Agriculture-Based Education Program For Ages 3-10 years

 Our Mission

Our mission is guided by three key goals:

1. Enhance Agricultural Literacy: To increase knowledge and understanding of sustainable farming practices, the science and beauty of our natural environment, and the importance of local food systems.
2. Promote Personal Growth and Skill Development: To foster life skills, critical-thinking skills, and self-confidence through hands-on learning and experiential education.
3. Strengthen Community Connections: To build relationships and a sense of belonging, creating a supportive network for individuals and the wider community through shared experiences in agriculture.

Our Vision   

We are committed to providing a place where kids and their families can experience farm life.  We want to create connections between agricultural and non-agricultural communities, locally and globally, through shared experiences. 

About Agricultural  and Environmental Literacy

Everything we need in order to survive physically, economically, and socially relies on maintaining healthy agricultural 

and environmental systems.  Understanding how these systems work and how we all connect to and affect them, is necessary knowledge.

"An agriculturally literate person understands and can communicate the source and value of agriculture as it affects our quality of life."   Agricultural Literacy Logic Model. (2013). Retrieved from https://cdn.agclassroom.org/nat/data/get/logic_model.pdf

About Skills Development and Personal Growth

We focus on the development of the following foundational skills;

problem solving (creative thinking and critical thinking), communication, and collaboration.

These skills are commonly linked to the STEAM content areas of science, technology, engineering, art, and math.  

They are skills that enable people to accomplish their goals, leading to increased confidence.

Supporting the personal growth and development of each student is truly at the heart of our mission.

Providing students with the time needed (and with as little intervention and assistance as possible) to problem-solve and follow a path of 

inquiry, discovery, and innovation is probably the most important focus of our entire program.

"Accomplishment breeds confidence.

With confidence comes motivation, security, and happiness. 

With motivation, security, and happiness comes kindness and the desire to help others experience the same."

- Ami Zijlstra 

Prospect Hill Farm School

About Connections

Making personal connections through shared experiences, with people outside of our own 

familiar understandings and cultures is necessary for the success of our interconnected world.

As we grow, It is the goal of our program to connect with students in Ecuador, The Netherlands, 

Canada, and various states within the U.S. including Wyoming, Missouri, and Arctic villages in Alaska.

By learning about people and agriculture in different areas of the world, 

we increase understanding of how agricultural and natural systems are interconnected and reliant on each other.

By making human connections and friendships around the world, 

we will hopefully increase the compassion we have for each other and investments we make in our world.

About "Small- Batch Education"   -  Prospect Hill Farm School

The term "small-batch" is typically used in the food and beverage industry.  Working with small batch sizes can often result in  
higher quality products.  There are more opportunities to make improvements along the way and pay closer attention to details.

This is also one way we approach education and structure our program.

We have big and far-reaching programming goals, but we are taking on a "small batch" approach. 

Thinking about our philosophy led us to borrow the term and begin applying it to education, in our first year.
The quality that can result from working with small batches of food products is also achieved when learning and connecting in smaller groups.
Learning in "small batches" allows for deep exploration of subject matters and more focus on an individual student's development and communication of ideas. 

  
We understand the numerous challenges that schools face and the reasons why small groups and the ability to dive further into subject matter is not always possible.   That is why we are doing it. To help provide as many of these kinds of experiences for students, as we can.

Covid-19 Statement

Since we are an outdoor program and transmission is currently low, we will not require masks or vaccinations for classes and events.  We do ask that adults practice safe-distancing and be respectful of each others' spaces and beliefs, regarding this situation.  If you think you have been exposed to covid-19 or if anyone in your household is experiencing any symptoms of being ill, please stay home.