Program Content and Level

2024-2025 School Year

Programs and lessons will follow a unit structure. Each unit will last three months, or three programs. Units are structured to have lessons that are related. For example, the first lesson of a unit will be an introduction to the topic, and the second two lessons will explore an aspect of the topic in depth. Due to the connected nature of the units, it is recommended, though not required, for your student to attend each lesson in the unit.

All activities will be new for the 2024-2025 school year. Even if you’ve joined us for a homeschool program in a previous year, you can expect new lesson content and activities!

We offer two program levels: Young Learners and Elementary. All programs are 60-75 minutes and are designed for children who have reached specific milestones. 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 5-7 and/or in kindergarten or first grade
Learning to read and write
Able to count
Learning how to work in groups with others
Engaged in a program with a lesson that is NGSS aligned and may include an activity, game, craft, or story

Elementary Students are:

Ages 8-11 and/or in second 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 with a lesson that is NGSS aligned and may include reading, writing, and math in the form of an activity, worksheet, game, or craft

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 Classes Begin

Thursday September 19, 10:00am-11:15am

Plants – Lesson 1

Programs are Full- Sign up for the waiting list

Young Learners: Students will learn about the key characteristics of plants and what makes a tree a tree. Through a forest hike and sketching activity, Young Learners will focus on some of the details that make different trees in the forest unique.
Elementary: Students will learn about the basic needs of plants, the life cycle of trees and what each stage is important for in the ecosystem. Applying their new knowledge, students will go for a walk on Up Yonda’s trails looking for a complete life cycle.

Thursday October 17, 10:00am-11:15am

Plants – Lesson 2

Registration Opens October 1

Young Learners: Students will take a forest hike to investigate the life cycle of trees. While walking through the lower grounds, Young Learners will look for seeds, saplings, adult trees and snags, comparing and contrasting the different life stages.
Elementary: Elementary students will learn about the parts that make up a tree and how they function and participate in a group activity where they will act out the different parts.

Thursday November 14, 10:00am-11:15am

Plants – Lesson 3

Registration Opens November 1

Young Learners: Students will learn about the requirements for trees in their habitats and how to measure their growth rings. Through an active game, Young Learners will see how trees acquire the resources they need to survive.
Elementary: Elementary students will examine cross-sections of trees to learn about how they grow. Then, they will become nature detectives, looking for evidence of environmental changes in the tree rings.

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.

What are the units, and when are the 2024-2025 programs?

Unit 1: Plants

Thursday, September 19th - Plants Lesson 1
Thursday, October 17th - Plants Lesson 2
Thursday, November 14th - Plants Lesson 3

Unit 2: Weather

Thursday, December 19th - Weather Lesson 1
Thursday, January 16th - Weather Lesson 2
Thursday, February 20th - Weather Lesson 3

Unit 3: Aquatic Adaptations

Thursday, March 20th - Adaptations Lesson 1
Thursday, April 17th - Adaptations Lesson 2
Thursday, May 15th - Adaptations Lesson 3

What happens if I can't make it to every lesson in a unit?

While it is recommended to attend all three lessons in a unit, it is not required. Relevant material will be reviewed at the beginning of each lesson in the middle of a unit.

What does the program cost?

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

Not-yet-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

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 4 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 4 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 Farm 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 Farm 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!

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.

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”