Located along the Potomac River, students will get hands-on and minds-on in an outdoor, natural environment. Students will explore scientific and academic concepts through experiential learning. Students are immersed in nature to experience and explore the marsh, forest, and river ecosystems.

Look out over the Potomac River to gain a historical and current understanding of how people impact the watershed. Explore our historic farm and meet our friendly barn animals to understand their role in our lives and environment. 

Take action by participating in a riverside litter cleanup and learn more about what we can all do to protect nature. 

Field Studies curriculum is adjusted for students K-12.  

Students may eat lunch at the farm. The day typically runs from 10 AM to 2 PM.

* Note: Times and activities may vary according to the seasons, weather conditions, bus schedules, other AFF onsite activities, or interests and needs of the group.

Your students get to stay until 7 pm! This program is similar to the day program but adds in dinner, a hayride, and s’mores around the campfire!

Stay the night in our cabins at Hard Bargain Farm!

The overnight program is designed for students grades 4-12 and consists of two to four days of age-appropriate activities, which typically run from 9 or 10 AM to 8 PM (Days 1 to 3) and 8 AM to 12 PM (Day of Departure).

Days 1 to 3 focus on habitats, ecosystems, watersheds, human impact on the environment, and what we can all do to help. Curriculum and activities can be adjusted for the age and interests of the group. Of course, this includes meeting our farm animals! Other activities can include service learning, kayaking, orienteering, team building games, and more. Then enjoy a wagon ride to the Potomac River, dinner, and a campfire with s’mores under the stars (weather permitting). Other evening activities may include a night hike or games exploring the dark with one of our talented educators.

The last day of the program begins at 8 AM in the barnyard to help with chores or milk our cow. Build student confidence and team skills in our Challenge Course or learn about historical tools, and then head out to explore the garden and learn about native plants and where our food comes from. Students will participate in an interactive learning activity, Who Polluted the Potomac? that reveals students’ connection to the environment of the Potomac River and how we can all help protect our environment.

By the end of this program students will learn:

• Humans have an impact on our waterways.
• Everyone lives in a watershed.
• What happens upstream can affect downstream.
• Trash gets into waterways in a lot of ways.
• The history of the Potomac River and how it is utilized today.
• What leads to greater amounts of erosion and why is erosion not beneficial to the environment, nature, and wildlife.
• Various types of materials break down differently when exposed continuously to the elements.
• Things students can do at home (individually or as a family – every action counts) to reduce the amount of trash and pollutants that end up in waterways.

Arrival & Restroom break – 15 minutes
Brief Intro to the property, objective, & safety chat – 10 minutes
Hike or Wagon Ride to riverside – 15-20 minutes
Cleanup – 1.5 hours
Return to main building – 15-20 minutes
Lunch break – 30 minutes
Reflection activities – 60 minutes