Fox Run Acres is a family farm and petting zoo in Sewell where kids can meet horses, ponies, goats, sheep, ducks, and llamas. Pony rides, playgrounds, and picnic areas round out a relaxed outdoor visit. The animal interaction is gentle and self-paced. (276 Hurffville Cross Keys Rd, Sewell, NJ 08080) With a little planning, a visit can be a calm, joyful day for an autistic child. Here is a sensory-friendly guide from our BCBA-led team — what to expect, the quietest times to go, and how to prepare.
The best time to visit
Ask the venue about quieter days or low-sensory hours, and aim for weekday mornings outside of seasonal festival weekends when crowds are thinnest. Confirm hours on the official site before you go.
What to expect
This is a mostly outdoor setting with natural sights, sounds, and smells, plus the tactile experience of feeding and petting animals, which some children love and others find intense. Open space means kids can move freely and take breaks. Weekday mornings are far quieter than seasonal festival weekends.
A few things your child may enjoy:
- Petting zoo with goats, sheep, llamas, and ponies
- Pony rides
- Two playground areas and picnic space
How to prepare your child
- Preview it. Look at photos or a map together beforehand so the visit feels predictable (a simple “social story”).
- Use “first–then.” “First we look around, then we get a snack.”
- Pack comfort items — noise-canceling headphones, a favorite fidget, water, and a familiar snack.
- Plan a quiet exit — pick a calm spot for a break if your child gets overwhelmed.
How ABA therapy makes outings like this easier
Community trips are exactly where ABA skills pay off. A Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) can help your child practice the very skills a visit to Fox Run Acres Farm & Petting Zoo demands — waiting, transitioning between activities, asking for a break, staying close in crowds, and tolerating new sights and sounds. At Autumn ABA, our community-based and natural-environment sessions build these skills in the real settings where they matter. Many Gloucester County families work on exactly these goals so days out become something to look forward to. Learn more about our in-home, school, community, and telehealth ABA programs.
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