Frying Pan Farm Park

CONTACT INFORMATION: Park open 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Kidwell Farm open 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Facility Hours vary.
703-437-9101 TTY 711
Farm and Equestrian: 2709 West Ox Road; Visitor Center: 2739 West Ox Road
Herndon, Virginia
Teresa Reynolds
Park Manager

Department Resources

Related Resources

Frying Pan Farm Park Field Trips

Download Detailed Instructions
View Operational Hours

School Field Trip and Outreach Fees and Capacity

FCPA Staff Led Field Trip Programs- Fees

  • 30-minute programs: $4 per student for Fairfax County Schools / $5 per student out-of-county schools
  • 60-minute programs: $6 per student Fairfax County Schools / $7 per student out-of-county schools
  • Chaperones and teachers are FREE

Minimum and Maximum Daily Capacities 

  • Minimum: 15 students or payment for 15 students are required for our field trip programs
  • Maximum number of students per class 30 students. 
  • Maximum capacity is 5 classes or 150 students per day.

Wagon Rides:

  • Fees and Capacity
    • Wagon Ride Only: $5 per person, includes teachers and chaperones
    • Wagon Rides with a program: $4 per person, includes teachers and chaperones
    • For your group comfort and safety, our wagons have a maximum capacity. Please see the capacity guidelines for a wagon ride. If your rider totals exceed these ratios, additional rides should be requested. The field trip coordinator will confirm additional requests based on availability. 
      • 25-30 students : 2 adults
      • 20-24 students : 5 adults
      • 15-19 students :10 adults
      • 10-14 students : 15 adults
      • 5-9 students : 20 adults

Outreach:

Too cold outside? Can't get a bus? Want more farm, nature, science or history educational opportunities? Not a school? We also do outreach programs for libraries, community clubs and more!

The staff at Frying Pan Farm Park can come to you at any time of the year. To request an outreach program, please email FCPAFryingPanFarmFieldTrips@fairfaxcounty.gov . You will receive a confirmation email if we are able to schedule your visit.

  • We can do outreach any time or day of the week! 
  • Programs last 45 to 60 minutes.
  • Programs can be scheduled beginning at 9:30 a.m. through after-school program hours.
  • There is a maximum of 30 children per program and a maximum of 40 people including adults.

FEES

Fairfax County:

  • $175 for the first class
  • $100 for each additional class
  • $200 per class with live animals

Other Areas:

  • $200 for the first class
  • $150 for each additional class
  •  $200 per class with live animals

Frying Pan Farm Park can cover a variety of History and Science SOL learning objectives. If you do not see a SOL listed, please contact the park.
 

 

PRESCHOOL/KINDERGARTEN PROGRAMS

  • Students will discover how we take care of the birds that live at our farm and how they help to take care of us.
  • Students will meet, pet, and feed the chickens

Recommended Grade Level: PreK-K
Length: 30 minutes
SOL Tie-ins: SOL Tie Ins: SCI.GK.7, SCI.G1.5, SCI.G2.4
Calendar Unit: School Field Trip #AM1 

Students discover how farmers take care of our dairy cows. Students learn about the life needs of cows through the “Day in the Life” of a cow at the park.

  • Learn how much food we feed our cows and how much milk they give us every day.
  • The program culminates by meeting one of our dairy goats.

Recommended Grade levels: K-1st Grade
Length: 30 minutes
SOL Tie-ins: SCI.GK.7, SCI.G1.5, SCI.G2.4
Calendar Unit: School Field Trip #AM1

ELEMENTARY PROGRAMS

Students discover how farmers take care of our dairy cows. Students learn about the life needs of cows through the “Day in the Life” of a cow at the park.

  • Learn how much food we feed our cows and how much milk they give us every day.
  • The program culminates by meeting one of our dairy goats.

Recommended Grade levels: K-1st Grade
Length: 30 minutes
SOL Tie-ins: SCI.GK.7, SCI.G1.5, SCI.G2.4
Calendar Unit: School Field Trip #AM1

Students will learn what the farmers provide to meet the animals needs and make sure they are alive, healthy, and comfortable. Students will be given a tour of the farm where they will think critically about animal habitats on the farm. 

  • Understand what animals need to survive.
  • Understand the differences between animal needs.

Recommended Grade Levels: K-1st Grade
Length: 60 minutes
SOL Tie-ins: SCI.GK.7, SCIG1.5
Calendar Unit: School Field Trip #AM1
 

Life of a Dairy Cow 

  • Students discover how farmers take care of our dairy cows.
  • Learn how much food we feed our cows and how much milk they give us every day.
  • Meet a dairy animal.

Visit the Kidwell Vegetable Garden

  • Learn about the different types of plants we grow in the garden.
  • Discover the parts of plants that we can eat.
  • Explore the veggie garden to find the different parts of plants.

Recommended Grade Level: K-1st Grade
Length: 60 minutes
SOL Tie-ins: SCI.GK.7, SCI.G1.4, SCI.G1.5, SCI.G2.4
Calendar Unit: School Field Trip #AM1

The Farm Family

  • Learn about the timeline of our farm and hear stories of the Historic Floris community.
  • Compare and contrast similarities and differences to various time periods.
  • Learn how farmers grew their own food, the methods they used to move around Fairfax County, and what they did for recreation.

Recommended Grade Level: K-1st Grade
Length: 60 minutes
SOL Tie-ins: SCI.GK.10, SS.GK.3, SS.G1.2.c
Calendar Unit: School Field Trip #AM1

  • Learn the basics of economics in this hands-on program
  • Follow the route that milk travels from the farm to cities like Washington, D.C. through the lens of a depression-era farm
  • Play different roles in our economy game, learning the basics of how producers and consumers work together in society

Recommended Grade Level: 2nd Grade
Length: 60 minutes
SOL Tie-ins: SS.G2.1, SS.G2.8, SS.G2.9, SS.G2.10
Unit: School Field Trip #AM1
 

  • Learn how simple machines “Make Work Easier."
  • Learn each of the simple machine types, and explore how they are used at home and on the farm.
  • Get hands-on, and test how simple machines work by performing farm chores.

Recommended Grade Level: 3rd Grade
Length: 60 minutes
SOL Tie-ins: SCI.G3.1; SCI.G3.2
Calendar Unit: School Field Trip #AM1

  • A tour of the farm in a tractor-pulled wagon
  • For schools who are planning to book field trip rides but not a program
  • In the request page, go to “Wagon Ride” and select the time slot(s)

Fees: $5 per rider, $4 per rider with program
Length: 30 minutes

Outreach Programs

PRESCHOOL/KINDERGARTEN PROGRAMS

  • Explore the similarities and differences between chickens and us!
  • Students get to:
    • Meet a chicken.
    • Learn about its characteristics and adaptations.
    • Mix chicken feed.
    • Practice collecting eggs.
  • Program includes: hands-on demonstration with real animals and models.

Food warning: Chicken feed contains sunflower seeds, oats, oyster shells, corn, soy. Students will have the option to smell and touch these ingredients.

Recommended Grade Level: PreK-K
Length: 45 minutes
SOL Tie-ins: SS.K.1, SS.K.7, SS.G1.1, SS.G1.4, SS.G1.5
Calendar Unit: School Field Trip #OU

  • Explore the similarities and differences between rabbits and us!
  • Students get to:
    • Meet a rabbit.
    • Learn about its characteristics and adaptations.
    • Do a rabbit craft. 
  • Program includes: hands-on demonstration with real animals and models.

Food warning: rabbit food contains dried timothy grass and alfalfa. Rabbit bedding includes straw and hay. Students will have the opportunity to smell and touch these items.

Recommended Grade Level: PreK-K
Length: 45 minutes
SOL Tie-ins: SCI.K.1, SCI.K.7, SCI.G1.1, SCI.G1.4, SCI.G1.5
Calendar Unit: School Field Trip #OU

ELEMENTARY PROGRAMS

Learn about the importance of wool crafting for the farm family in the past. Understand the impact of wool as a product in the history of the Virginia economy. Students will get hands-on experience crafting wool using different methods.
Students will learn how to:

  • Wash wool, card wool, spin wool and dye wool.
  • Handle historical farm family artifacts.

Recommended Grade Level: 4th-5th Grade
Length: 60 minutes
SOL Tie-ins: Skills VSa, Skills VSe, VS.13a
Calendar Unit: School Field Trip #OU

  • Learn the basics of economics in this hands-on program
  • Follow the route that milk travels from the farm to cities like Washington, D.C. through the lens of a depression-era farm
  • Play different roles in our economy game, learning the basics of how producers and consumers work together in society

Recommended Grade Level: 2nd Grade
Length: 60 minutes
SOL Tie-ins: SS.G2.1, SS.G2.8, SS.G2.9, SS.G2.10
Calendar Unit: School Field Trip #OU

Programs / Activities

Classes and Camps
Events in the Park
Birthday Parties
Field Trips
Frying Pan On Your Own
Births/New Arrivals
Inaccessible
Wagon Rides
4-H Club
4-H Fair and Carnival

Facilities / Rentals

Frying Pan HOME
Carousel / Playground
Country Store
Equestrian Facilities
Kidwell Farm
Meeting House
Picnic Shelter
Rental Facilities
Schoolhouse
Visitor Center

Connect

Contact Us
Friends of Frying Pan
Hours and Fees
Heritage Blogs
Internships
Park Location
ResOURces Newsletter
Volunteer
Ask a Historian
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