"EdenAcres is an incredible program! Through their environmental education and deeply empathetic approach to teaching children, they have been so positively impactful for my special needs son.
They’ve helped him learn valuable wilderness skills, teamwork, and helped foster his skills with conflict resolution and the value of community.
The hard-working people at EdenAcres have changed my son’s life, and mine, for the better!

--Melanie

Enrolling Now
for the

2025/26 School Year

Farm Days
Rooted in Nature, Growth, and Community
Ages 6-12

Join us on the farm where children experience the gentle rhythms of farm life, where each day is guided by the seasons, the needs of the land, and the cycles of care for plants and animals. This fully outdoor, mixed-age program provides a rich, nature-immersive education that nurtures confidence, leadership, and deep connection to the natural world.

The Magic of a Mixed-Age Farm Community

In the spirit of traditional agrarian life, our multi-age learning environment fosters mentorship, collaboration, and skill-building in a way that is natural and deeply enriching:
✔ Leadership & Peer Learning – Older students step into guiding roles, reinforcing their own knowledge while supporting younger peers.
✔ Organic Skill Progression – Children learn at their own pace, observing and participating in hands-on farm projects that evolve throughout the seasons.
✔ Collaboration & Community – Working together to tend the garden, care for the animals, and prepare food cultivates teamwork, responsibility, and a sense of belonging.

A Gentle, Rhythmic Approach to Learning

Life on the farm follows a steady, seasonal rhythm, offering a nourishing, slow-paced environment where children develop patience, observation skills, and a deep appreciation for the cycles of nature and community.

Each day brings meaningful, hands-on experiences, such as:
🌿 Caring for the Farm’s Animals – Tending to miniature Dexter cows, heritage American Guinea Hogs, and chickens, fostering responsibility and empathy.
🌱 Gardening – Planting, tending, harvesting, preserving, and preparing food, reinforcing concepts of science, sustainability, and self-sufficiency.
🥣 Farm-Fresh Cooking & Herbalism – Processing veggies for snacks, learning about medicinal plants, and exploring traditional food preservation.
🌾 Traditional Skills & Craftsmanship – Threshing and winnowing beans, weaving, making natural dyes, and engaging in heritage skills that connect us to the land.
🐞 Nature Exploration & Ecological Awareness – Observing pollinators at work, studying soil health, and understanding ecosystems through daily farm interactions.

Academics Woven into the Natural Flow of the Day

Our Farm Campus is a living classroom where academic subjects are seamlessly woven into daily rhythms:

Science & Ecology – Studying plant life cycles, soil health, animal behavior, and sustainable farming practices.
Math & Measurement – Calculating seed spacing, weighing harvests, budgeting for farm projects, and measuring fencing.
Language & Storytelling – Documenting observations in farm journals, learning oral traditions, and reading nature-inspired literature.
Social Studies & Cultural Traditions – Exploring food heritage, seasonal festivals, and the role of agriculture in human history.

Building Confidence, Stewardship & Connection

Through hands-on work, play, and discovery, students develop resilience, adaptability, and a deep-rooted respect for the land. Whether feeding the pigs, journaling under a fruit tree, or preparing a meal from food they grew, children build skills that connect them to their food, community, and the world around them.

At the Farm, learning is immersive, purposeful, and deeply connected—just like life on the land.

Daily Rhythm**

9:00 - 9:15 Drop-off

9:00 - 9:30 Morning Circle

9:30 - 10:00 Game/Movement

10:00 - 10:30 Farm & Garden Activities

10:30 - 11:30 Snack & Free Play

11:30 - 12:30 Exploration/Ancestral Skills/Project

12:30 - 1:30 Lunch & Free Play

1:30 - 2:30 Exploration/Ancestral Skills/Project

2:30 - 2:45 Clean-up & Closing Circle & Reflection

2:45 - 3:00 Pick-up

**The daily rhythm described above is an example of the flow of the day. Instructors practice emergent and child-centered learning, meaning that we adjust and modify with the changing needs and interests of the children while incorporating in whatever the forest or farm has to offer on that specific day.

Our Staff

Our Nature Educators come from a variety of backgrounds including Waldorf education, natural sciences, outdoor education abroad, and more. No matter their educational background, all are experienced and passionate about sharing nature with children. Instructors are certified in CPR/First Aid and epipen administration. Staff ratios for Forest Explorers are no larger than 8 students with 1 teacher. All adults in the program have passed full FBI background checks.

When

Choose from a 1 or 2 day/week rhythm.

Tuesday or Thursday

9:00 am-3:00 pm

First Day of School: 9/8/2025

Last Day of School: 5/22/2025

Where

54303 NW Old Wilson River Road, Gales Creek, OR 97117

How Much?

We use an equitable pricing model we call Choose-Your-Tuition. This model includes three options for families to choose from: Sliding Scale; Standard Rate; and Pay-It-Forward. Click here to learn more!

Standard Rate Tuition

1 day/week - $339/month Sept. - May

2 days/week - $678/month Sept. - May

Equity in Education is one of our core values. Our tuition model puts this value into action. It is one way that we are increasing access to alternative education for families across the economic spectrum. We invite you to join us in this vision of a better, more equitable world!

Which Tuition Option Fits Your Family?
Selecting the right tuition tier means reflecting on your family’s financial reality

Use the following prompts to help determine the best tuition option for your family. Consider which category reflects your current financial reality.

🌿 Pay-It-Forward
Consider choosing this tier if you:

Earn above the adequate standard of living for your area (per the Economic Policy Institute).

Have significant assets, such as investments, inheritance, or a paid-off home.

Live partially or fully off unearned income (family support, trust funds, gifts).

Can choose to work less or not at all due to financial flexibility.

Have a high earning potential due to education, race, or class background—even if you aren’t currently using it.

Have expendable income for frequent travel, dining, entertainment, or luxury expenses.

By choosing this tier, you help sustain the Sliding Scale option for families with financial need.

🌲 Standard Rate
This rate reflects the true cost of our programs. It’s for families who:

Earn an adequate standard of living (as defined by the Economic Policy Institute).

Can afford regular discretionary spending (eating out, entertainment, travel).

Do not experience race, ethnicity, gender, or disability-related barriers to income.

Have some student loan debt, but it does not create financial hardship.

Own or rent a home and can consistently meet financial obligations.

Have a stable career path with opportunities for growth.

If tuition is a sacrifice (cutting back on extras) but not a hardship (impacting basic needs), this is the right tier for you.

🍃 Sliding Scale
If paying tuition would create a significant financial hardship, this option is here for you. Consider this tier if you:

Earn below the adequate standard of living for your area.

Have medical expenses, debt, or caregiving responsibilities that impact your financial stability.

Experience barriers to earning due to disability, chronic illness, or immigration status.

Receive public assistance or rely on community aid to meet basic needs.

Have little or no family financial support or assets.

Are an elder with limited income.

If paying tuition would cause you to struggle with essentials like food, housing, or healthcare, please use this tier.

Honesty, Trust & Community Support
Our Choose Your Tuition model is built on trust and community care. We do not require income verification, and we trust families to choose the rate that best reflects their circumstances.

By selecting the tuition tier that aligns with your financial reality, you help us create a sustainable, equitable model that supports all families and our dedicated educators.

If you're unsure which tier is right for you, please reach out—we're happy to help! 💚

Attend a Charter School??

We accept school funds from many charter and online charter schools!

Questions? Send us an email at naturedays.edenacres@gmail.com

Submit your 2025/26 application now!