By Allison Espiritu

Staff Reporter

With jackets zipped and rain boots on, Encompass toddlers roamed the Nursery at Mount Si pumpkin patch as they each searched for the right sized pumpkin to take home for carving.

On Thursday, Oct. 22 Nikki Slaght, Encompass Toddler teacher was accompanied by parents and grandparents on a hayride full of toddlers bumping along the muddy trail.

Seasonal field trips are not a rarity for this energy-filled one and two-year old kids.

The pumpkin patch, Fall City Farm and a regional aquarium are just a number of places these tumbling tots get to explore over the year.

“We’re just here to find the best pumpkins today,” Slaght said.

Nursery at Mount Si is one of the few pumpkin patches that are free to the public. School groups are able to pay for them to be open during the week and on the weekend the hayride, pumpkin patch, cocoa and hot cider are free of charge.

“It helps us to stay aroudn in October and also provides us a nice community area,” said Cyndi Stuart, nursery supervisor at the Nursery at Mount Si.