Made in America

Find out how things work on a
field trip.

It's exciting to see how something is made. Our minds naturally thrill to finding out the secrets behind familiar items. Many factories around the country -- some possibly in your own town -- allow the public to take tours. Make a day trip to a nearby factory or incorporate a factory visit into your next vacation, and you'll experience firsthand how much fun it is to see America's work force and machinery in action. Here are some obvious benefits:

• Firsthand sensory fun for the whole family. Unlike many vacation activities that tend to be either mainly for the kids or the adults, visiting a factory is fun for everyone. Whether it's seeing a rainbow of colors added to Crayola crayons or watching robots bolt car parts on an assembly line, behind-the-scenes glimpses of production make for enjoyable education. York County, Pennsylvania -- the country's factory-tour capital -- understands the appeal of seeing some of your favorite products being produced right on the authentic factory floor. It's "the impact on your senses -- the sights, smells, and tastes of American ingenuity at its best."
• Kids witness process, patience, and perseverance. Mister Rogers' Neighborhood was on to this concept a long time ago, and the PBS show regularly features trips to see how people make things. The Mister Rogers' portion of the PBS Kids Web site proclaims the value: "Factory visits can help children understand that most things happen through a process -- with a beginning, a middle, and an end. When they make something, they will know that everything takes time to accomplish. Then they may not give up so easily when they're frustrated in the early stages."
• Kids learn that raw materials are ingredients for finished products. Beyond teaching that doing things well requires time and a process, visiting a factory tells the fascinating story of taking raw materials and making something useful. It's the magic of manufacturing in a real setting -- and it often comes with free samples. You might visit a candy factory or an apple orchard and be treated to peanut-butter fudge or cider afterward.
• Kids become curious and get answers. Factory tours pique curiosity and then deliver answers to burning questions like, "How does the fortune get in the cookie?" and "How does the hole get in the donut?" Your kids will be prompted to wonder more. You never know when an example of innovation and invention will spark the imagination of a future Alexander Graham Bell or Bill Gates.
• Kids see craftsmanship. Factory tours help develop a healthy respect for the art, science, and engineering involved in making something. Kids see how many people it takes to make everything from a wooden shoe (Holland, Michigan) to a scoop of Ben and Jerry's ice cream (Waterbury, Vermont). When you're done with the factory tour and any freebies that come with it, you have a perfect springboard for talking about the importance of appreciating everyday products, and not taking them for granted.