On-Farm Education.
Creating connections between the farm and kids of all ages is one of our favorite parts of operating Cardinal Farms. We love seeing the joy and wonder as children experience their first time holding a chicken, collecting eggs, milking a goat, planting squash seeds, or eating a sun-ripened tomato right off the vine. We believe these experience create connections that help them understand the role of farms and local foods in the food system as well as their role as consumers. And maybe it will even inspire a few to farm themselves! Our mission of farm-based education involves well-crafted programs that are designed to involve children in the tasks of farming and place-based education.
Please note: due to situational circumstances as explained in the update linked above, we will not be offering on-farm educational programming in the 2024 season. The program descriptions below are past programs we’ve offered and look forward to offering again in 2025!
Budding Farms Preschool Programs: ages 3-5
SPRING ON THE FARM
One of Cardinal Farm’s Budding Farmers Preschool Programs, SPRING ON THE FARM is a 75-minute program that provides loads of interactive experiences with all the new life on the farm. From chicks, lambs, piglets and kid goats to sprouting seeds and freshly dug dirt, these little farmers will learn by doing as they handle, hold, and help all around the farm. Age-appropriate teaching along with songs and activities provide memorable experiences and a gentle introduction to the world of farming. Kids and caregivers are free to enjoy a picnic lunch on the lawn after the program.
WHAT IS A FARMER?
One of Cardinal Farm’s Budding Farmers Preschool Programs, WHAT IS A FARMER? is a 75-minute program that offers kids the chance to learn what a farmer is and enjoy hands-on farming activities. Kids might feed and groom a goat, put fresh pine shavings in a clean stall, fill water troughs, plant seeds, harvest vegetables and flowers, collect eggs, milk a dairy goat or any other number of daily farm activities. Kids are introduced to the concept of farming and the work farmers do in order to grow and prepare the food they eat. Age-appropriate teaching along with songs and activities provide memorable experiences and gentle introduction to the world of farming. Kids and caregivers are free to enjoy a picnic lunch on the lawn after the program.
FLOWER FUN!
One of Cardinal Farm’s Budding Farmers Preschool Programs, FLOWER FUN is a 75-minute program that focuses on the beautiful and wonderful world of flowers. In the Cardinal Farms cut flower garden, children will use all five senses to explore the wide variety of flowers and how they are planted, cared for and harvested. We’ll learn the parts of a flower and their important role in providing food for pollinators. We’ll harvest flowers and make a bouquet or a flower crown to take home. Age-appropriate teaching along with songs and activities provide memorable experiences and gentle introduction to the world of farming. Kids and caregivers are free to enjoy a picnic lunch on the lawn after the program.
Cardinal Farms Day Camps
FRESH FARMER DAY CAMP (ages 5-6)
Give your kids the experience of discovering how their food is grown and raised by learning and engaging in hands-on learning activities and exploratory play at the Cardinal Farms Fresh Farmer Day Camp. A three-day farm-based camp experience for ages 5-6 (must have 5th birthday by September 1, 2023). Camp operates from 9:00am-12:30pm daily at Cardinal Farms in South Lyon and session size is limited to 15 campers to maximize the enjoyment and impact of their experiences. Camp cost is $110 per child per session.
Campers participate in age-appropriate daily activities of our production farm including: helping to feed and care for the 100+ livestock (sheep, goats, pigs and chickens); exploring the market garden and helping to plant, weed, harvest, and prepare produce and use it to make healthy and tasty snacks! We’ll have time in the flower gardens too. They’ll engage in activities that help them begin to understand the connections between the soil, plants, animals - and our connections to them! We plan Fresh Farmer camps to have lots of time for hands-on learning activities with many transitions to keep them engaged, balanced with just for fun games and free time. We let our teaching follow where the kid’s curiosity goes so they enjoy the experience!
GROWING FARMER DAY CAMP (ages 7-12)
Growing Farmer Day Camp is a three-day farm-based camp experience for ages 7-12 (must have 7th birthday by September 1, 2023). This camp experience center around inquiry-based learning, engaging in purposeful work, exploring how the food they eat every day is grown and raised and just for fun games and activities. Camp operates from 9:00am-2:00pm on Mon, Tues and Wed at Cardinal Farms in South Lyon and session size is limited to 15 campers to maximize the enjoyment and impact of their experiences. Camp cost is $150 per child per session.
Campers participate in age-appropriate daily activities of our diverse production farm including: feeding and caring for the 100+ livestock (sheep, goats, pigs and chickens); farming in the market garden by planting, cultivating, harvesting, and learning post-harvest handling. We’ll also be cooking healthy recipes and enjoying the fruits of our labors. Campers will enjoy our fresh flower gardens, harvesting and using their creative energies to make floral projects. All the activities are designed to explore how the soil, plants, animals, food web, and life cycles all work together - and our part in it! Structured learning is balanced with just for fun games and free time We let our teaching follow where the kid’s curiosity goes so they enjoy the experience!