Apple Orchard Field Trip Ideas for Kids

An outing to an apple orchard can be the beginning of a wonderful harvest celebration for both schools and families. It’s a wonderful thing to do in the autumn for a class field trip or a fun family adventure whether you are a homeschooling family or not.

Even though we grow our own apples our family likes to visit an apple orchard each fall as a part of our daughter’s education.

This apple orchard field trip guide contains everything you need to enjoy harvesting apples this fall. Below you will find links to a harvesting guide, where to find apple orchards in your area, harvesting baskets, fun apple activity’s, books and awesome apple recipes to enjoy the fruits of your labors.

For more fall field trip ideas check out Pumpkin Patch Field Trip Ideas and Corn Maze Field Trip Ideas!

Related: Fall Bucket List Family Guide for the Best Autumn Ever! 

 

Apple Orchard Field Trip Ideas

Visit a pick your own apple orchard this fall! Use these handy tips to make a plan to take the whole family or your class apple picking this harvest.

Apples are typically ripe for the picking from Mid-June to Mid-November depending on the variety of apple. The most common varieties are just beginning to ripen at this time of year.

Dave Wilson Nursery has a wonderful Fruit and Nut Harvest Chart PDF that you can download to know when each variety is expected to be ripe enough to pick.

The post is a part of the Get Outside and Connect Series. Click on the link to learn more about it.

Related: Signs of Autumn Fall Scavenger Hunt for Kids

Apple Orchard Field Trip Ideas: How to Find an Apple Orchard Near You

Organic orchards are recommended, but harder to find. Check your local newspaper, family resource guide, or visit Pick Your Own to find an orchard near you.

Make sure you call the orchard to ask:

• When the smallest crowd is expected.
• If the branches are low enough for small children to pick. Odds are you won’t want to be holding your child up all day or hauling a ladder around with you.
• Do they have wagons available or if they allow you to bring your own.
• Is there is food available for purchase or if they have a place to sit and eat if you bring your own picnic.

Apple Orchard Field Trip Ideas: BYO-Basket

The apple orchard will most likely have bags available for picking, but I recommend bringing your own baskets and/or reusable bags. My favorite free trade baskets for farmers markets, and pick your own farms can be found at the following affiliate link.

• Free Trade Bolga Baskets

Apple Activities and Apple Crafts for Kids

Before and after you go to the apple orchard you can extend your child’s learning by trying some of these fun apple activities!

1.  Teach your children about the parts of an apple; Core, seeds, flesh, skin, stem, and leaf.
2. Lay an apple on its side and cut into thin sections. Show the child the star in the center of the apple around the core.
3. Make an Apple Hedgehog. A fine motor activity for kids.
4. Learn how an apple grows with this Preschool Apple Science Activity from Little Bins for Little Hands.
5. Try this easy Apple Science Experiment from Pre-K Pages.
6. Craft a Clove Apple Pomander from Crafting a Green World.
7. Peel apples for many of the recipes found below using the easy and inexpensive apple peeler, and corer. It is a wonderful practical life activity for food preparation that kids love.
8. Print out this Apple Life Cycle Printable from The Stay at Home Educator.
9. Oak Apple Nature Craft
10. Try your hand at a few apple crafts. Craft (with glue) or sew your own apple button tree. Click on the links to learn more!
11. You can find a few more apple crafts HERE.

Awesome Apple Recipes

Wondering what you’re going to do with all those apples? Below you will find several awesome apple recipes to enjoy the fruits of your labor. I highly recommend making some applesauce or apple butter as a part of your apple activities. Recipes for both can be found below.

• Apple Pie Oatmeal from Rhythms of Play
• The Magic of Caramel Apples from Inspiring NH Kids
• Apple Crisp (Substitute Apples using this gluten-free recipe)
• Easy Recipe for Applesauce from Teaching 2 and 3-Year-Olds
• Apple Berry Stew from Nemcsok Farms
• Cinnamon Apple Zucchini Muffins from Arts and Crackers
• Apple Squash Bread from Sunny Day Family
• Baked Apples with Walnuts from Totally the Bomb
• Crock Pot Apple Butter from My Frugal Adventures
• Apple and Pomegranate Salad
• Baked Cinnamon Apple Chips from Sally’s Baking Addiction
• Apple Fritter Monkey Bread from Bren Did
• Easy Apple Oatmeal Scones from Bren Did
• Apple Pie Puffed Oven Pancake from Bren Did

Related: Low Fat Pumpkin Cranberry Bread

Apple Book Recommendations

To extend learning you can read some of these books with your children both before and after you go to an apple orchard. Click on the (affiliate link) images below to learn more about each book.

 Apples for Everyone (Picture the Seasons) Apples How Do Apples Grow? Apple Picking Time (Dragonfly Books) Johnny Appleseed The Apple Pie Tree by Zoe Hall (1-Sep-1996) Hardcover Fall Apples: Crisp and Juicy (Cloverleaf Books – Fall’s Here!) The Seasons of Arnold’s Apple Tree Apples and Pumpkins

An outing to an apple orchard can be the beginning of a wonderful autumn harvest celebration for both schools and families. Visiting an apple farm is a fun activity for a class field trip or a family adventure whether you homeschool or not.

Don’t forget to check out our Fall Bucket List for the Best Autumn Ever!

For more field trip ideas check out the following articles:

• Pumpkin Patch Field Trip Ideas
• Corn Maze Field Trip Ideas
• Berry Picking Field Trip Ideas

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• How to Raise a Helper
• Books that Teach Kids Important Life Lessons