About Our Animal Care Classes

Animal Care meets weekly in a small group capped at four children, recommended for ages three through seven. Sessions center on real barn routines such as feeding, bedding checks, fresh water, and quiet observation so children see how daily care keeps animals healthy and relaxed.

Instruction runs about forty-five minutes with roughly fifteen minutes of supervised free time at the end so children can revisit a favorite animal or practice a calm goodbye ritual before pickup.

Current age bands, semester blocks, and room assignments are listed with the rest of our early childhood classes. Open Mommy & Me for the full schedule and notes on which weeks match this program.

The farm also hosts birthday parties on weekends, late afternoons on weekdays, and Friday slots from 1:30 to 3:30 or 4:30 to 6:30. Share your date range when you call so we can match you to an available barn and educator team.

What children practice each week

Children repeat short tasks that mirror what staff do every morning: measuring feed portions, scanning for muddy water bottles, spotting limps or dull feathers before an issue grows, and moving at a measured pace near skittish animals. Coaches name body parts on rabbits, goats, and poultry so vocabulary ties directly to what small hands are touching. Hand washing before and after contact happens every single visit, and children learn why straw stays dry, why loud voices stress pens, and how to stand where a teacher can see every interaction.

• Gentle halter or lap holds only after a demo from staff.
• Pairing older four year olds with simpler jobs while younger threes watch one step at a time.
• Closing gates and latches with two hands so chickens or goats cannot slip through.

Before you enroll

Read the Mommy & Me page for seasonal blackout weeks and holiday closures that also apply here. Dress children in washable layers and closed toe shoes because straw dust and occasional splashes are normal. If your child has animal allergies or asthma, mention it during registration so we can plan alternate observation roles on high pollen days. Severe weather sometimes shifts feeding demos under cover, which front desk staff confirm by email when the forecast looks risky.

For the fastest answer on seat availability in the four child cap, email [email protected] with your child birth date and preferred weekday morning or afternoon block. We reply with either an open seat or the next opening we expect.