A factory tour as a school field trip is an excellent way to see how science is applied to industry and the manufacturing of products. Most facilities allow for school tours, though booking in advance is required. Check for any special requirements and have a fun and educational field trip.
Eli's Cheesecake offers factory tours for individuals, small groups and large groups of more than 10 people. There are several different tour packages, starting with the basic educational experience, where you learn about the history and philosophy off cheesecake and see the cheesecake decorating department. Other more extensive tours include cheesecake tastings, decorating, tour of the entire bakery and an Eli T-shirt. Eli's is located in Chicago.
Long Grove Confectionery Company offers a chocolate factory tour. The tour lasts an hour and is only available from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. A free factory tour is offered on Saturdays. Learn how cacao is grown and eventually becomes chocolate. They also provide information on the formation of the company and see the chocolate being made that day. The factory is 85,000-square-feet and offers optimal viewing from behind the glass dome.
Oberweis Dairy is located in North Aurora. It offers diary plant tours where you can see the entire dairy process, from caring for the cows to bottling and packaging. Tour groups must have a minimum of 10 people and be scheduled in advance. All children must be at least 8 years old.
Fermilab in Batavia offers tours for high school and university groups. Fermilab was originally the National Accelerator Laboratory. The facility is dedicated to high energy physics, space and time and matter research. This is the only lab in the United States dedicated to high energy physics. Public tours are available on the first Sunday of every month and Wednesdays at 10:30 a.m. The Ask a Scientist tour is popular, as you can ask a scientist about your physics question and then take a behind the scenes tour. Private tours must be booked at least two weeks in advance.
