Since 1967, the Charles L. Bowers School Farm has been housed off I-75 on 93 acres within Bloomfield Hills. Purchased by Bloomfield Hills Schools to be used as a land laboratory, it welcomes 35,000 visitors annually for school field trips, summer camps, community events and recreational purposes. And now, the hope is that this number will increase as Bowers is– first the first time ever– officially open for casual visitation.
In addition to visiting the animals and walking the trails, Bowers’ visitors have the chance every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday to purchase fresh farm produce in the market, indulge in an MSU Dairy Store ice cream via a walk-up window and engage in fun farm activities.
Due to the global pandemic, many local residents are choosing to stay local this summer but still feel comfortable participating in outdoor activities with family members. Bowers School Farm Director Alan Jaros said that this, along with the closure of schools and reduced activity on the farm, “presented an opportunity.”
“We are always committed to being a source of unbiased and helpful information to make informed decisions about food, agriculture and natural resource conservation,” Jaros said. “The community has been asking for casual visitation for a long time, and places like the Zoo are testaments to the fact that people are looking for places they’ll feel comfortable taking their families to.”
Daily admission costs are $10 per adult and child over two, $9 for seniors 60 and up and free for children two and under. However, there are also a variety of membership options with core benefits to consider, as well:
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Individual Member, $45
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Individual Member and Guest, $65
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Family Membership, $85 (for two adults and dependent children or grandchildren under 18)
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Senior Membership, $55 (must be 60 and “wiser”)
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Current Volunteer Family Membership, $45 (for two adults, one of which volunteers 20 or more hours per year in the Bowers 4-H Club or as a Bowers Master Gardener, and dependent children 18 and under)
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Supporting Community Garden Member, $100 or $60 for seniors 60+ (for one person plus access to the 25’ by 25’ plot in the Community Garden)
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Professional Photographer Member, $500 (gets access by appointment during limited traffic hours)
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And more!
Bowers welcomes every learner to discover and wonder in the world around them; nevertheless, if the Bloomfield Hills School District’s 200 million dollar bond passes on August 4, Bowers will have the opportunity to reach even more in its educational programming since, right now, it’s not completely accessible. For example, those with different abilities currently have difficulty accessing the horse barn, the goat barn and the garden. The bond would provide resources for accessible walkways and pathways, as well as structures that people with wheelchairs can get into.
Located at 1219 East Square Lake Road, Bowers School Farm is a proud partner of Friends of Bowers Farm, Preservation Bloomfield, Bloomfield Historical Society and the Master Gardener Society of Oakland County. More details about casual visitation and fall happenings at Bowers can be found at schoolfarm.org or @BowersSchoolFarm on Instagram and Facebook.
