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Except for operators near Calgary and Edmonton, Alberta does not have the population base to produce suffcient income to make school tours a stand-alone business. But school tours can be an important tool to attract consumers to your farm if offered with on-farm retail sales enterprises such as a corn maze, pick-your-own, or on-farm entertainment.

School tours need to include diverse educational events that appeal to a wide range of ages and interest groups. Check out the farm websites listed on page 12 to see how these farms have made tours a signifcant income source.

School budgets are shrinking and schools have to be very selective on the feld trips they choose. Therefore, it is important that you design your farm educational program to correspond to the school’s core curriculum. If teachers can show how touring your farm will improve the class’s comprehension of the

curriculum, they are much more likely to come. Refer to the Agriculture in the Classroom and farm website web links at the end of this booklet for ideas on how to tailor your programs.

Obtain a deposit from tour groups when they book and tell them that you will collect the fnal payment immediately upon arrival. Leaving payment until the end of the tour puts you in an awkward position if the tour group wants you to invoice the school or delay payment.

Can you handle special needs students? Is your tour over packed ground so a wheelchair can be used? If you give wagon rides can wheelchairs access the wagons? Usually the attendant of any special needs child receives free admission.

Establish a ratio of students to adults. Some farms allow one adult for every fve students. Every adult that exceeds that ratio pays the full student price. This avoids the problem with preschoolers where parents and grandparents can outnumber the children and exceed the seating capacity of your wagon even though only a few are paying for the tour.

Establish a rule regarding admission. If the tour has giveaways like a drink or a pumpkin the adults will feel entitled to them as well. Some farms charge everyone who enters. For older groups, some farms allow only one teacher and one parent for the group and all others are required to pay. Others allow one free per 10 students. It is always better to start off with a fair policy rather than trying to change rules midstream. Changing after you have been open for a while results in classes coming back and saying, “you didn’t charge for everyone last time, why the change?” It just sets you up for a confrontation. Confrontation is not the way to build a business.

Adults talking amongst themselves can be distracting. Mention your concern to the tour groups and have

• Preschool through Grade 3: Start here and do a great job on a basic half day (90 minute) tour before considering expanding your program to older children. • Grades 4 and 5: This group is more of a challenge to keep focused and needs a more hands-on experience. More involved programs like soils, weather and natural wildlife habitats on the farm appeal.