Farm & Forest School

Learning to grow food (and our families) together

Our Farm and Forest School has been designed and is managed by Cheryl (B’Sc, B’Ed) and her team of homeschooling homesteading daughters, Ava (16), Lexie (14) and Ruth Anne (12) – plus a few more upcoming daughters in the years ahead.

As a former high school teacher with the Thames Valley District School Board, Cheryl has been homeschooling her family for more than 16 years now. While simultaneously running a kitchen-table school room ranging from pre-school age to secondary levels, the homeschooling experience has opened her eyes to a better way of learning; one that is student-directed and motivated by a love of learning.

“Our tiny kitchen-table school room merges into the wide expanse of farm and forest learning each day as we care for livestock, attempt to grow our own food, design and build shelters and fencing using tools, manage a woodland, and prepare for the challenges of the changing seasons.” – Mama Bear (aka Ms. Cheryl)

We will be designing a Farm & Forest School for each season that will highlight the changes, challenges and fruit that comes from immersing ourselves as the primary consumers and care-givers of the land under our feet.

The foundation of our knowledge will be “creation-based” and simple in its traditional delivery. We encourage all children to ask questions and develop an inquiring mind, so we will not exclude the ideas and imaginations of one who is seeking truth.

All ages welcome & parents are welcome to stay & learn along-side their child for all our sessions

Space will be limited to 12 students per session and we will offer limited Drop-In spaces each week (you MUST register on-line).

Pre-Register for the entire 8 sessions and receive a DISCOUNTED RATE

Classes will run rain-or-shine, so send your child prepared with extra clothing for the outdoors. If you are interested in volunteering to help, please let me know.

NOTE – please ask regarding younger children as we may be able to incorporate a younger program in the future. Likewise, if there is an interest for young people (13+ years), we may have options to accomodate this age group.

What to expect

Sessions will run for 8 weeks and we will meet in-person, on the farm for 4 hours on a selected day of the week. Students will come prepared to be outdoors, however, we will have access to our heated “farmhouse” for indoor activities during the day. Students will BYO lunch and snacks.

Activities will include :

» barn chore exercises including milking a goat, feeding animals and filling water and hay

» woodland exploration & guided forest play

» learning how to care for and feed a variety of animals including raising dairy goats, training ponies, raising chickens and collecting eggs, raising and caring for pigs and piglets, raising alpacas and raising rabbits and their young

» nature-related crafts and activities

» farm-related building projects using simple tools and materials

» survival skills including shelter building & foraging

» food preparation skills including sourdough bread making, cheese making, foraging and harvesting from the garden, canning and preparing herbal teas (seasonal)

» planting, growing and harvesting from the garden

» growing medicinal herbs, harvesting herbs and their uses

*Cost – Discounted Rate for 8 sessions paid in full $40 per child per day

Additional Child $20 per day

Price includes ONE parent only – additional adults $10 per day

Drop-Ins MUST register directly on our website – $60 per day

*(some additional fees may apply for extra materials – TBA)

(Full payment required at booking for discount; plus tax)

NOTE – There is no refund for missed classes. Classes will run rain-or-shine and we will only cancel/reschedule if weather conditions are unfavourably extreme.

Date – Our Summer Session will run every Wednesday from June 27 – August 16, 2023.

Session must have at least 8 children enrolled to commence