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About the class:
This class offers a fun, nurturing space where you and your child(ren) can explore the wonders of nature together. This class is priced lower than our Mom & me tot class with a new slower-paced format for families who want more time to just be on the farm. Each week, we’ll have a farm adventure OR engage in hands-on activities at home base, from planting seeds to meeting our friendly farm animals—bunnies, chickens, geese, pigs, and goats! We’ll discover how to care for the land, the animals, and our planet, all while having fun. Expect community time, free exploration, and occasional potted plant treasures & farm treats to take home. While adult caregivers connect, kids can engage in child-led play to encourage curiosity and give little hands the chance to explore.
Class details:
Time: Saturdays, 10-11:30 a.m. Class starts around 10 a.m., understanding that kid time doesn’t always follow a schedule. Our teacher-led class time ends at 11:30 a.m. but families are welcome to stay until 12 p.m. to connect, have a lunch picnic & play in the “home base” area.
Seasonal Schedule 2026: Each season features fresh and exciting projects, ensuring no two seasons are the same!
Spring: March 14 – May 23 (11 weeks)
Two-week break - Family gardening opportunities may be available.
Summer: June 13 – August 22 (11 weeks)
One-week break - Family camp available for spring/summer class participants.
Fall: September 5 – November 14 (11 weeks)
Fall/Winter Break - Ask us about volunteer opportunities!
Sample class flow:
9:50-10:10: Arrival, check-in & time to meet needs
10:10-10:20: Casual circle up & connection time
10:20-11:00: Farm Adventure (feeding animals, harvesting food) OR Farm Activity (preparing foods, occasional art or nature crafts)
11:00-11:30: Adventure or activity extension (depending on group interest) - Connection time - Child-led play - Snack time
11:30-Noon: Optional extension for transition & families to connect; Instructors will be cleaning up
Please Note: This class flow is meant to be flexible & responsive to the needs of our participants as well as the class themes & activities for each week. This class is paced slower than previous years’ Saturday classes with more time for exploration and casual connection & fewer structured activities.
Farm adventure & activity examples:
All seasons: Harvest & forage plants, Feed farm animals, Transplanting, Worm & soil touch exploration, Strip dried herbs for teas, Conservation projects, Natural crafts, Painting, Nature journaling
Spring: Chaos gardening, lots of seed starts, planting & native bee houses, Smash dyeing flowers
Summer: Shady exploration in bamboo forest & seasonal slough, Berry picking & eating, Make cool treats like smoothies or popsicles, Gardening & plant care
Fall: Fruit & veggie harvest, Seed collection, Dehydrate fruits, Press cider
What to bring:
For comfort and mobility, consider bringing a baby carrier, as wagons and strollers may not work on all terrain. We walk at the pace of our smallest kiddos! Classes are held rain or shine. We have a spacious hoop house for shelter, but we’ll also venture out in the rain. Please come dressed for the elements—boots, hats, rain gear, and sunscreen are great depending on the season. Don’t forget a healthy snack for you and your kid(s) to enjoy during our wind-down time.
Who can participate:
Families with kids of all ages & 1-2 caregivers. We understand the title of “caregiver” may not resonate with everyone, if you have 1 caregiver like a single parent and someone in your support circle who you want to join, then they are welcome! If you are attending multiple classes, we ask that primarily the same 1-2 “caregiver(s)” attend each week. During our final class of each season, other family members are invited to our Family Day celebration for a farm tour, collaborative cooking & merriment. We may allow out-of-town family visitors to attend class occasionally with advance approval. Our students and families represent diverse communities with a wide range of learning styles, cultural backgrounds, abilities, and interests. We are committed to providing accommodations to ensure every participant can succeed in their own way at our farm.
2026 updates:
For our returning families, please note this lower class price allows us to offer a more free-form class with fewer supplies & preparation needed. There will be more time to connect and enjoy the farm and fewer structured activities and lesson plans. Our Friday morning Mom & me class is a good option for moms with tots 0-4 who can pay a little more and want a class packed with activities, adventures, lessons, and discussion. This class will have one paid instructor and potentially one volunteer support person, meaning participants will be practicing community support with each other more than previous year when we had several paid staff and peer support specialists.
About your instructors:
This class is taught by Kathleen “Helix” (read more about Helix) an instructor & participant in our programs since 2024. She created this new flexible format based on community feedback and is excited to provide connection and farm fun to families. Our Executive Director, Jenna “Knotwood” or Programs Director, Sarah “Redbud” will sub as needed for Helix. Our instructors are specially trained and approved by the Oregon Department of Early Learning & Care Central Background Registry, ensuring a safe and supportive environment for children. In addition to their qualifications, they undergo continuous professional development to meet the unique needs of both individuals and groups.
Our staff have a deep passion for organic farming and gardening with expertise in creating inclusive, hands-on learning environments. With backgrounds spanning applied science, community health, and youth outdoor learning, our instructors can tailor experiences that support a diverse range of participant needs. We encourage an approach that is both nurturing and empowering, fostering a love for nature and discovery in every child.
Communication:
New in 2026, we will be implementing text alerts direct to your phone for our most important messages like class cancellations (due to weather or illness), registration deadlines & more. Instructors will primarily correspond with caregivers via a communication app to provide and receive real-time feedback regularly like links to farming & gardening tips, recipes, and updates for class. We will send more information about our communication methods closer to the class start date. We can accommodate other family communication needs on a case-by-case basis.
