Pennridge special education students enjoy inclusive fall fun at Tabora Farms

(The following is a verbatim press release provided by Pennridge School District)

More than 100 K-12 Pennridge students with special needs recently enjoyed a memorable day at Tabora Farms, a local farm and bakery.

Tabora Farms owners Caleb and Patricia Torrice invited the students to enjoy a day of learning, laughter, and inclusion. Working in partnership with the district’s Special Education Supervisors, the Torrice family helped design a district-wide Community-Based Instruction (CBI) trip that included students from Life Skills, Autistic Support Level 3, Daily Living Skills, and the High School PACE Center programs.

The several-hour trip, provided free of charge to Pennridge, featured a scenic wagon ride through the orchard, an apple education session, and hands-on apple picking. Each student selected four apples to take home and enjoyed a freshly baked chocolate chip cookie from Tabora’s bakery. The Torrice family even built a custom ramp so that students who use wheelchairs could fully participate in the hayride and orchard activities.

    Students arrive on the farm. (Courtesy of David Thomas)
  

    Students play on see-saws. (Courtesy of David Thomas)
  

A Family’s Gratitude and Inspiration

Tabora Farms owners Caleb and Patricia Torrice have deep roots in the Pennridge community. Their son, Brody, graduated last year, while their daughter, Molly, will graduate in 2026. They also have another son, Jack, who is currently in the ninth grade Practical Academics & Community Education (PACE) program.

The Torrices said their inspiration for hosting the event came from their deep appreciation for the Pennridge teachers and staff who have supported their son, Jack, since kindergarten.

“The whole motivation in inviting all the students from the Pennridge district was our direct connection with all of the teachers and aides and how skillfully and compassionately they’ve worked with Jack since kindergarten,” the Torrices said. “We know life for a lot of these kids is a lot harder than for the typical student, so we wanted to provide a typical day on the farm loaded with fall fun.”

“It was just incredible seeing all their smiles, particularly those students in wheelchairs who were able to wheel right under the apple trees and pick their own delicious apples,” the Torrices continued. “We absolutely loved the entire day, seeing all the kids having so much fun. It was a small gift to all these students who enrich our lives in their own special ways, and a token of our gratitude to all the teachers, aides, caretakers, nurses, and administrators who work tirelessly to provide the best education and care for these students. We look forward to making this an annual tradition!”

Reflecting on the day, Patricia Torrice added that the event was an effort to bring “normalcy” to the students.             

“We wanted all the kids to be able to come and experience pure joy out in nature,” said Mrs. Torrice. “Just seeing their faces meant the world to us, particularly the students in wheelchairs, rolling down the slide off the hay bales or reaching up to pick their own apples. I had plenty of tears in my eyes that day!”

    Caleb Torrice of Tabora Farms gets students ready for a session of gathering apples around the orchard. (Courtesy of David Thomas)
  

    Patricia and Caleb Torrice pose for a picture with a student. (Courtesy of David Thomas)
  

Community collaboration

Ernest Johnson, Pennridge’s Director of Student Services, said the event exemplified how powerful community partnerships can be for students and staff alike.

“The Tabora Farms experience provided our students with a great opportunity to learn in a community-based environment,” Johnson said. “Sensory exploration and other meaningful activities, such as learning to make apple cider, created lifetime memories for our students, and the care shown by Mr. and Mrs. Torrice is indicative of a family that values their community and school district. The ability to be at Tabora Farms reflected authentic learning as well as the beauty of what happens when communities and schools are engaged with one another.”

Deana McCann, one of four Supervisors of Special Education at Pennridge, echoed that sentiment.             

“To ensure accessibility, they even built a custom ramp so students who use wheelchairs could fully participate in the hayride and apple orchard activities,” McCann said. “The trip supported the development of social and life skills through apple picking, a hayride, sensory exploration, and an interactive presentation on how cider is made. This meaningful partnership highlights the power of community collaboration in creating inclusive, authentic learning opportunities for all students.”