Homeschool Programs

April – Earth Week

Registration Opens: Saturday, April 1
Registration Closes: Friday, April 14, 3:00pm

Young Learners – Thursday, April 20 10:00am – 11:00am

Elementary – Thursday, April 20 10:00am – 11:00am or 1:00pm – 2:00pm

Middle School – Thursday, April 20 1:00pm – 2:00pm

Program Content and Level

Each month will follow a theme for that month’s program. Themes remain the same year to year, but the individual program content and activities will change. So, even if your child attended all of last year’s programs, they’ll get to do all new activites this year! We offer three program levels: Young Learners, Elementary, and Middle School. All programs are an hour long and are designed for children who have reached specific milestones, and age/grade restrictions are due to the physical and mental demands of the program. Up Yonda Farm staff uses the guidelines below in creating educational programs, please review them to choose the best program for your child.

Young Learners are:

  • Ages 4-6 and/or in Pre-K through Kindergarten
  • Not yet reading and writing without assistance
  • Learning how to work in groups with others
  • Engaged in a program that includes a story and a game, craft, or activity

Elementary Students are:

  • Ages 7-11 and/or in first through fifth grade
  • Mostly able to read and write without assistance (within reason)
  • Mostly able to work collaboratively in groups with others
  • Engaged in a program that is NGSS aligned and may include basic reading, writing, and math in the form of a game, craft, activity, or worksheet

Middle School Students are:

  • Ages 12-15 and/or sixth through eighth grade
  • Able to read and write without assistance
  • Have familiarity with math skills including multiplication/ division and graphing
  • Engaged in a program that is NGSS aligned with opportunities for critical thinking and analysis, and may include reading, writing, and math in the form of an activity, game, worksheet, or case study

Program Fees

Most programs are $5 per student in addition to the per vehicle Day Use Fee, unless otherwise noted. Adult chaperones are free. The Day Use Fee and most homeschool programs are included free with a paid Up Yonda Farm Family Membership!

Homeschool FAQ

How do I register?

Registration occurs on a month by month basis. Registration opens on or around the first of the month, and closes at 3pm the Friday before the program. To stay up to date on the current month’s registration, sign up for our Newsletter and follow us on Facebook.

I have one Young Learners student and one Elementary student, can both students attend their respective 10am programs?

Yes, the Young Learners student and Elementary student can both attend their respective 10am programs.

If I’ve signed up to attend a program with my child, can my younger children (ages 3 and under) attend as well?

You’re welcome to bring non-participating younger siblings along if you’ve signed up with an older child, as long as they are supervised they do not detract from the program. We don’t currently offer homeschool programming for children ages 3 and under.

Can I drop my student off, go offsite, and pick them up when the program is over?

Sorry, no. We require an adult chaperone to be onsite at Up Yonda when their child is in a program.

I have a child who I think should be in a different program than your guidelines state. What should I do?

Please contact us in advance of the program to discuss. Naturalists will be able to help you determine the best program for your child based on that month’s planned activities.

We signed up, but aren’t able to make it. What should I do?

Please contact us to cancel so we can offer your spots to a family on the waitlist. Penalties may apply for repeat no-call no-show reservations.

What else is there to do at Up Yonda after the homeschool program?

There’s lots to do at Up Yonda Farm! We’re open year round, and have a variety of locations for you and your family to explore including our: turtle exhibit, museum, sugarhouse, StoryWalk, sensory garden, pond, butterfly garden, and trails. Many families choose to also pack a picnic lunch. With a paid Day Use Fee or Up Yonda Farm Membership, you get access to the whole facility!

What does the program cost?

Non-member – The homeschool program cost is $5 per participating student. There is also a $5 per vehicle Day Use Fee for entry and use of the facility for the day. Non-participating adult chaperones and younger siblings are not charged a program fee

Member – Homeschool programs and the Day Use Fee are included with a paid Up Yonda Farm Membership.

Does Up Yonda Farm ever cancel homeschool programs?

If program minimums are not met, Up Yonda Farm may cancel a homeschool program or shift students from one program into another. Should this occur, families will be contacted ahead of time to choose how to proceed.

What are your monthly themes and when are the 2022-2023 programs?

September – Ecosystems & Living Things – Thursday, September 22, 2022

October – Forest Ecology – Thursday, October 20, 2022

November – Weather – Thursday, November 17, 2022

December – Winter Ecology – Thursday, December 15, 2022

January – Space & Earth at Night – Thursday, January 19, 2023

February – Earth Science – Thursday, February 16, 2023

March – Natural History – Thursday, March 16, 2023

April – Earth Week – Thursday, April 20, 2023

May – Water – Thursday, May 18, 2023

The 2023 Homeschool Programs are underwritten by the Glenn and Carol Pearsall Adirondack Foundation, “Dedicated to improving the quality of life for year-round residents of the Adirondack Park”