Outdoor Education Sessions
Outdoor Science Made Fun.
We Start With Sessions
Carson Simpson Farm’s sessions are designed to inspire your students to learn more about science, ecosystems, and the world around them. Each session lasts approximately 45 minutes and includes instruction and a hands-on activity. All aspects of our sessions are completed outdoors.
We are constantly updating our sessions and can often offer “Off Menu” sessions to meet your students’ needs. Please contact us to discuss topics of interest to you and your class.
Sustainable Farming Practices
Whether your students have only seen a farm on TV or have a garden at home, we will introduce the concepts at play when growing plants sustainably from the Earth. We touch on a wide variety of farming practices, such as different planting methods, planning for pollinators, proper tilling and maintenance methods, how to use compost and fertilizer, and more.
Soil Studies
There’s more to mud than you’d think! We will help your students explore where dirt comes from, and what makes some soil better than others. In this session we will cover topics such as compost, what plants need to survive, what lives in the soil, and the role we play in maintaining our Earth’s ground.
Importance of Pollinators
Bees, butterflies, beetles, and birds are just some of the pollinators local to our farm, and in this session, your students will get to learn about them all. They will also learn about the importance of attracting and protecting our pollinators, and what they can do to build homes (or pollinator gardens) for these vital creatures.
Ants, Bees, Chickens… The ABC’s of animal impacts on our land
Ecosystems are everywhere, including your local park, garden, or backyard. Learn how even some of the smallest common garden creatures - like ants, bees, and chickens - impact the environment in big ways.
Where Does Our Food Come From
Learn where grocery stores get their food by walking through a working, growing garden. Learn about the different plants’ needs, and how they turn energy into the food we eat. Come during harvest season and students can pick available produce, learning what makes a tomato tasty, and what problems are caused by poor garden or farm maintenance.
Irrigation Methods
Several of our environmental challenges and successes revolve around water management and irrigation methods. Students will learn about the importance of water in their immediate surroundings, as well as some of the irrigation methods used around the world. They will also learn about the harmful effects of water mismanagement, and what they can do about their own water use.
Plant Identification for Wooded Areas
Come with us into the woods! We will guide students through identifying local trees and plants. We place a strong emphasis on identifying potentially harmful plants (such as poison ivy) as well as plants they can expect to find in their local parks or backyard. They will identify different leaf, petal, and bark patterns in this very active session.
Common Plants, Uncommon Uses
Plants have a long history of being used for medicines and holistic healing. We will dive into the history and science of how the chemical properties of certain plants have made them invaluable for specific uses. We will feature a variety of plants commonly found in our area and how they have been used for various oils, tinctures, teas, and medicines.
Build Your Own Session
With 60 acres of diverse land, our property offers a broad scope for scientific discovery. If you are looking to build a session unique to your class’s goals, talk to us about it! We will be happy to work with you to build sessions unique to you.
Water Studies
Pennypack Creek is teeming with life, providing students with a personal look at all of the layers of a stream. We help students explore the micro and macro ecosystems of the creek, and we discuss the impact of small local streams on Pennsylvania’s larger waterways. This session is highly customizable to specific areas of interest, including organism study, sediment study, and water quality study.
Woodland Ecosystems
Take a hike through our woods and learn about some of the ecosystems thriving there. Students will be encouraged to watch for animal prints and habitats while learning how ecosystems within woodland areas are constantly changing and re-balancing.
Flexibility for Your Class
All sessions have been created by staff with backgrounds in public and private schools, and with a deep knowledge of what Carson Simpson Farm can offer.
Our experience has taught us that no two classes are alike, and no two age groups are the same. That is why all of our sessions are adapted to match your class’s age and interest level. We can also offer custom-made sessions that merge our camp’s grounds with your class’s education goals. Most sessions are designed to meet K-12 STEELS Standards 3.1, 3.3, 3.4, and 3.5. and all activities can be customized to meet specific standards as needed.
