Young Pioneers Nature & Farm School

 

About Our Program

Where Children Thrive in the Heart of Nature

At Young Pioneers, children ages 3–10 immerse themselves in a 100% outdoor learning environment, with covered spaces ensuring year-round comfort and adventure, rain or shine.

Our true farm and nature school transforms the working farm, garden, and outdoor kitchen into living classrooms. Here, young pioneers care for animals, nurture plants, harvest fresh ingredients, and discover the wonders of the natural world through hands-on exploration.

For Our Youngest Explorers (Ages 3–5)

Play-based stations spark joy and foundational skills:

  • Acorn Academy: Dive into letters, numbers, and sensory play with bug hunts, citrus tastings, erupting "volcanoes," and playful math.

  • Adventure: Explore music, homesteading, and nature through seed planting, natural crafts, rhythm games, and outdoor songs.

  • The Nook: Rotating themes in cooking, science, art, and music—think fizzing experiments, potato planting, salt-paint masterpieces, and ocean-inspired tunes.

For Growing Independents (Ages 6–10)

Deeper stations foster leadership and real-world abilities:

  • The Leaf Lab (Science): Hands-on experiments like rock cycles and freezing points, paired with creative projects such as nature instruments and paper bead jewelry.

  • Kitchen: Harvest, cook, and savor farm-fresh meals while learning nutrition and global culinary traditions.

  • Garden: Microscope discoveries, bug studies, nature walks, and seasonal planting to understand food cycles.

  • Music: Orchestra instruments, world rhythms, theory, and composition.

  • Homestead: Woodworking, natural crafts, cultural geography, and sustainable skills.

  • Nature & Art: Wildlife observation, trail adventures, storytelling, and artistic expression in rewilded spaces.

A Program That Grows With Your Child

We nurture age-appropriate development:

  • Younger children build fine motor skills, early literacy and math, emotional awareness, independence, sharing, and friendships.

  • Older children embrace leadership, teamwork, conflict resolution, precise cooking and gardening, and advanced animal care.

Across all ages, students gain practical homesteading know-how alongside emotional intelligence, resilience, creativity, and collaboration.

At Young Pioneers, children head home with muddy hands, joyful hearts, and curious minds—equipped with the confidence, skills, and connections to thrive in harmony with nature and each other.

Philosophies

Raising Confident, Capable Kids

We want our kids to grow up knowing how to do real things—whether it’s growing food, cooking a meal, or building something with their hands. When kids get to learn through doing, they develop independence, creativity, and the confidence to figure things out.

Making Learning Come Alive

Education isn’t just about worksheets—it’s about wonder. Whether they’re measuring ingredients in the outdoor kitchen, exploring nature, or discovering how things work, kids learn best when they can see, touch, and experience the world around them.

Teaching Stewardship & Gratitude

We want our kids to grow up appreciating the beauty and order of creation, understanding that everything we have is a gift. Through gardening, exploring the outdoors, and seeing how things grow, they learn to be good stewards of the land and resources entrusted to them.

Building Strong Character

More than anything, we want to raise kids who are kind, hardworking, and resilient. Whether they’re working together on a project, problem-solving, or learning through trial and error, they develop patience, perseverance, and the ability to face challenges with a good attitude.

Rooting Our Kids in Family & Community

We want our kids to grow up knowing where their food comes from, appreciating the people who grow it, and experiencing the joy of creating something with their own hands. Whether it's baking bread, growing a garden, or simply sharing a meal, they learn that real joy comes from giving and being part of something bigger than themselves.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • We welcome children ages 3–10! Our programs are thoughtfully divided: playful, sensory-based learning for ages 3–5 (through stations like Acorn Academy, Adventure, and The Nook), and more advanced, leadership-building experiences for ages 6–10 (including Science at The Leaf Lab, Kitchen, Garden, Music, Homestead, and Nature & Art).

  • Yes, we're a fully outdoor nature and farm school, operating rain or shine! We have covered areas for year-round comfort, so children stay protected and engaged no matter the weather. This builds resilience and a deep connection to nature.

  • Children are grouped by age (about 10 per group) with a dedicated Lead Teacher who stays with them all day. They rotate through multiple hands-on outdoor stations (e.g., gardening, cooking, science experiments, music, animal care), enjoy snack/meal and recess time, and blend play, exploration, and real-world learning for muddy hands and joyful hearts!

  • Through experiential activities on our working farm and garden, kids build emotional intelligence, resilience, creativity, collaboration, independence, stewardship, and gratitude. Younger ones focus on foundational skills like letters, numbers, and sensory play; older ones gain leadership, teamwork, practical homesteading, and advanced science/cooking.

  • Groups rotate daily through specialized stations led by expert Station Teachers, ensuring a varied week full of discovery. Activities include harvesting and cooking fresh meals, woodworking, wildlife observation, music composition, bug studies with microscopes, and more—all tied to nature, food cycles, and global traditions.

  • Yes—we use our own original Web of Life Curriculum, developed and refined right here on our regenerative farm through real experiences with over 400 children (not just theory!). This hands-on, nature-first curriculum follows the seasons, emphasizes the interconnectedness of life, and integrates science, math, language arts, social studies, gardening, cooking, homesteading, and outdoor exploration. It's experiential and child-led, bringing learning to life through soil, seeds, kitchen tools, and curiosity—no desks or devices needed!

  • Dress for outdoor adventure: closed-toe shoes, weather-appropriate layers, and clothes that can get dirty (muddy hands are a badge of honor here!). We recommend a change of clothes, water bottle, and sun protection.

  • We group children into age-based groups in increments of 10 (e.g., 3-4, 8-10.). This ensures that activities are tailored to their developmental stage and that socialization occurs with peers of a similar age

  • Tuition is based on how many days you choose and length of day.

    3-Hour Day Semester Rates

    • 1 day/week: Fall $1,028 | Spring $1,285

    • 2 days/week: Fall $2,056 | Spring $2,570

    • 3 days/week: Fall $3,024 | Spring $3,780

    • 4 days/week: Fall $4,032 | Spring $5,040

    4-Hour Day Semester Rates

    • 1 day/week: Fall $1,228 | Spring $1,535

    • 2 days/week: Fall $2,456 | Spring $3,070

    • 3 days/week: Fall $3,624 | Spring $4,530

    • 4 days/week: Fall $4,832 | Spring $6,040

  • The Fourth Hour is one of the most exciting and creative parts of our day! This dedicated hour rotates weekly and features a blend of structured activities and open-ended imaginative play in various areas.

    • Younger children enjoy free play, arts and crafts, lunchtime, and socializing with friends.

    • Older children participate in free play along with organized games—such as baseball, tag, obstacle races, and relays—in the Mulch and Treehouse areas.

    The Treehouse inspires imaginative adventures, like pirate quests or team challenges. A nearby art station is always open for those who prefer quieter activities, such as crafting and drawing.

    We love seeing participants build friendships, practice teamwork, and express creativity through joyful, natural play—exploring their interests and simply enjoying the experience!