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Dad Field Manual · Field card 176 · Outdoors

Apple orchard or corn maze: find one and go

A farm day in fall is easy to plan if you find the farm first, call ahead, and set a meet-up spot before anyone walks into the maze.

Time
Half a day
Cost
$20–$40
Ages
3 to 14
Where
A farm near you

What you need

  • Water bottles and snacks
  • Closed-toe shoes that can get muddy
  • Layers and a hat
  • Cash or card for entry and produce (an estimate; prices vary a lot by farm, so check when you call)
  • Charged phone and a photo of each kid

Before you go

  • Meet-up spot first. NCMEC says choose a meeting spot for older kids, teach younger ones to look for staff, and remember what they're wearing.
  • Photo before you leave. NCMEC suggests a phone photo of each child just before leaving, in case you're separated.
  • Wash the apples. FDA's Halloween food-safety page says to rinse apples and other raw produce under cool running water and scrub with a brush before eating. For kids under 4, cut apples into thin slices, with no hard chunks. AAP lists raw apple pieces as a choking risk and says to cut food no larger than half an inch.
  • Ticks. CDC says to shower within two hours of coming in from grassy or brushy areas and do a full tick check.

Steps

  1. Find a farm. Search USDA's On-Farm Market Directory by ZIP, or your state agriculture department's list.
  2. Call ahead. Call that week: hours, price, what's ready, maze open, cards accepted.
  3. Pack and set the rules. Pack water and layers. Lost rule: stop, stay put, call my name; older kids go to the meet-up spot.
  4. Photo and meet-up spot. Photo each kid in the lot. Point to a meet-up spot everyone can see.
  5. Pick or run the maze. Under-4s: thin slices, no hard chunks. Maze: little ones hold hands; under-11s stay in sight; 11–14 pair up with phone, set time, Dad at exit.
  6. Leave before the crash. Leave while it's fun. Wash apples, tick check, showers. "Best part?"

If it stalls

  • If the farm you wanted is crowded, go first thing in the morning or on a weekday afternoon.
  • If the maze is too long, ask at the entrance about a shortcut exit before you start.
Apples picked
maze time
Signed off: can do this.Signed by Date