School Field Experiences

Bowers School Farm and Johnson Nature Center, owned by Bloomfield Hills Schools, extend learning beyond the classroom. Their diverse habitats support a variety of native plants and wildlife, livestock, and crops. From stepping into the historical buildings and back in time, to digging deep into the soil and imagining a more sustainable future, these unique sites offer dynamic educational experiences to serve the needs of today’s students.

NOTICE: Bloomfield Hills Schools has entered into a new partnership with Oakland County Parks regarding Bowers School Farm and Johnson Nature Center to support operations, enhance programming, and ensure the long-term sustainability of both sites. As part of this transition, we have been intentional about maintaining the high-quality field trip experiences that local districts value. We anticipate continuing to offer field trip opportunities for the 2026–27 school year, and you can plan accordingly for your students. Details about the partnership can be found here.

2025 School Programs

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Give your classroom a unique learning experience on the farm in the outdoors and surrounded by agriculture. Programs at the farm, on-site, provide the best way to immerse your students in agriculture with hands-on learning.

School Programs at the Farm

Available Seasonal Programs:

Farm Discovery Days
Grades Pre-K and Up
When: October, April - June
Join us for an exciting field experience where learning and fun go hand in hand! Students will have the chance to explore a working farm and discover the wonders of agriculture. Through engaging activities and guided tours, they'll learn how vegetables grow, see farm machinery in action, and understand the importance of taking care of our environment. Hands-on experiences like pony grooming, egg collecting, and observing farm life up close will make for an unforgettable educational adventure. This trip is designed to spark curiosity, foster a love for nature, and provide meaningful insights into where our food comes from.
October programs will allow add-ons of picking pumpkins and butter making.
A Sheep’s Story
Grades K-5
When: February - March
Explore the fascinating world of sheep and wool in this hands-on program! Learn about the unique physical traits of sheep, the history of sheep farming, and how wool has been used throughout time. Discover how wool compares to other fibers and why it's so unique. Students will get creative with a fun, hands-on wool project to experience its versatility firsthand. This program meets K-5 ELA, Science, & Social Studies Standards.
View standards HERE
Farm Detectives (Grades Pre-K to 2nd)
Explore the joys and mysteries of life on the farm through the seasons! Students are invited to become detectives on the farm to help us solve BIG questions. What do the animals on the farm need to be healthy? And how can we, as farmers, help care for the animals?
This is a 3 season program, groups/classes must register for three dates total throughout the school year (Fall, Winter, and Spring)
Vermicomposting- Worm Farming Fun (Any Age/Grade)
Bowers Worm Farming Fun is a program designed for teachers, young learners, and first-time vermicomposters! We deliver toolkits, educational materials, experiments, and fun activities. We provide you with easy-to-follow instructions and personalized help from Bowers staff throughout the process. These small, user-friendly totes will come with Red Wigglers ready to help compost your kitchen scraps and the first bit of food scraps, properly cut up to help get you started.
This program is designed to help you learn the basics of vermicomposting and our goal is to make it enjoyable and educational for students and teachers alike. Worm bins will be returned to Bowers Farm, but we hope that you will keep the Red Wigglers and graduate to a slightly larger worm bin that can accommodate more food scraps.
Caring for Red Wigglers is easy once you learn the basics, so we have options to help provide you with all of the information that you need.
$45 per kit (3 month rental)

Spring 2026 schedule is FULL. If you have any questions, please email us to inquire HERE.

If you are interested in being contacted for next school year, please submit your information below. Scheduling will not begin until later August - September.

Program Fees

$168 fee per program slot for a maximum of  14 students.  Register for multiple slots for larger groups.
A $80 non-refundable deposit per program slot is required to hold the date.
Programs are 1.5 - 2 hours.
One teacher is required and free. Teachers and support staff needed for student success are free.
At the discretion of the teacher, a maximum of 14 adult chaperones per group may attend, not to exceed 1:1 ratio with students, at a fee of $14/person pre-paid during registration.
Additional adults and/or siblings may not attend due to space constraints and program design. Infants may be brought but are asked to be in a carrier on an adult so that the adult hands are free to assist their child with activities. No strollers allowed.
Additional fees apply to add-ons including: pumpkins (October), cider and donuts for Friday programs in October.