The A"Maize"ing Cornfield

FYI--a maze is an intricate sytem of "puzzling" turns; maize is the Indian word for "corn."

Weekday Cost: $6.00/person

Weekday groups are challenged to work together to complete a maze/scavenger hunt. The weekday groups learn about a farm-related subject while being entertained.  Navigational skills are also developed. 

Treats and refreshments are provided.

The A"Maize"ing Cornfield contains seven (7) different scarecrows.  Each scarecrow is holding a different puzzle clue that reviews the unit we are studying.  Each scarecrow also has a hand stamp station with choices of letters to stamp on your puzzle card.  The goal of the scavenger hunt is to find each station within the "Maize" and correctly answer the questions on our teaching unit.  Stamp your card with the coordinating correct letter to spell our harvest word.  

Each year we change the curriculum unit studied.  This year we are studying VEGETABLES.

It is our goal to make your visit a fun, learning experience.  It's not our goal to be "Corn-Fusing!"

ALL RESERVATIONS MUST BE PRE-BOOKED!

Cookouts are suggested for Friday or Saturday night.

(But we are receptive to special requests for other nights with adequate group size.)

 
  Activities on your outing include:

    1. A brief Hayride to the cookout location "on the Back-40."

    

    2. Hot dogs, buns, condiments and canned drinks for your meal;

        plus roasted marshmallows for dessert!

        All listed items are provided for your meal, along with paper products and

        skewers.    (You can supplement the menu with additional food items.)
    

    3."M-o-onlight Maize." - Visitors find their way through our cornfield maze using a provided glow stick. 

        (You can also substitute a longer "Mo-o-nlight Ride"  for your group, in lieu of the maze.)
  

Cost is $12.00/person (with a minimum group size of 30 people.)  Any groups smaller than 30 will have pro-rated cost equal to $360.00.

 

You must have advanced reservations and a non-refundable deposit of $100. When you schedule your outing, we will send you an information packet with confirmation letter, permission slips, guidelines, etc.

Suggested Reservation times are:  6:00 P.M., 6:30 P.M., 7:00 P.M., and 7:30 P.M.    (activities usually last 2 to 2 1/2 hours)

 

It's a great idea for Birthday Parties, Neighborhood Get-togethers, Company Picnics and Youth Groups.  Spread the Word!

 Please note that this activity does not include a pumpkin; but they can be purchased separately.

MUST BE PRESCHEDULED

"M-o-onlight Maize"

Some groups choose to only do the nighttime cornfield maze.  Visitors will go through the maze using a glowstick which is provided. Time allotments for completing the maze usually take from 30-45 minutes. These activities can be scheduled for any night, but we suggest Friday and Saturday.

The visit MUST BE PRE-SCHEDULED. Cost is $6.00/person.

FYI--a maze is an intricate system of "puzzling" turns; maize is the Indian word for "corn."

Senior Adult Visitors have enjoyed this fall harvest experience. Many have found it to be very nostalgic.  

Tours of the farm begin on October 1 and run the entire month of October.

Suggested hours for Senior Adult visits are: 11:30 A.M. - 3:30 P.M. Monday through Friday. (Other hours are available.)

On the field trip, each group will:

1) Take a hayride tour of the farm (or utilize other transportation) to see

    various fall crops and pumpkins. (We do have wagons designed for less ambulatory guests.)

2) Spend time with our farm animals (cows, chickens, goats, etc.)

3) Visit our old-fashioned playground (rope swing, hay maze).

4) Have a light refreshment of "pumpkin juice."

The tour can be completely modified to meet the ambulatory needs of your group.  We can work out the details in advance and costs will be based on the number of activities.  Costs will range from $4.00 - $7.00 per visitor.

There is also an area available for "observers" that would not be able to actively participate.

To evaluate your time allotment, you may want to keep in mind:
The visit at our farm traditionally lasts about an hour-and-a-half for the structured activities.

You can also reserve (in advance) a picnic area (30-minute increments) for food you bring.

We have an extensive retail area for adults and children with items such as fall decorator items, homemade pumpkin bread, homemade peanut brittle, honey and t-shirts.   
  
You may reach us by:
Phone: (601) 829-0800
Fax: (601) 829-0900 
Email: NichTrees@AOL.com
 
When you schedule your trip, we will forward you an information packet.

The Alphabet Tour 

While touring the farm, children see the various things found on a farm that begin with the "letters" of the Alphabet and the different Alphabet "sounds."

 --like-- "A" for ants; "B" for barn and "C" for cow.?  It's a "fun-learning" process!

Birthday Parties in October

Weekends in October!

**Weekends are geared toward the General Public**

Saturday Hours are 10:00 - 4:00 (arrive by 3:00)                     Sunday Hours are 1:00 - 4:00 (arrive by 3:00)

Pumpkin Tours leave out "on the hour!"                   Tours take approximately one hour.

Saturday departures are 10:00, 11:00, 12:00, 1:00, 2:00 and 3:00. 

Sunday departures are 1:00, 2:00 and 3:00. 

Cost for Pumpkin Tour is $7.00/person.    Everyone gets a tour of the farm and a take-home pumpkin.

      - - - - - - - - - -

The A"Maize"ing Cornfield is open on weekends.  It is a separate activity and cost is $5.00/person.

       - - - - - - - - - -

Face Painting by the "Painting Cow"  (fee charged) is available on Saturday and Sunday. 

       - - - - - - - - - -

Shop our Retail Store for T-Shirts, Fall Decorator Items, Mississippi Honey and Homemade Peanut Brittle!

         - - - - - - - - - - 

Bring your camera.  There are great "photo-opportunities!"

         - - - - - - - - - -

Remember:  PICNIC AREAS MUST BE PRE-BOOKED on the weekend!  (Call 601-829-0800.) 

Guidelines for WEEKDAY Visits

Dear WEEKDAY Coordinator,

The following guidelines should help make your visit to the Pumpkin Patch run smoothly. Please make a copy of these Guidelines available to all participating teachers so each class will know in advance of our activities & requests.  Certain items only apply to weekday groups. Thanks much.

Prior to your visit   (See Items 1, 2 and 3 in your packet--Downloads tab.)

Item 1 (Weekday only) - We ask that you please contact us a minimum of two (2) weekdays prior to your visit with "final numbers".  Everything will be based on these numbers.  We need to know:

• a.  the total number of classes attending

• b.  the total number of children (students and any siblings)

• c.  the total number of paying adults (parents, grandparents, non-staff adults, etc.)

• d.  the total number of staff members (teachers and any aides and/or bus drivers)

• e.  plus, the number of vehicles or buses to allow for in the parking area.

Item 2 (Weekday Only) - It is easier to work with groups by classrooms with the individual teachers overseeing their classrooms.  With this in mind (at least two (2) weekdays prior to your visit), please forward a listing of each participating teacher's Class Roll  (See Item 2) with teacher's name (that the children call him/her) and grade level.  We will prepare nametags and refreshments for the children attending from these Class Rolls.  Please print legibly.  We do not need the names of the parents or other staff.  The above information (Items 1&2)  can be:

• a. faxed to (601)829-0900

• b. e-mailed to nichtrees@aol.com (you can also utilize the fillable form on the Downloads tab)

• c. mailed to 3970 Highway 43 North  Brandon, MS  39047

• Item 3 - The parental letter must be duplicated and distributed to all participating students and siblings.  (If you are a returning visitor, make sure you use the the most recent form.)  We will take these up when you arrive at the farm.  Please make copies for your records, if you need them.  A permission slip from the school will not suffice.  For insurance reasons parents must complete our form.  It is also informative for the parent and we want them to be as informed as possible. The form is somewhat "self-explanatory."  Fill in the date and time for your visit at the top. Fill in the child pricing.  Determine a deadline for return and fill in that blank.  The additional teacher notes blank is there for your convenience. Some coordinators have included such items as: (1) requests for chaperones (2) ways to make checks payable (3) additional transportation costs, etc.

Arrive on Schedule - In order for your group to receive the full benefit of your visit.  Make sure your bus driver knows the way!  (see map in Downloads) We never want to feel we are rushing you along, but there may be other classes scheduled behind you.  If for some reason you cannot participate, please let us know of your cancellation at the earliest possible time.  This allows other groups an opportunity to attend, if we know of your cancellation.

Stay Together - Bus Groups: We ask that your group WAIT on the bus upon arrival.  Your assigned Tour Guide will be able to greet the students on their bus as they first arrive and the coordinator can go to the registration area during this time.  It also seems to help "set the tempo" if the students are fully aware of the activities and our expectations of them.  Smaller groups: Please WAIT together while the Coordinator goes to the Coordinator Check-in.

Coordinator, when you "check-in"--

(1) Please know the exact count of children (and siblings) and parents to finalize your payment.

(2) Have parents' monies with your check-in funds and

(3) Have permission slips for all students (Item 3 in Downloads).  We do not need a long line of parents at the check-in window.  Please make advanced arrangements to collect their money at the school (or at the farm before going to the check-in window.)

Get Streamer - (Weekday Only) - If the children in your group are selecting pumpkins from the field; you will be given two (2) streamers at check-in to assist us with the "shuttling" of your pumpkins from the field.  One streamer should be tied to the vehicle or bus which will be the "collection point" for your pumpkins; and the other streamer will go "on the tour" with you.  Our "shuttle truck" will collect your selected pumpkins, plus the streamer you take to the field; and match it with the streamer that is tied to your "transporting vehicle."  The pumpkins will be left beside that vehicle.  Make sure your streamer is attached to the correct "transporting vehicle."  You will load the pumpkins into the vehicle, distribute to parents, etc. from this "transporting vehicle" area.

Pricing (Weekday Only) - Pricing for children during the week $7.00/child; Parents' weekday fee is $6.00/parent (This parent fee does not include a pumpkin. Parents may shop our retail area for pumpkins. Weekend pricing, scheduling and activities are different from weekday activities).

Name Tags (Weekday Only) - Based on the Class Roll(s) (Item 2 in Download) that you will have sent us, we will prepare nametags for the children who will be selecting pumpkins.  The tour guide will have them when she greets your group.  Please make sure we have those list(s) in a timely-manner (TWO WEEKDAYS PRIOR) to prepare for your visit.

Rescheduling - We have been fortunate over the years with the weather.  However, if weather conditions do not warrant your visit on the originally scheduled date; we will work with you to try and find a date to reschedule.  If the weather looks questionable, please stay in touch with us regarding your decision about attendance.

Standing Reservations (Weekday Only) - With the increase in postage rates and increasing numbers of visitors we are trying an "additional step" for the following year's registration.  You will be given the option to make advance reservations for the 'same time next year.'  When you check in we will give you the option to reserve the same time slot and/or request another time slot for next year.  If no one requests the same time slot for next year, we can establish a "standing reservation" for your group in years to come.  If you are interested, ask the secretary for the proper "pre-registration" form for next year.  All future October  reservations will be confirmed by correspondence we send in Spring Registration.

Open Registration - We begin OPEN registration for the next year tours in March.  Most of our communication is via fax machine and e-mail or website.  Make sure we know the best way to communicate with you---fax or e-mail.  Don't worry, we do utilize the postal system and telephone, if needed.

Dear Coordinator, 

(Weekend visits to not have to be pre-scheduled, but it is always helpful for a large group to give advance notice in order to keep your group together on the same wagon.  If your group needs a picnic area, that does have to be pre-scheduled to assure availability.)

The following information should help organize for your WEEKEND visit.

Prior to your visit   (See Items 1 and 3 in your packet--Downloads tab.)

Item 1 (Weekday and Weekend) - We ask that you please contact us a minimum of two (2) weekdays prior to your visit with "final numbers".  Everything will be based on these numbers.  We need to know:

• a.  the activities: Weekend pricing is $7/person for hayrides; $5/person for maze, $1/person for facepainting.

• b. the total number of children in each activity.

• c.  the total number of adults in each activity.

• d.  if your group will be utilizing a picnic area and the requested picnic time.
  

•  

• The above information (Item 1) can be:

• a. faxed to (601)829-0900

• b. e-mailed to NichTrees@AOL.com (you can also utilize the fillable form on the Downloads tab)

• c. booked online (see the Reservations tab on this website)
  

• d. mailed to 3970 Highway 43 North  Brandon, MS  39047

Item 3 (Weekend [if child is not accompanied by parent]) - The parental letter must be duplicated and distributed to all participating students and siblings.  (If you are a returning visitor, make sure you use the the most recent packet.)  We will take these up when you arrive at the farm.  Please make copies for your records, if you need them.  A permission slip from the organization will not suffice.  For insurance reasons parents must complete our form.  It is also informative for the parent and we want them to be as informed as possible. The form is somewhat "self-explanatory."  Fill in the date and time for your visit at the top. Fill in the child pricing.  Determine a deadline for return and fill in that blank.  The additional notes blank is there for your convenience. Some groups have included such items as: (1) requests for chaperones (2) ways to make checks payable (3) additional transportation costs, etc.

PICNIC AREAS MUST BE PRE-BOOKED ON WEEKENDS to insure availability.