EdenAcres Environmental Education
Education · Environment · Community
971-470-7502
"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
2023/24 School Year
Forest & Farm School
at Duncan Farm
Ages 6-12
Farm School is a fully outdoor program for anyone who is interested in giving their child a nature immersion experience that will build confidence and leadership, provoke a sense of awe and feelings of stewardship while having fun learning and exploring out of doors. At the heart and soul of Farm School is engagement with the natural world and reconnecting with our agricultural roots. With a seed-to-table approach, children will participate in the many parts of the cycle of growing, harvesting, and preparing food, as well as participate in the daily rhythms of caring for the animals who live on the farm. In addition to our wild animal friends, the farm is home to miniature cows, heritage pigs, chickens, bunnies, cats, and a dog.
Through engaging with farm life with hands-on projects, journaling, play, and exploration, children learn how to overcome adversity, work alongside others, and develop a deeper relationship with nature while developing an intimate relationship with where their food comes from. Children will engage in farm life with activities such as threshing and winnowing beans, planting seeds in the garden, and processing garden veggies for a farm-fresh snack. Our place-based curriculum integrates reading, writing, math, social studies, and the arts through hands-on projects, games, and activities.
Registration is now open, see below for details. Enrollment is very limited! Please contact us if you have any questions, we love to hear from our community.
Daily Rhythm**
9:00 - 9:15 Drop-off
9:00 - 9:30 Morning Circle/Stretching & Breathing/Teambuilding Activity
9:30 - 10:00 Game/Movement Activity
10:00 - 10:30 Farm & Garden Work
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:
Fall and Spring Semesters
Tuesday, Thursday
9:00 am-3:00 pm
We offer flexible enrollment options to meet your family's unique needs. Enroll in 1 or 2 days per week.
Dates:
Fall Semester: 9/12/23 - 1/25/24
First day of fall semester: Tuesday, September 12
Spring Semester: 1/30/24 - 5/23/24
First day of spring semester: January 30, 2024
Where:
Duncan Farm - 54303 NW Old Wilson River Road, Gales Creek
How Much?
This year, we will offer a Choose-Your-Tuition model that includes three models to choose from: Sliding Scale; Standard Rate; and Pay-It-Forward. Click here to learn more!
We are choosing to shift towards a sliding scale model because Equity in Education is one of our core values. We are using this model as a means of increasing access to alternative education and as a tool of economic justice. We invite you to join us in this vision of a better, more equitable world!
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Questions? Send us an email at naturedays.edenacres@gmail.com
