Wolcott Mill Metropark552

We take our family to the Farm Learning Center at least 6 times a year. Admission is free, and we have such a nice time visiting with the animals. :)

We also picnic a few times a year at the Mill.

My four-year-old son and I visited Wolcott Mill's Farm Learning Center for the first time last year with some friends and have been back numerous times since. Its a real working farm with dairy barn and cows, horses, goats, sheep, etc. The staff that work at the farm are mostly volunteers who love their jobs, and they are so knowledgeable and great with young kids. Getting to the farm is a bit confusing because it's not on the site near the rest of Wolcott Mill. It's a little bit further east on 29 Mile, but getting there is a part of the fun! Go down a dirt road for a while, and the farm is on the left side. Admission is free for everyone. The primary things seen from the ample parking area are the main barn, a house-type builiding, a corn field, and a covered picnic area (I think you have to rent that area, but you can picnic anywhere in the grassy area for free). In the house, there is normally someone working who can tell you about the farm - there are also restrooms and a water fountain in there. The dairy cows are milked at 10am - this is a MUST-SEE - my son loves it ... if he can get past the scent in the barn! If you miss milking time, the dairy barn has posted a chart of how the cows are milked, and you can still walk through the dairy barn even when the cows aren't inside. Outside of the dairy barn, you'll find the new arrivals for spring - the baby calves - who are pretty friendly, especially if you pick some of the grass right outside the pen and feed them. The horse area is also a must-see, as they are often frolicking about ... and the turkeys are very interested in little ones and will come up to the fence. Be careful, though, because they are a bit aggressive and will peck! Be sure to visit in the fall for apple cider, donuts, and a carriage ride through the fields. The tour-guide who did our carriage ride was great - she told us all about the crops that are planted and harvested, how they feed the animals with the crops that are grown on the farm, and had a ton of hands-on items for the kids like corn cobs, soy beans, etc. All in all, the farm learning center is a great daytime activity for kids of all ages. There are so many things to do, you'll never be bored!