educate
Making Maple Syrup Tours - MARCH -APRIL
Saturdays & Sundays, March 11 - April 2, 2023
Tours depart at 12:30, 1, 1:30, 2, 2:30, 3, 3:30 & 4pm
Farm opens at noon and closes at 5pm
Please Note: Maple syrup Tours are dependent on the weather - please call ahead if we are experiencing freezing daytime temperatures, high winds or ice. Weather related closures will also be announced on this website and social media as soon as possible. Thanks for your understanding.
Reservations are NOT required - tickets will be sold at the door. Space is limited!
Private Group Reservations are available for groups of 15 or more paid admissions on Saturdays & Sundays at 11:30am & 12pm. Cost for a private tour is $12 per person. The maximum number of paid participants is 125. See below for more information.
DETAILS:
This engaging tour begins with a wagon ride to the forested area of Maybury Farm. There you will walk into the sugar bush where you'll learn the amazing way sugar maple trees produce sap, why sap flows, how to tap and collect sap from the tree. The wagon will then take you to the Sugar Shack where you'll learn how the sap becomes delicious maple syrup by watching the process in action! You'll even get to try a sample of the finished product! Once your tour is finished, you are invited to warm up in the Maybury Farm General Store where hot drinks and snacks are available to enjoy. Pure Michigan Maple Syrup is available for purchase, and we offer free recipes for you to try with your maple syrup at home. It's a fun and educational experience for all ages!
COST: $10 per person. (Children under 2 are FREE, must sit on lap)
PRIVATE GROUP TOURS COST: $12 per person. (Children under 2 are FREE, must sit on lap)
Group tours are available for any group of 15 or more paid admissions (over age 2) Saturdays and Sundays at 11:30am and 12pm. All group tours must be registered to ensure space. Call (248) 374-0200 press 2 to book your private group Maple Syrup Tour!
Space is limited for each tour: please be at the wagon loading area 15 minutes prior to your assigned tour time - we cannot accommodate late arrivals. The wagon ride to and from the Sugar Bush is included in your admission. We recommend dressing warmly for the Michigan March weather. Please wear appropriate footwear as the tour is a walking tour and takes place outdoors where the woods are often wet and snowy.
Educational Farm Group Tours - MARCH-OCTOBER
April 12 - October 30, 2023
Pre-arranged, Farm Educator Guided
For groups of 15 or more
Reservations required - please call (248) 374-0200 press 2
DETAILS:
Farm Tours at Maybury Farm are an opportunity for children and families to engage in hands-on experiences that connect them to the animals and agriculture that are such an important part of our world. Whether it's learning how sap becomes syrup, how sheep produce wool for our fiber, holding a baby goat, seeing working honey bees up close, exploring native Michigan trees and wildlife while hiking our trails or taking a wagon ride out to the corn maze, our Farm Tours are designed to cultivate joy and wonder in every child! We integrate experiential learning activities that engage kids in observation, inquiry, and experimentation - but it's so fun they don't even realize they're getting a science lesson!
Descriptions of our 2023 Farm Tours, including available dates, pricing, and tour lengths, are listed below. A printable description of our preschool and elementary educational tours is also available. All tours include a dedicated Farm Educator. Visiting the barn and farm animals, and use of the playground and picnic area is also included with all tours, but please note those spaces are shared with the general public visiting the farm. To fully enjoy your guided tour of the farm and use of the playground and picnic area, we suggest a 2-hour time frame.
Please call (248) 374-0200 press 2 for more details, and to make a reservation. We look forward to having your group grow with us this season!
PLEASE NOTE: the maximum number of participants for any tour at the farm is 125.
On the Farm
This engaging tour is specially designed for our younger visitors. During the walking tour, our guests will learn about some of our farm animals, do a picture scavenger hunt, and take a wagon ride out to see our fields. They will also get a chance to participate in the “farm olympics” to work on their motor skills as they do farm related activities. This tour includes the use of the playground and outdoor picnic tables.
COST: $13 per person, includes wagon ride (tour can accommodate from 15-125 participants)
GRADES: Preschool, Kindergarten,1st grade
AVAILABLE DATES: mid April-October
TOUR LENGTH: 60 minutes*
Farm Animals & Us
This is our most popular tour. The tour starts with a wagon ride out to see our fields, then continues with a walking tour of the farm. During this walking tour, our guests will be introduced to the working animals of Maybury Farm including horses, donkeys, pigs, sheep, goats, chickens, cows, alpacas and more! They will learn about each animal, including breeds and names, and the roles the different animals play on a working farm. Students will develop an understanding of our connection to the animals that provide our food and clothing resources. At the end of the tour, students will become honorary Maybury Farmers and rotate through hands-on activities replicating many chores that our farmers do throughout the year (milking goats, grooming, measuring out food, etc.). This tour includes use of the playground and outdoor picnic tables.
COST: $13 per person, includes wagon ride (tour can accommodate from 15-125 participants)
GRADES: 1st - 5th grades
AVAILABLE DATES: mid April-October
TOUR LENGTH: 60 minutes*
Growing Gardens
The growing of various crops is an important part of any farm. During this tour, students will take a wagon ride out to see our crop fields. On the way back, they will learn about corn and how it is used. Back at the farm, students will dissect a tomato to learn about its anatomy. They will learn how to harvest vegetables in our garden (if possible), how to plant seeds in both soil and water, and will help plant our lavender fields using our “seed rocket.” This tour includes a self-guided tour of the farm and the use of the playground and outdoor picnic tables.
COST: $13 per person, includes wagon ride (tour can accommodate from 15-125 participants)
GRADES: 1st - 5th grades
AVAILABLE DATES: April-September
TOUR LENGTH: 60 minutes*
Farm Survival
This tour is set up for our older student visitors. Students will take a walking tour of the farm to learn about the farm animals, their food and pasture needs, special rescue stories, and the role each plays on a working farm. They will participate in various farm activities (water testing, reading ear tags, etc.), and will ultimately enter a design challenge to help solve a real life Maybury Farm animal issue.
COST: $10 per person (tour can accommodate from 15-125 participants)
GRADES: 6th - 12th grades
AVAILABLE DATES: mid April-October
TOUR LENGTH: 60 minutes*
A Season to Bee
Honeybees may be small but they are mighty – mighty important to our food system! This tour starts with a wagon ride out to the Maybury Farm working hives. At the hives, we will learn about the various jobs of the bees in the hive, the importance of pollination to our food system, the threats that our honeybee populations face and what you can do to help! Back at the farm’s garden, you'll get to see bees pollinating the food we eat, see inside a real beehive, and help create our pollinator hotel. The final portion of the tour is the Honeybee Relay, where the group will put all the knowledge they gathered to work and compete in a friendly relay where they become the honeybee! This tour includes a self-guided tour of the farm, and use of the playground and outdoor picnic tables.
COST: $13 per person, includes wagon ride (tour can accommodate from 15-125 participants)
GRADES: 3rd - 12th grades
AVAILABLE DATES: June-September
TOUR LENGTH: 60 minutes*
Fall on the Farm
As the seasons change, so does life on the farm. Crops are harvested in our garden, the corn is transformed into a corn maze, and the farmers begin to prepare for winter. This farm tour includes a wagon ride out to our corn maze, walking the one acre mini maze, and an educator led tour of the farm animals. At the end of the tour, students will become honorary Maybury Farmers and rotate through hands-on STEM activities replicating many chores that our farmers do throughout the year (milking goats, measuring out food, etc.). This tour includes the use of the playground and outdoor picnic tables.
COST: $14 per person, includes wagon ride & mini corn maze (tour can accommodate from 15-125 participants)
GRADES: 1st - 5th grades
AVAILABLE DATES: September-October
TOUR LENGTH: 60 minutes*
Presenting Maybury Farm
This tour is set up for adults visiting the farm who would like to learn more about our animals. We will do a walking tour of the farm to learn more in-depth information about the animals. Guests will learn about the animal’s breeds, their pasture and food needs, and their roles on a working farm. Fun facts and trivia information will be provided about the different animals, and guests will walk away feeling like they understand how our farm works.
COST: $10 per person (tour can accommodate from 15-125 participants)
GRADES: Ages 18 and up
AVAILABLE DATES: mid April-October
TOUR LENGTH: 60 minutes*
From Sap to Syrup
You must dress for cold weather for this one! This engaging tour begins with a wagon ride out to the Sugar Bush where you will walk into the woods and learn about the amazing way sugar maple trees produce sap, how to tap a tree, why sap flows, and how to collect it. The wagon will then take your group to the Sugar Shack where you will see how sap becomes delicious maple syrup, watching the process, in action, in our evaporator. You will also get to try a sample of the finished product! The tour ends with students rotating through STEM maple syrup related activities. This tour includes a self-guided tour of the farm and the animals.
COST: $13 per person, includes wagon ride and activities (tour can accommodate from 15-125 participants)
GRADES: K-12 and adults (also makes a great corporate outing!)
AVAILABLE DATES: Weekdays - March 6th through March 31st (availability subject to change based on weather)
TOUR LENGTH: 60 minutes*
*Tour length indicated is for the educational portion of the tour and does not include additional time for self-guided tours of the farm or use of playground and picnic areas.
Animal Engagement - JUNE-SEPTEMBER
Daily
Get a hands on experience with our farm animals with the help of one of our educators and farmhands who will provide a safe, informative, and fun experience! Engagement opportunities could range from holding a chicken to watching a farmhand milk a goat.
Engagement will take place throughout the day, around the farm and not in the pasture or pens in the barn.
COST: Free - included with your $7 admission fee to the farm (children under 2 are FREE)
AGE: All ages welcome!
StoryTime - JUNE-SEPTEMBER
Wednesdays & Thursdays, June 14 - Sept. 7, 2023 - StoryTime does not take place 7/17
Starts at 11am
Children will have fun while learning about a unique farm topic each week through stories, songs, and sensory play. Special animal guests may also visit us at the end of StoryTime. Maybury Farm develops our story times based on the Every Child Ready to Read program which is a research-based early literacy program, from the American Library Association. The Every Child Ready to Read program encourages parents to interact with their children using the five practices of early literacy: singing, talking, reading, writing, and playing. These five practices develop the components of early literacy, including phonological awareness, vocabulary, print awareness, letter knowledge, and background knowledge, which prepare children to learn to read and write in school.
COST: Free - included with your $7 admission fee to the farm (children under 2 are FREE)
AGE: All ages welcome!
DATES: Weekly from June 14 to September 7at 11am
LENGTH: 30 minutes
StoryTime takes place outdoors and so is weather dependent - please check for updates on Facebook in case of cancellation.
Farm Camp - JUNE-AUGUST
They'll also play team-building games, make enrichment toys for the animals, make crafts and much more!
Farm Camp is designed to include a variety of fun activities that will connect campers to the animals and agriculture that provide so much of our food and fiber. Farm Camp cultivates awareness and appreciation for the role of farmers, land, and animals in the world around us and how they contribute to our daily lives!
Registration is required. Weekly camps are limited to 22 campers per session. Campers may sign-up for an unlimited number of sessions. Please be aware that Farm Camp enrollment fills up quickly so please register as early as possible.
Camp Topics:
Tuesdays - Fridays, June 20 - August 18, 2023
9am-4pm
Farm Camp is SOLD OUT!
Farm Camp is a four-day camp (Tues-Fri) filled with exciting experiences designed to engage and educate campers on all things farming! Held entirely outdoors, campers will not only totally unplug, but will get their hands dirty. They will enjoy learning about the care and function of animals while helping in the barn, and will learn about the cycle of planting, growing and harvesting while helping out in the Farm Garden.
COST: $300 early registration - if payment is received by May 1; $325 if payment is received after May 1
*Please note: Week 3 is a 3-day session due to the holiday - the cost for this session: $225 early registration- if payment is received by May 1; $275 if payment is received after May 1
AGE: Children ages 6-12. Children must be age 6 by the week they are scheduled for camp. Children under the age of 6 will not be permitted at camp.
SESSIONS: 8 weekly sessions
Please download and read the Farm Camp Letter to Parents for more detailed information.
Return completed Farm Camp registration form and payment information by email to: farmteam@mayburyfarm.org (please scan and send - DO NOT TAKE A PICTURE OF THE REGISTRATION FORM to send via email!) or by mail to: Maybury Farm-Farm Camp, c/o Northville Community Foundation, PO Box 560, Northville, MI 48167
Maybury Farm Camp is licensed by the State of Michigan - camp license #P803690; camp site license #P803875.
The required State of Michigan Camper Medical History form (including immunization records) MUST be mailed to: Maybury Farm-Farm Camp, c/o Northville Community Foundation, PO Box 560, Northville, MI 48167
Refunds are not available for program registration. Thank you!
• Week 1: 6/20-6/23 Sheep, Bunnies, Predator/prey, Donkeys (sold out)
• Week 2: 6/27-6/30 Goats, Chickens, Tractors, Horses (sold out)
• Week 3: 7/5-7/7 Alpacas, Peacocks, Cows (3 day session*) (sold out)
• Week 4: 7/11-7/14 Ponies, Pigs, Habitats, Bees & Butterflies (sold out)
• 7/18-7/21 no camp this week due to a charity event
• Week 5: 7/25-7/28 Bunnies, Horses, Mammals, Alpacas (sold out)
• Week 6: 8/1-8/4 Donkeys, Pigs, Predator/prey, Peacocks (sold out)
• Week 7: 8/8-8/11 Chickens, Sheep, Tractors, Ponies (sold out)
• Week 8: 8/15-8/18 Cows, Goats, Adaptations, Bunnies (sold out)
Watch-Me-Grow - MAY - SEPTEMBER
Tuesdays, May 30 - September 5, 2023
10:30am (class begins promptly - please arrive early)
Registration required - registration starts 3-1-23! 25 children/reservations maximum per session
Watch-Me-Grow preschool programs are for children ages 3-5. Each science-based program is filled with numerous hands-on activities, crafts, games, and animal visits. This creates an engaging time of fun and learning in the gorgeous green space of the farm!
COST: $25 (includes 1 child and 1 adult)
AGE: 3-5 years
LENGTH: 45 minutes
SESSION SCHEDULE:
Tuesday Sessions:
• 5/30 - Delightful Donkeys
• 6/6 - Strong Sheep
• 6/13 - Happy Horses (sold out)
• 6/20 - Terrific Tractors (sold out)
• 6/27 - Crazy Chickens
• 7/4 - No WMG this week
• 7/11 - Beautiful Bunnies (sold out)
• 7/18 - Glorious Goats
• 7/25 - Purely Pigs
• 8/1 - Growing Gardens
• 8/8 - Colorful Cows
• 8/15 - Terrific Tractors (repeat)
• 8/22 - Pretty Peacocks
• 8/29 - Brilliant Bees & Butterflies
• 9/5 - Farm Chores
Non-refundable - sessions take place rain or shine. In the case of severe thunderstorms, you will be contacted if your session is rescheduled.
Please arrive to check-in at least 10 minutes prior - program starts promptly at 10:30am.
Registration begins March 1, 2023.
Return completed Watch-Me-Grow registration form and payment information to: EMAIL: farmteam@mayburyfarm.org
If you are sending your registration form in by email, please scan and send. DO NOT TAKE A PICTURE OF THE REGISTRATION FORM to send via email!
MAIL: Maybury Farm-Farm Camp, c/o Northville Community Foundation, PO Box 560, Northville, MI 48167