learning! The children learn about beekeeping. See the observation beehives, learn all about our farm animals and how crops grow. They will help feed the animals, go on a scenic hayride thru the Cattail Creek, pick their own pumpkin and harvest an ear of popcorn to take home and pop. The tour includes admission into the mini corn maze. Tour is approx. 1 1/2 hours long
• Pricing: $6.50 per person  (fee includes children, parents, & teachers*)
• Weekends? Check out our group rates for campfires, group visits or the corn maze.

Short Pumpkin Tour Top
Ideal for younger children (ages 2-3) or if you don't have time for the full tour. (Available late-September to mid-November) Tour time approx. 1 hour

• During this program the children go on a hayride thru the Cattail Creek, pick their own pumpkin from our patch, feed the animals,  go to the popcorn field and harvest one ear of popcorn per person to take home and pop. The tour includes admission in the mini corn maze.
• Pricing: $6.00 per person (fee includes children, parents, & teachers*)
• Weekends? Check out our group rates for campfires, group visits or the corn maze.

Nature Knowledge Top ONLY AVAILABLE SEPT. AND  NOV. AND SPRING/SUMMER.
A Social Studies & Ecology Approach (2nd grade- 6th grade)

• Take a scenic hayride to the nature trail and observe and learn about the farm crops. Learn hands-on about the natural resources, conservation and stream side ecology. Your guide will walk the trail and teach the children.  We confer with the teacher to customize these programs to mee the needs of the students. The children will also feed the farm animals, pick a pumpkin from the field and go to the popcorn field where each student gets one ear of popcorn to take home and pop. The tour includes admission in the mini corn maze. Tour time approx. 1 1/2 hours
• Pricing: $7.00 per person (fee includes children, parents, & teachers*)

Pilgrim History Top NOVEMBER ONLY
(Ages K through grade 7th grade)

• Brings to life what children learn in the classroom! On this tour your guides are in pilgrim dress, and they focus on the daily life of a pilgrim family. You will learn about their homes, diets, games and chores, plus our section on Native Americans and their relationships to the pilgrims. The tour includes a taste of pasteurized apple cider & an ear of popcorn to take home. The tour then includes a hayride!
• Enhance your trip:  As an option your children can tour the educational corn maze of 4 plus acres.
• Prices: $7.00 per person for the basic pilgrim history tour  (fee includes children, parents,& teachers.*) Tour time approx. 1 1/2 hours.
• With corn maze: $7.50 per person. This special corn maze option for $.50 additional only  is available with our tours only and is not available without the pilgrim tour. Add 1/2 to 1 hour  of time if you are doing the corn maze. 
• This tour is not available on weekends.
  
  ***TEACHERS CAN SELECT TO HAVE FREE ADMISSION, OR TO PAY AND RECEIVE A GIFT BASKET FULL OF FALL DECORATIONS!!!!  

SUGGESTIONS FOR THE FIELD TRIP TO THE FARM
 

     TRASH: There is space to picnic while on the farm. If  picnicking please bring trash bags for liter and take it back with you. We have no means to dispose of trash on the farm. Thank you!

• RAIN: We will call you if we feel the need to reschedule due to weather, but please phone us if you have concerns. We want to make your day special but we do appreciate hearing from you as soon as possible so our tour guides do not prepare needlessly.                                                          

• PAYMENT: Bring a completed copy of the Fall Registration Form with you the day of the tour. Payment in full is due upon arrival before the tour starts.  Cash or checks payable to Sharp's Farm are acceptable.      

• TIME: Our basic tours are designed to educate and entertain in 1 to 1 1/2   hours. Tour additions and options will increase the time from the basic. Please,  phone for details on your particular situation. We're delighted to work with you to enhance your experience on the farm.                                                               

• Tours will run smoothly if you have an accurate head count when you arrive.

• HAND SANITIZER: Hand washing facilities are limited so it's a good idea to pack these for the children.  
   

• Thanks for your help.   It makes for a great day on the farm.