East Hill Farm School
The Inn at East Hill Farm has been providing guests of all ages a wide assortment of farm-based experiences year round since the early 1900's. Visitors can experience milking the cows and goats from the rare breed livestock, churning butter, and making cheese. We want to extend this experience to middle school students and teachers throughout the school year.
East Hill Farm School was designed to provide middle school students, grades 5-8, with a meaningful, hands on experience. Students, or Farm Helpers, will learn life long skills related to animal husbandry, sustainability, and farm-to-table concepts throughout their stay. School groups will be able to visit the farm for a 3 day, 2 night full immersion experience to complete necessary farm chores and attend workshops, all while having fun and furthering their academic success.
Sample Schedule
Day 1
12:30 Welcome
and settle into rooms
1:00 Orientation Scavenger Hunt in the barn
1:30 Farm Helpers, meet at the barn
3:30 Break/Snack
4:00 Workshop
6:00 Dinner
7:00 Campfire with astronomy discussion
8:00 Free time/Journal writing
9:00 Lights out
Day 2
6:15 Sunrise Hike to see
the farm wake up!
7:00 Farm Helpers/Chores
8:00 Breakfast
9:00 Workshop
10:30 Wool Craft Activity in the barn
12:00 Lunch
1:00 Farm Helpers, meet in the barn
3:00 Snack/Break
3:30 Craft
4:30 Farm Helpers, meet in the barn
6:00 Dinner
7:00 Contradance with live music
8:00 Free Time/Journal writing
9:00 Lights out
Day 3
7:00 Farm Helpers/Chores
8:00 Pack and bring bags to bus
8:30 Breakfast
9:00 Farm Helpers
11:00 Wrap up
12:00 Lunch
12:30 Head home!
Farm Helpers
Students will work with
the farm staff to accomplish morning and afternoon chores including
milking, cleaning stalls, grooming and feeding the animals. There will
also be basic farm maintenance such as fence repair, wood stacking,
feeding chart development, basic animal medical care, and breeding chart
development.
Activity Choices
In the afternoon or early
evening, there may be time for students to take a break and enjoy a
variety of activities including swimming in our indoor swimming pool,
hiking, crafting, candle making or astronomy. Please indicate an
activity preference when inquiring about a visit.
Farm School
Your choice of two
workshops are available during your stay. The workshops are for
all students and include Heritage Breeds, Conservation Practices, Farm
Sustainability and Forest Management along with many others. See
Workshop Summaries and Standards for
details of each workshop.
Some Helpful Information:
Farm School students and teachers will be housed in our Trailsend building. Each room has either a queen bed or two twin beds and a bathroom. Teacher's will be responsible for supervising students during time in lodging.
A General Packing List is provided, however note that depending on time of year, packing list may be modified. Students and teachers will be working hands on at the Farm, so pack clothes that can get dirty as well as solid foot wear.
How to Get to East Hill Farm? Click here for Driving Directions.
The food at East Hill Farm is all homemade, fresh and supplied to us as locally as possible. Click here for a Sample Menu for Farm School.
