Information for Parents, Guardians & Chaperones

Your child's trip to Hard Bargain Farm will be one of discovery and learning through many hands-on activities. Being prepared enhances the experience and allows both students and adults to have a great time. Please help your child be as prepared as possible for his or her field trip.

Some things to think about:

• Does your child need any special medications? Inform the teacher of any, and be sure that he or she brings them along.
• Listen to the current weather forecast and be sure that your child has the appropriate clothing and footwear. They will be outside for the majority of their visit. *Shorts are not allowed even during warmer weather.
• Students will get dirty, and may also get wet. Please encourage your child to wear clothes that they won't mind getting messy, and wear old shoes that can get wet and muddy.
• Overnight groups will be staying in a lodge equipped with all the comforts of home. There are separate bunkrooms and bathrooms for the girls and boys. Be sure your child has everything he or she will need for the night. Overnight Checklist
• The students are responsible for keeping the facilities clean during their stay, and will be asked to pitch in with the chores. Chaperones and Teachers are asked to supervise and assist as needed.
• We request 1 chaperone for every 10 students, and our instructional groups usually consist of 10-15 students. If you are interested in being a chaperone, contact your child's teacher.

Clothing: This is an outdoor, all weather program (indoor activities are provided during thunderstorms and other severe weather). All visitors should wear long pants and comfortable walking shoes. An extra pair of shoes and extra socks are strongly recommended. Shoes and clothes may get dirty or muddy. Students have more fun if they don’t have to worry about their clothes and shoes. Please do not wear shorts or sandals. This will help to deter ticks and poison ivy. Bring raingear or warm clothing if wet or cold weather is forecast.

Trash Free Lunch: You may have heard about the “trash free lunch” we ask groups to bring for lunch on the first day, now we are working very hard to become a trash free facility. We ask students, chaperones and teachers to pack "trash free lunches" and plan a “trash free visit” by using reusable containers for sandwiches, chips, and drinks, plastic or aluminum drink cans that can be recycled, even a cloth napkin! At the farm we recycle glass, aluminum cans, steel and bi-metal cans, clean aluminum foil, # 1-7 plastic, cardboard, paper, milk cartons and juice boxes. We also have dishes and flatware available for you to use during your stay. Even our food scraps can be recycled—in the pigpen!

To learn more, your child can play an interactive Trash Free Lunch game and other recycling lessons in Nature Recycles. Additionally, a planning guide is available with more information on how to plan for your trash free visit and trash free lunch.