School Year 2024-25 Registration is open!
Our multi-age Farm Friday Class (ages 6 - 11) and Forest Friday Classes meets from 9:30 am - 2:30 pm on scheduled Fridays. Forest Friday has 2 options: Adventure Class (ages 7 - 12) years, and Traditions Class (ages 6 - 11) years. *No classes will be held in January.
*No before or aftercare available on Friday programs
Email Dacia at naturalchildhood@gmail.com for the most current schedule.
Farm Friday meets once a month at Potter Farm in Guthrie, MN.
Forest Friday meets 2 times/month usually at Lake Bemidji State Park. We may also occasionally meet at other area parks or locations.
Farm Friday begins with a morning gathering circle, and then we begin our day at the barns. Monthly topics on animal care and farm life are taught and children participate in farm chores, meet the animals, and have supervised play times in the yard or woods. Handwork or crafting with wool, games, and occasional food prep, and a time to snowshoe in the winter are included.
Forest Fridays begin with morning circle and a topic of the day or hike of the day, snack and tea with a story or read aloud, and an extended play time in nature. Each season we observe changes in the plant and animal life and keep a record of our observations or create a map and document where we have been and the landscape. Seasonal nature crafts, building a camp fire, occasional cooking or food prep, games, and Ojibwe language and Indigenous culture are woven into our time together. We include a biking day in fall and spring and a day for skiing, and snowshoeing in the Adventure Class and we include Traditional Crafts and Seasonal Phenology in the Traditions Class, as well as a field trip offsite to ice skate.
All programs include artistic journaling and quiet reflection after lunch and learning social/emotional skills through extended play times and collaboration. We will hone our observational skills using all of our senses. Pack a small morning snack, a healthy lunch, and a water bottle, and make sure kids are dressed for the weather and ready to get dirty. Children must be able to be safe with their bodies and words, and be able to follow teacher directions in order to attend.
Farm and Forest Fridays are $35/per class if you would like to come occasionally to either class. (register by emailing or texting one week ahead).
OR
register for the entire year of only Farm Fridays ($32/class)
register for the entire year of only Forest Fridays ($32/class)
register for the entire year of one Forest Friday per month, choose Adventure Class or Traditions Class ($32/class)
register for the entire year of Farm Friday plus one Forest Friday per month ($32/class)
Sibling discount of 10%
Enrolled full time students from Apple Blossom receive a discounted price ($25/class)
*Indigenous Scholarship available while funds last
Forest and Farm Friday Calendar 2023-24
Recommended Reading:
*Balanced and Barefoot by Angela J. Hanscom
*Last Child in the Woods by Richard Louv