Insider Tours

Discover the Past and Present with our Insider Tours

The Insider Tour is a dynamic, two-hour field trip experience at the QCFM designed for students, educators, and professionals. This immersive program blends hands-on science, environmental sustainability, and rich colonial history, offering a unique opportunity to explore both the natural and cultural systems that shape our world.

Participants will dive into the principles of regenerative agriculture, examine the functions of ecosystems, and engage with key topics in environmental science—from soil health and biodiversity to the role of trees in carbon cycling and climate resilience. Alongside modern sustainability practices, the tour also uncovers the everyday life and farming practices of colonial times, highlighting how past and present agricultural methods connect.

Highlights of the Insider Tour can include:

  • Interactive demonstrations of composting, hydroponics, and soil restoration techniques
  • Exploration of pollinator-friendly gardens, tree ecology, and self-sustaining ecosystems
  • Insight into the farm’s 18th-century history, including farming tools, methods, and land use
  • Visits to:
    • The animal paddocks, where students can observe livestock and discuss animal roles in farm ecosystems
    • The historic cold frames, used for season extension long before modern greenhouses
    • Our American Chestnut trees, with discussion on biodiversity, conservation, and ecological restoration

Tours can also include stops at several of the farm’s six teaching gardens, each offering hands-on learning opportunities tied to plant science, food systems, and environmental education.

Led by our expert educators—including STEM and Compost Coordinators and our resident Botanist, the program is slightly customized to suit the learning level of each group.

It’s especially suited for AP Environmental Science and Biology students, college classes, and professionals in science or education fields.

Guests should bring a snack to enjoy during a mid-program break in our outdoor gathering space (weather permitting).

Insider Tours are offered daily between the hours of 10am-4pm, and on weekends between the hours of 10am-3pm. Insider Tours are two hours in length and include a 15-20 minute snack/restroom break.

$15/participant, 28 person maximum per group

Questions? Contact education@queensfarm.org.

Register

Tailored for High School and College Learners

The Insider Tour is thoughtfully designed for high school and college students, with content that challenges and engages learners at an advanced level. For students in AP science courses, environmental clubs, or STEM-focused high schools, the program introduces deeper scientific inquiry into topics like regenerative agriculture, climate resilience, and ecosystem dynamics. College students benefit from connections to current research, applied sustainability practices, and interdisciplinary perspectives. Our team works with instructors to align with academic goals, ensuring a rigorous, hands-on experience that brings environmental science, biology, and sustainability to life.