Barn School 2026 at Indian Ladder Farms

Our Barn School classes aim to give children hands-on experience of life on a farm. Each course is designed to focus on a specific topic for the week from goats to rabbits, mushrooms, cooking and more. We have lots of exciting new classes this year, along with fan favorites from the past.

Classes are tailored for students entering 1st - 8th grade, along with a specialized program for children aged 3 years old - Kindergarten. We are offering a morning and afternoon class section per week, for 5 days— classes change every week beginning June 29, 2026. Class registration is done through our online store only!

For more information on the curriculum, schedule, and registration, please visit our website at www.indianladderfarms.com/barn-school

Please read through all the documents we've provided to ensure your registration is done correctly and all forms needed have been filled.

CLASS DESCRIPTIONS:

Little Farmer &  Friend

Week 1: 6/29 – 7/3 → 9am – 12pm
Week 2: 7/6 – 7/10 → 9am – 12pm

(3 Years old to entering Kindergarten, accompanied in class daily by Caregiver)
Calling all little ones! We invite young children and their caregivers, to join us for a shared exploration of our farm. Little farmers will have hands-on experience caring for our farm animals– keeping them fed, clean, healthy, and happy! Young learners will engage with a variety of livestock including chickens, turkeys, goats, and sheep, while participating in creative farm-centered games, cooking with farm-fresh foods, and gathering for Barn Life story time. We will learn about all the different types of foods and products we get from the farm! To ensure the safety of these very young children during their farm experience, all caregivers are required to participate fully in all these interactive sessions.

Magical World of Mushrooms

Week 1: 6/29 – 7/3 → 9am – 12pm (1st - 4th Grade)

Explore the world of fungi with mushroom farmer, Avery Stempel from Collar City Mushrooms– based on Indian Ladder Farms. This hands-on class will teach young learners about different types of mushrooms and the many ways fungi impact our world. We will go on a mushroom foray to learn how to hunt for and identify wild mushrooms. Students will learn how to grow mushrooms, and have the opportunity to transfer live mycelium into a substrate for at-home cultivation. Take a tour of the mushroom growing areas on the farm, and explore how simple it is to prepare delicious food from mushrooms at home! Of course, we will be visiting with our friendly farm animals too.

A Deeper Dive Into Mycelium

Week 2: 7/6 – 7/10 → 9am – 12pm (4th - 8th Grade)

Dive deeper into the world of mushrooms with a variety of cultivation activities for various fungi, explore different conditions and environments that promote mushroom growth, and learn about ways fungi can provide sustainable alternatives to a variety of petroleum based products.  Students will plant mushrooms using 4 different techniques, explore mycelium on agar in petri dishes, and learn about mushrooms for nutrition, as well as environmental remediation applications.

We Love Chickens! 

Week 3: 7/13 – 7/17 → 9am – 12pm (1st - 4th Grade)
Week 3: 7/13 – 7/17 → 1pm – 4pm (4th - 8th Grade)

Join us for an exciting week, all about chickens! This innovative approach to poultry education will provide learners with a unique insight into the lives of chickens. Gain hands-on experience with the various breeds of chickens in a diverse flock, and learn about different types of chickens, their health, and overall care. Fun, engaging activities will include chicken-themed games, grooming, and enrichment activities for chickens in the coop. Throughout the week, participants will put their new skills into practice, by helping us take care of our beautiful flock!

Digging Into Indian Ladder

Week 4: 7/20 – 7/24 → 9am – 12pm (1st - 4th Grade)
Week 4: 7/20 – 7/24 → 1pm – 4pm (4th - 8th Grade)

Come explore the wonders of our farms’ wetlands and what makes up their ecology! Join us in learning about the importance of wetland ecosystems — from the land, water ways, the plants that grow there, and the impact it has on the creatures that live within them. Participants will learn about how we can protect these areas in our community, especially during their most vulnerable times. Some of our activities will include identifying plants during our trail walks, exploring our wetlands for amphibians, and learning about some of the farm’s coolest wild animals, along with our resident farm animals!

We Love Wildlife!

Week 5: 7/27 – 7/31 → 9am – 12pm (1st - 4th Grade)
Week 5: 7/27 – 7/31 → 1pm – 4pm (4th - 8th Grade)

Our brand new We Love Wildlife! class will teach young learners all about how to safely observe, and in some cases, gently handle our farm’s wildlife. We will identify various species’ anatomy, and even learn to love our creepy-crawly friends–spiders! We’ll walk the farm’s nature trails, interact with our farm animals, have hands-on activities with animal bones, and learn to eliminate the fear of spiders. With curious minds and brave hearts, we’ll learn to keep our wilderness friends happy and flourishing in their home on the farm.

We Love Goats! 

Week 6: 8/3 – 8/7 → 9am – 12pm (1st - 4th Grade)
Week 6: 7/3 – 7/7 → 1pm – 4pm (4th - 8th Grade)

Let’s discover the world of goats! Each day we’ll explore a different aspect of a goat’s life and goat farming. Participants will learn about the different breeds of goats, their health, and overall care, including hands-on activities like milking and grooming. Gain knowledge about products made by goat farmers, the goats’ silly and fun personalities, and all the fun things in between!

We Love Rabbits!

Week 7: 8/10 – 8/14 → 9am – 12pm (1st - 4th Grade)
Week 7: 8/10 – 8/14 → 1pm – 4pm (4th - 8th Grade)

Join us to learn all about rabbits and how to care for them! Hands-on activities will include grooming rabbits, feeding, watering, cooling rabbits, cleaning cages, giving them exercise, and much more. We’ll explore the wide variety of breeds of rabbits and their usefulness to local farmers. Rabbits and bunnies love to play too, so we’ll make treats and toys for them to enjoy! Each day, we’ll care for the rabbits, learn the tasks involved in having them as pets, and how to keep them healthy, happy and hopping!

Farm to Table

Week 8: 8/17 – 8/21 → 9am – 12pm (4th - 8th Grade)

Discover the different aspects of farming and the culinary wonders they provide. Young farmers will learn all about where their food comes from, and how it ends up on the table! Participate in hands-on experience with our farm animals, and gather fresh ingredients from the orchard, berry patches, and gardens to prepare different foods or beverages daily. This holistic approach to our food will teach children the many benefits of eating fresh and local, and how to do so during each season of the year. Our Farm to Table experience culminates in some tasty treats, and cooking tips that are both safe and exciting!

We Love Birds!

Week 8: 8/17 – 8/21 → 1pm – 4pm (4th - 8th Grade)
Week 10: 8/31 – 9/4 → 9am – 12pm (1st - 4th Grade)

Calling all our Birders—come along with us as we learn all about our backyard birds. Discover their squawks, calls, chirps, and cheeps, how they live at Indian Ladder Farms, and ways we can help keep them happy and singing in the trees. Young learners will make bird treats, decorate their class’ wings, and play Bird Bingo to win prizes! At the end of the week, participants will even get to meet local birds up close… Let’s go searching and exploring together!

Indian Ladder Explorers

Week 9: 8/24 – 8/28 → 9am – 12pm (1st - 4th Grade)
Week 9: 8/24 – 8/28 → 1pm – 4pm (4th - 8th Grade)

Welcome adventure seekers, to our first hiking class, Indian Ladder Farms Explorers! During this class, we’ll hike our trails here at Indian Ladder Farms, and study about regional mountain ranges and trail systems. Learn how to pack the right materials for hikes, and how to be safe while hiking. Some of our activities include doing a nature scavenger hunt, making our own walking sticks, creating a daily journal, and visiting with our farm animals. We can’t forget to learn about our wild animals too; bears, coyotes, bobcats, and much more. Come with us to learn how to hike and explore the places in nature that very few get to see!

We Love Horses!

Week 10: 8/31 – 9/4 → 1pm – 4pm (1st - 8th Grade)

As the name suggests, we love horses! Participants will have a blast learning about different equine sports, horses’ favorite snacks, all the different breeds and sizes, and the many amazing ways that horses can be both fun, and incredibly helpful in many different environments that you may not expect horses to live in. You’ll get the chance to meet some of our local equine friends, see the horse’s equipment, play horse games, and learn about their unique personalities! Participants will have the opportunity to interact with our farm animals as well.

Break Option (available for all sessions,  12PM - 1PM)

No lunch is served by ILF, you must pack your own lunch.

If your child attends both the morning and afternoon classes, they will have an hour-long break (12pm - 1pm) between sessions. If you are unable to pick up your child during this break, you must purchase the Break Option which covers childcare between classes. We do not provide lunch, so please pack lunches for your child. There will be a refrigerator available for them to keep their food fresh. The Break Option costs an additional $75 per week. If you want to purchase this option, please visit www.shopindianladderfarms.com to enroll for the week of your child's class(es).