FIELD TRIPS AND PARTIES

Group Outings

Note: To find out more about having your next party at Rader Family Farms, take a look here.

Fieldtrips to Rader Family Farms are a great way to educate children through entertainment. In 2010, we hosted over 3500 school children from in and around McLean County. We hope you make a trip to the farm part of your learning experience this fall.

Please make a reservation on the calendar below.

  • Register online - your reservation is not complete until you receive an email confirmation.
  • A $50 deposit to hold your spot is needed prior to your field trip date. Make your payment to Rader Family Farms and mail it to: 1238 Ropp Road, Normal, IL 61761 or use Paypal to send your deposit.
  • Please have the remainder of your payment ready the day of your fieldtrip in the form of a check, cash or you may charge the balance. We want to spend time with the children and not with the collection of money.

Things to Know Regarding Field Trips

  • Field trips are intended for ages 3 and up. If younger, please consider coming on Mommy & Me Mondays, when Moms get in for half price with their child's paid admission. Even if the children are ages 2 and younger (which are always free), Moms still get in for half price.
  • Field Trip Hours - Field trips begin at 9am, 10:30am or 12pm on Tuesday - Friday
  • No field trips on Mondays
  • Spots are filled on a first come, first serve basis
  • Allow approximately 2 hrs for your field trip.
  • Please arrive promptly at your designated time. We reserve the right to shorten the tour of groups that arrive 15 minutes past their tour time.
  • Dress appropriately for outside weather.
  • Accessible restroom facilities are also available
  • You are welcome to bring your own drinks. Water fountains are not available. Apple Cider can be purchased for $5 a gallon.

Admission Charges

  • No charge for teachers and aides
  • $5.00 charge for each child
  • Parents and other siblings 3 and up- $5.00 each. Two and under are free
  • Field trips require a minimum of 10 children
  • Smaller groups may be combined with another one for the field trip
  • $50 deposit required when fieldtrip is confirmed to hold spot
  • The minimum charge for a field trip is $50
  • Cancellations made more than 1 week prior to date will receive a refund
  • No refund on cancellations made less than 7 days prior to the date
  • **Please see note below regarding our RAINY DAY FIELDTRIP PLAN

The $5.00 admission fee includes:

  • Farm movie and small bag of popcorn
  • Hayride to pumpkin patch/learn how pumpkins grow
  • Pick your own pumpkin from the patch
  • Each child receives a copy of “The Ag Mag on Pumpkins”
  • Play time on all the farm adventures
  • Visit the Little Barnyard animals
  • Play in the Crow's Nest play ground
  • Play in the Little Village/children 6 and under only
  • Jump on the exciting jumping pillow
  • Entrance to Kiddie Bean Maze
  • Use of the picnic area (please reserve when booking fieldtrip)

Additional Options

  • Bon Fire & Sticks: $20 fee/make request when booking fieldtrip
  • Build a Scarecrow: Make a big scarecrow as a class which can sit in your classroom all fall. $20 fee/indicate when booking fieldtrip.

Teachers

  • Please bring inhalers etc. for any child who may have allergies or asthma or may experience difficulties while playing on and around straw or other farm activities.
  • Please encourage children to dress appropriately for the weather

Rainy Day Plan
**On days when the weather is not favorable and does not allow outside play, we will have fun fall activities for the children to do inside the pumpkin barn and little schoolhouse. Each child will take a pre-picked pumpkin home. We encourage you to come, rain or shine!