Held at Black Fox Equestrian Center, a 15-acre working farm located on Tunnel Hill Road in Cleveland, students enrolled in the program will be given the opportunity to learn many aspects of maintaining the land, growing a garden and caring for assorted livestock.
Farm Life Academy is a hands-on introduction to farming through which students can experience many facets of life on the farm through interaction with domestic farm animals, such as rabbits and chickens, as well as sustainable agriculture, such as gardening, raising eggs, beekeeping, fruit orchards, and more.
Farm Life Academy also offers the opportunity to pet, feed, and learn more about the care and responsibility of owning horses, donkeys and mules.
The Fall/Winter Session is scheduled to start Monday and will offer after-school care for students grades three through eight, Monday through Friday, from 3 to 6 p.m.
Flexible plans are available, allowing for daily care through the nine-week sessions, or occasional care per week, as parents have the option of 2-, 3-, 4- or 5-day attendance for their student.
Each day’s schedule will offer snacks and time for students to tackle homework assignments, but may also include physical activities (indoors and out), crafts and games. Interaction with animals and instructors will help build self-esteem and foster goal setting and teamwork skills in each child.
Learning to accomplish specific farm chores will challenge their minds as they explore their world from the ground up.
The directors of Farm Life Academy plan to offer seasonal activities in the After School sessions that will teach kids land literacy by discussing the dynamic relationships in the ecosystem that houses the farm.
Sessions will also show comparisons of modern agriculture as opposed to pioneer and Native American methods used in farming’s earliest days. Expanded sessions in the warmer months may include planting, harvesting, composting, egg collection and washing, soap making, candle making, home remedy day, food preservation day, and horse grooming and care, beekeeping, woodworking, quilting and sewing, and exercise and nutrition.
SpiritHorse, a program of free therapeutic riding lessons for special needs kids is also available at the equestrian center along with horse-riding lessons and show preparation for typical kids.
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Online:
farmlifeacademy.com (or call 505-2215)
blackfoxridingacademy.com
SpiritHorseTN.org
