Apple Season School Tours 2007

In the North Country, a child’s fall wouldn’t be complete without a field trip to the local apple orchard. Hicks Orchard has been offering tours for school groups for many years. Tours are offered from Late September through Mid October. You may call the Barn at (518) 642-1788 to schedule your tour.

This is what to expect on a Hicks Orchard School Tour:
• A tractor-drawn wagon ride through the farm into the orchard. After the friendly tour guide shows the kids the proper way to pick an apple, each child gets a small bag and can pick 2 apples each. (There is enough time here to pick more if your group would like to, regular U-Pick charges can apply). After picking, the group examines and measures their apples and learns how to use a picking pole and see a picking bucket. (This part of the tour lasts about 45 minutes).

• After a beautiful ride back to the barnyard your group is greeted by another tour guide who will lead everyone through the Apple Barn. They will be able to see the Cider Donuts being made, see the Apple Barn Store-Train, See Fresh Cider being pressed and learn why honeybees are integral to an Apple Orchard, as well as seeing thousands of bees in our demonstration bee-hive.
• After learning all the new facts about bees, the group moves outside to a picnic table for a snack, a fresh Cider Donut and a cup of Cider!

School Tour FAQ’s
• Our tours are designed for preschool through 2nd grade classes.
• A typical tour lasts 90 minutes.
• We can accommodate up to 28 children in a group. We can take two groups at a time.
• The fee for school groups starts at $49.00 minimum for the first 15 kids, then $3.50 for every child after that. We do not charge a fee for teachers or chaperones.
• We provide the cider donut and cup of cider for the teachers and up to two chaperones.
• Parents are welcome to accompany the group, but be aware that there may not be enough room on the wagon to fit all of the parents. Our wagons will safely hold 28 children and a few adults.
• Please have the children dress appropriately (boots, jackets). If it is sprinkling, the tour will definately be on, as we know how hard is is to get a bus and permission slips, etc. If it rains, the tours will not run and we will try to reschedule your group for another time. We save a full week in October for any rain dates that may occur.

Fall Birthday Parties
The Hicks Orchard Barnyard is a great place to hold your fall Birthday Party.

A special table is reserved for your group in our barnyard. The cost is $12 per child. The following activities are included:
• A Trip through the Corn Maze
• A Wagon Ride
• Making a mini-Scarecrow
• Romp in the Bounce House
• Small bag of Goat feed for each child

Parties can be held weekends from Mid September through Mid October only. Please call (518) 642-1788 and ask for Susan to make arrangements.