Cover's Apple Ranch School Tours provide a fun and engaging setting for children to learn.  Tours are seasonal to provide the best examples from the orchard; they are available in Spring and Fall.  Tours include a visit to the barn, the orchard, the apple processing barn, the bakery, a train ride and a treat. Tours last from 45-60 minutes and the information presented is tailored to the age group.

In the barnyard, children will get to  experience animals up close and personal.  Goats, cows, chickens, rabbits, geese and other farm animals are seasonably available for viewing, petting, and possibly feeding.

In the orchard, children can learn about how food gets from a tree to the table. Emphasis is on the growth process starting with pollination and follows through with blossoms and ripe fruit.  Bees play an important part in the life of an apple and when available, children can watch a working hive, with a queen and workers, on display in the main ranch house. Depending on the age of the group, details about apple varieties, irrigation, pruning and care of the trees is also covered. Did you know most apple harvests are still picked by hand?  Children are shown how apples are picked and collected.   Then it's off to learn how the ripe fruit is processed after it is picked.

It is always a favorite to watch the Apple Machine.  This antique, still in operating condition, cores, peels and slices apples!  Children have a good example of reduce, reuse and recycle when they see that no part of the apple goes into the trash - it all has a use.  Another reason this is a favorite is the tasty samples of apples they get!

Now children get to see the apple slices made into tasty food.  Depending on the day, the bakers could be busy making Mile High Apple Pies, turnovers, cookies, or any of many pastries.  Learning how pies are made is an eye-opening experience for many children.  It takes a lot of different ingredients to make a pie, and lots of hard work, too.  Of course, if the children have any questions, we will gladly answer them.

But wait!  Don't forget the train ride and treat.  Included is one of the best parts of the Apple Ranch - the train ride.  And at the end of the tour, children are refreshed with cider and a cookie.

Children learn quickly from hands-on experience and our school tours are both fun and educational.  Please call for availability and pricing.  We can meet the requirements of Special Needs groups, too.