Farm & Forest School
A hands-on homeschool enrichment program
2026-2027 School Year:
September 14, 2026 - May 28, 2027
Monday - Wednesday - Friday
9:30 am - 3:30 pm
What is a Farm and Forest School?
Our Farm & Forest School offers a wide range of activities, including woodworking, nature collecting, forest art, tree climbing, campfire preparation, cooking, mud kitchens, bug hotels, animal interactions, shelter building, and scavenger hunts. What sets our program apart is a structured morning focused on developing study skills through reading, writing, and social studies. In the afternoons, students have the opportunity to explore their interests further, taking an active role in shaping the direction of their learning experiences.
Benefits of a Farm and Forest School:
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Nature Immersion: Children spend a significant portion of their day outdoors, developing a deep connection with nature and understanding its importance.
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Experiential Learning: Our hands-on approach to education allows children to learn by doing, engaging all their senses and creating lasting memories.
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Physical Development: Regular outdoor activities in the farm and forest promote gross and fine motor skill development, as well as overall physical fitness.
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Social-Emotional Growth: Collaborative projects and group activities foster empathy, communication skills, and a sense of community among students.
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Environmental Stewardship: By participating in sustainable farming practices and forest conservation projects, children develop a strong sense of responsibility towards the environment.
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Creativity and Problem-Solving: Our dynamic learning environment encourages children to think creatively, ask questions, and develop problem-solving skills that will serve them throughout their lives.
Farm & Forest Class Schedule:
As a homeschool enrichment option, you may choose several schedule options to fit the needs of your family. Monday, Wednesday, and Friday mornings offer study skills for students ages 5-13. Afternoons are geared towards nature, science, arts, crafts, animals, and hands-on activities. You may sign up for an all-day experience which covers all core subjects. Or you may sign up for our half-day option and choose either AM study skills (Language Arts, Writing, and Social Studies), or PM Farm & Forest (STEAM subjects).
Friday evenings are optional Farm & Forest Bonus evenings, which are geared towards specific age groups, and the topics change monthly based on student interest.
Class Schedule
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9:30 AM – 10:00 AM Arrivals
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Parents may drop off children anytime between 9:30 AM and 10:00 AM. During this time, children will engage in activities at our base camp while greeting friends.
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10:00 AM – 10:30 AM Community Circle
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Children will gather to welcome peers, share highlights, and discuss the day's activities.
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10:30 AM – 11:00 AM Reading
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We will explore our reading books, learn new vocabulary words, and listen to stories read aloud.
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11:00 AM – 12:00 PM Writing
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Students will develop skills such as note-taking, retelling stories, summarizing references, writing based on pictures, and creating their own fables, myths, and fairy tales.
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12:00 PM – 1:00 PM Lunch and Free Play
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Children can enjoy lunch picnic-style and play with friends. During this time, some students may leave for the day, while others join us for the afternoon session. Part-time students should be picked up or dropped off after 12:30 PM but before 1:00 PM unless dining with us, in which case drop-off should occur by 12:00 PM.
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1:00 PM – 3:00 PM Farm & Forest Activities
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Child-led exploration based on students' interests, involving science, art, math, and other disciplines. Activities may include animal care, baking, foraging, building with LEGOs, fort construction, campfire cooking, carving, and more. Activities will evolve based on students' curiosities and seasonal resources.
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3:00 PM – 3:30 PM Departures
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Parents should pick up children anytime between 3:00 PM and 3:30 PM. During this time, children will be engaging in activities at our base camp while saying farewell to friends.
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Bonus Friday Evenings*
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4:00 PM -5:30 PM
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TBD: We will announce upcoming Bonus Fridays, during which we will explore topics such as wildcrafting, campfire cooking, medicinal herbal remedies, and more. *Students who have attended the PM Friday session may stay and attend the Bonus class with prior arrangements.
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"The best education does not happen at a desk, but rather engaged in everyday living- hands on, exploring, in active relationship with life."
-Vince Gowman
Morning Study Skills
(Reading, Writing, Social Studies)
Grades K-8: 9:30-12:30 Monday - Wednesday - Friday
Morning study skills classes blend reading, writing, and social studies for an integrated subject study. Our curriculum resources are designed to seamlessly integrate traditional academic subjects with hands-on learning experiences in our farm and forest settings. It is my personal dedication as an experienced educator to ensure that each child receives a well-rounded education that meets and exceeds state standards.
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Language Arts: Using the Institute for Excellence in Writing (IEW) curriculum, students explore classic children's stories while developing their writing skills through the Structure and Style method. A variety of engaging activities will establish a strong foundation for creative and effective writing experiences. Students will learn to take notes, retell narratives, summarize references, write based on visual prompts, and create their own original stories.
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Social Studies: Students learn about history through living books that focus on engaging narratives, biographies, and primary sources rather than dry textbooks.
Afternoon STEAM (Nature studies, Animal Care, S.T.E.A.M.)
Grades K-8: 12:30-3:30 Monday - Wednesday - Friday
Afternoon STEAM classes focus on integrating Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics (STEAM) with environmental exploration to foster curiosity and hands-on learning in natural settings.
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Nature Studies: Learning about the plants and animals that live in the boreal forest through hands-on discovery and exploration.
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Animal Care: Helping care for the farm animals teaches essential life skills, including patience and routine, and promotes emotional well-being and reduces stress.
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STEAM: Our vast outdoor classroom provides endless opportunities for scientific exploration, observation, and experimentation.
Friday Bonus Evenings
*All Ages 4:00-6:00 PM Friday Evenings TBD
Intro to Wildcrafting: Ages 5-13
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Students learn basic identification, harvesting, and utilization of wild plants from their natural environment for purposes such as food, medicine, or crafts. This educational, hands-on class promotes a meaningful connection to nature and encourages environmental stewardship.
Ethnobotany: Ages 14-18
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This wildcrafting class explores Alaska's wild plants in greater depth through the disciplines of botany, social studies, writing, and art. Ethnobotany is the scientific study of traditional knowledge and the relationships between people and plants. It investigates how different cultures utilize plants for food, medicine, shelter, ceremonial purposes, and economic activities, integrating elements of botany and anthropology, with wildcrafting and foraging.
Outdoor skills: Ages 8-13
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Students learn necessary outdoor skills such as fire-building, knot tying, navigation, first aid, and shelter building, which foster confidence, resilience, and safety. Teaching kids to identify native plants, purify water, and use tools like pocketknives safely helps build self-sufficiency in nature.
Herbal crafting: *All ages
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Come learn how to identify and use local medicinal plants to create salves, teas, lotions, soap, and medicinal tinctures. Every class, you will take home a product you created! *7 and under must be accompanied by an adult.
Campfire Cookout: Ages 8-13
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Come hang out by the fire with friends and learn to cook some grub over the campfire.