Class Dates 2026/2027:
Fall & Winter Class Schedules
All Fall and Winter offerings are six-class series. Students enroll for one recurring meeting day and time. When the same class is offered on multiple days, an approved makeup may be completed on another available day of that class during the same series. Makeup space is limited and must be arranged in advance.
Fall Series 2026
The Fall series begins Monday, August 24. The farm will be closed for regular series classes during Labor Day week, September 7-12. Classes resume September 14.
Winter Series 2026
The Winter series begins Monday, November 2. There is no Wednesday class on Veterans Day, November 11. Wednesday students may request an approved makeup on another meeting day of the same class. There are no regular series classes during Thanksgiving week, November 23-28. Classes resume November 30 and finish before Christmas.
To use Homeschool Charter Funds, use the name of the school in the Coupon Code. Blueridge, iLead, Gorman, Taylion, Suncoast to enroll. Request your PO from your school directly.
Classes
Archery -Class meets weekly on Monday, Wednesday, or Friday at 4pm or Sat 9am
Come try archery for the first time or build confidence and consistency as a returning archer. Every class begins with range safety. Students learn the commands, procedures, and habits that help everyone shoot responsibly before moving into stance, grip, aiming, release, and follow-through. Instructors meet students at their current level and provide practical coaching so new archers can develop sound fundamentals while advanced beginners continue to refine technique.
The six-week format gives students time to practice the same core skills repeatedly, notice improvement, and try new challenges. Activities may include target games, distance or accuracy challenges, different shooting approaches, and guided practice. Safety, self-control, patience, focus, and good sportsmanship remain part of every class.
Gilchrist Farm provides the bows, arrows, targets, and range equipment needed for class. Equipment is included in the class price. Students who own archery equipment may bring it to the first meeting, but it must be inspected and approved by the instructor before use on the range.
Saturday is the mixed-age session and welcomes participants from age 7 through adult. Saturday teen and adult programming may also include axe throwing. Axe throwing is offered on Saturdays only and is introduced under direct instructor supervision with separate safety expectations.
Mondays at 4:00 PM - ages 7-18
Wednesdays at 4:00 PM - ages 7-18
Fridays at 4:00 PM - ages 7-18
Saturdays at 9:00 AM - mixed ages, age 7 through adult; teen/adult programming may include axe throwing
Pricing: $180 per shooter for the six-class series. Single or drop-in classes are $35 per shooter and are available by reservation only, subject to space. Adult chaperones and observers do not pay unless they are participating as shooters.
Makeups: When another Archery meeting has space, a missed class may be made up on another day during the same series. Advance reservation and instructor permission are required because range size is limited.
Fall 2026 dates: August 24/26/28/29; August 31 and September 2/4/5; September 14/16/18/19; September 21/23/25/26; September 28/30 and October 2/3; October 5/7/9/10. No classes September 7-12.
Winter 2026 dates: November 2/4/6/7; November 9/13/14, with no Wednesday class November 11; November 16/18/20/21; November 30 and December 2/4/5; December 7/9/11/12; December 14/16/18/19. No classes November 23-28.
What to wear: Closed-toe shoes and comfortable clothing that allows free movement. Long hair should be tied back, and loose jewelry or clothing should be secured before entering the range.
Animal Care and Horsemanship Combo - Mon 10:00AM Tues 11:30am Wed 4:00PM SAT 10:00AM
Gilchrist Farm (map)
Spend an extended class block at Gilchrist Farm by taking two of the farm's most popular programs back to back. Students begin with a one-hour Animal Care class and then continue into the introductory Horsemanship series after a short transition. The combination provides a broad, hands-on look at daily farm care as well as focused experience with horses.
During Animal Care, students meet and help care for animals that may include chickens, ducks, peacocks, guinea fowl, pigs, goats, sheep, bunnies, cows, and horses. Depending on the season and the needs of the farm, students may gather eggs, feed or brush animals, milk a goat, groom a horse, refresh bedding, explore the garden, or learn how housing, nutrition, behavior, and sanitation support animal health.
Horsemanship follows with instruction in horse-handling safety, grooming, breeds, disciplines, basic horse care, cart driving, and introductory riding skills. Students learn that riding begins with responsible care: approaching and leading safely, reading horse behavior, grooming, checking equipment, and helping with the everyday work that keeps horses comfortable and healthy. Riding skills are introduced gradually and adjusted to each student's readiness.
The Combo is designed for beginning riders age 5 and older. The Animal Care portion can accommodate younger children with a parent, but every Combo participant must meet the Horsemanship age requirement. The class is appropriate for a range of ages and is especially useful for students who want a fuller farm experience in one visit.
Mondays: Animal Care 10:00-11:00 AM; Horsemanship approximately 11:15 AM-12:30 PM
Tuesdays: Animal Care 11:30 AM-12:30 PM; Horsemanship approximately 12:45-2:00 PM
Wednesdays: Animal Care 4:00-5:00 PM; Horsemanship approximately 5:15-6:30 PM
Saturdays: Animal Care 10:00-11:00 AM; Horsemanship approximately 11:15 AM-12:30 PM
Pricing: $350 per student for the complete six-week Combo series. Because the Horsemanship curriculum is progressive and horse space is limited, the Combo is not available as a single-class or drop-in registration.
Fall 2026 dates: August 24/25/26/29; August 31 and September 1/2/5; September 14/15/16/19; September 21/22/23/26; September 28/29/30 and October 3; October 5/6/7/10. No classes September 7-12.
Winter 2026 dates: November 2/3/4/7; November 9/10/14, with no Wednesday class November 11; November 16/17/18/21; November 30 and December 1/2/5; December 7/8/9/12; December 14/15/16/19. No classes November 23-28.
Come prepared: Wear long pants or jeans and closed-toe shoes or boots. Riders may use Gilchrist Farm's certified riding helmets or bring their own certified equestrian helmet. Bring water and a snack for the short break between classes.
Animal care class - Mon 10:00AM Tues 11:30AM Wed 4:00PM Sat 10AM
Come to Gilchrist Farm for a six-week, hands-on introduction to caring for farm animals. Students learn that good animal care combines observation, safe handling, clean living spaces, appropriate food and water, seasonal care, and respect for each animal's behavior. Every meeting focuses on an animal, group of animals, or farm-care system so students can get close, ask questions, and participate in age-appropriate chores.
Animals and activities vary with weather, births, veterinary needs, and the daily work of the farm. A class may include feeding and brushing animals, gathering eggs, milking a goat, grooming a horse, refreshing bedding, learning about hoof or coat care, visiting the garden, discussing compost, or comparing the housing and diets of different species. The changing farm makes every series a little different.
Animal Care is appropriate for ages 3 and older with a parent or responsible adult. It can be taken as a stand-alone one-hour class or paired with the Horsemanship series immediately afterward through the Combo registration.
Tentative six-class curriculum
All About Goats: Meet the goats and learn about breeds, horns, housing, food, grooming, hoof care, and milking. Milking and birth-related activities depend on the season and the animals' needs.
Chickens and Eggs: Gather eggs when available, meet chicks or adult birds, compare breeds, and learn how eggs develop. Incubator or hatching observations are included only when seasonally appropriate.
Garden, Pollinators, and Compost: Explore how the farm garden supports people and animals. Students may plant seeds, gather animal-safe weeds, feed selected garden plants to animals, and learn how pollinators, native plants, and compost help the farm cycle nutrients.
How Now, Brown Cow: Learn the basics of bovine care, including safe behavior around cattle, feed, water, shelter, bedding, grooming, and the differences between cattle breeds and uses.
Birds of the Farm: Visit chickens, ducks, peacocks, guinea fowl, or other farm birds. Compare feathers, feet, beaks, housing, eggs, and flock behavior. Seasonal chicks or hatching may be included when available.
Pigs and Bunnies: Get an up-close look at the care of pot-bellied pigs, larger hog breeds, and rabbits. Learn about food, bedding, enrichment, grooming, behavior, and the daily routines that keep these animals healthy.
Mondays from 10:00-11:00 AM
Tuesdays from 11:30 AM-12:30 PM
Wednesdays from 4:00-5:00 PM
Saturdays from 10:00-11:00 AM
Pricing: $180 per student for the six-class series. Individual or drop-in classes are $35 per student and are available by advance reservation, subject to space.
Fall 2026 dates: August 24/25/26/29; August 31 and September 1/2/5; September 14/15/16/19; September 21/22/23/26; September 28/29/30 and October 3; October 5/6/7/10. No classes September 7-12.
Winter 2026 dates: November 2/3/4/7; November 9/10/14, with no Wednesday class November 11; November 16/17/18/21; November 30 and December 1/2/5; December 7/8/9/12; December 14/15/16/19. No classes November 23-28.
Please note: The curriculum is tentative. Specific animals and activities may change to protect animal welfare and reflect weather, births, arrivals, health needs, and real farm operations.
Horsemanship group series - Mon 11:00AM Tues 12:30am Wed 6:00PM Sat 11:00 AM
The six-week Horsemanship Group Series introduces students to horses from the ground up. This is a hands-on beginning program in which students learn that safe, thoughtful horse care comes before riding. Each meeting combines instruction, supervised practice, and age-appropriate participation in the real routines used to care for horses.
Students are introduced to horse-handling safety, approaching and leading, grooming, basic anatomy, breeds, disciplines, tack, cart driving, feeding, stall and stable care, and introductory riding skills. They learn to notice a horse's body language, maintain safe personal space, use grooming tools correctly, and understand how daily care affects a horse's comfort and behavior.
Riding instruction is introductory and progresses according to each student's balance, confidence, listening skills, and readiness. Because horses and riders develop at different rates, the exact riding activities may vary by student and by week. The series is best for new riders and may be repeated so students can strengthen fundamentals before moving into more advanced instruction.
Children age 5 and older are eligible. The class is suitable for both younger and older students but is organized around beginning riders. Each meeting is approximately one hour and fifteen minutes.
Mondays from approximately 11:15 AM-12:30 PM
Tuesdays from approximately 12:45-2:00 PM
Wednesdays from approximately 5:15-6:30 PM
Saturdays from approximately 11:15 AM-12:30 PM
Pricing: $180 per student for the six-week Horsemanship series, or $350 when registered as the Animal Care and Horsemanship Combo. Horsemanship is progressive and is not offered as a drop-in or single class.
Fall 2026 dates: August 24/25/26/29; August 31 and September 1/2/5; September 14/15/16/19; September 21/22/23/26; September 28/29/30 and October 3; October 5/6/7/10. No classes September 7-12.
Winter 2026 dates: November 2/3/4/7; November 9/10/14, with no Wednesday class November 11; November 16/17/18/21; November 30 and December 1/2/5; December 7/8/9/12; December 14/15/16/19. No classes November 23-28.
Required clothing: Wear long pants or jeans and closed-toe shoes or boots. Students may use Gilchrist Farm's certified riding helmets or bring their own certified equestrian helmet. Makeup classes require advance approval and available horse space.
NEW: Farm Maker’s Class FALL & WINTER Series
Turn farm materials, traditional skills, and creative ideas into useful projects to take home. Farm Makers is a six-week, hands-on craft series that connects making with farm life. Students measure, mix, pour, dip, stamp, shape, decorate, and build while learning where materials come from and how people have used practical handcrafts on farms and homesteads.
Each class introduces or advances a hands-on process leading to finished work students can take home. Most projects are completed in one meeting; the Winter Holiday Wreath Making project spans classes 5 and 6 so students have time to build, decorate, and finish the wreath. The series balances creativity with practical skills: following steps, using tools responsibly, making design choices, solving small problems, and caring for materials. Instructors demonstrate each process, supervise tool and warm-wax use, and adjust tasks so makers can participate successfully at their developmental level.
Farm Makers offers four weekly meeting options. Monday and Tuesday sessions meet before Animal Care, while the Saturday session meets after Horsemanship, allowing families to combine programs when space is available. The Friday class meets from 4:00-5:00 PM as an additional after-school option.
The class is designed for school-age makers. Younger children may need active adult assistance, especially during candle and leatherworking projects. Contact the farm before enrolling if you have questions about a child's readiness, allergies, sensitivities, or support needs.
Fall six-class project schedule
Goat Milk Soap: Learn what soap does and how milk can be used in a gentle soap base. Students select colors, scents, botanicals, or textures; prepare a child-friendly melt-and-pour goat milk soap project; pour it into a mold; and take home the finished soap after it sets. Students do not handle raw lye.
Candle Making: Explore two candle-making methods in one class. Students repeatedly dip a wick into warm wax, cooling it between layers to form a slender hand-dipped candle. They also prepare a container and wick, select an age-appropriate fragrance option, and pour a soy wax container candle. Students compare the two methods and learn why wax type, wick placement, temperature, patience, and cooling time matter.
Leatherworking: Practice basic leathercraft with safe hand tools. Students plan a simple design, stamp or etch it into leather, and finish a personalized item such as a tag, bookmark, bracelet, ornament, or small farm-themed keepsake. Projects may vary with age and available materials.
Pioneer Crafts: Try practical handcrafts inspired by farm and pioneer life. Activities may include a corn-husk doll, simple weaving or cordage, punched-tin-inspired designs on a safe material, hand stitching, or another traditional craft selected for the season.
Scarecrow Making: Learn why farmers have used scarecrows to help protect seeds and crops. Students design and assemble a one-of-a-kind scarecrow using rustic, recycled, or repurposed materials, adding clothing and creative details that give each scarecrow its own personality.
Succulent Pumpkins: Create a seasonal pumpkin centerpiece decorated with living succulents. Students learn how succulents store water, arrange prepared natural materials, and combine color, texture, and plant care in a finished project to take home. Care and replanting instructions are provided when appropriate.
Winter six-class project schedule
Goat Milk Soap: Learn what soap does and how milk can be used in a gentle soap base. Students select colors, scents, botanicals, or textures; prepare a child-friendly melt-and-pour goat milk soap project; pour it into a mold; and take home the finished soap after it sets. Students do not handle raw lye.
Candle Making: Explore two candle-making methods in one class. Students repeatedly dip a wick into warm wax, cooling it between layers to form a slender hand-dipped candle. They also prepare a container and wick, select an age-appropriate fragrance option, and pour a soy wax container candle. Students compare the two methods and learn why wax type, wick placement, temperature, patience, and cooling time matter.
Leatherworking: Practice basic leathercraft with safe hand tools. Students plan a simple design, stamp or etch it into leather, and finish a personalized item such as a tag, bookmark, bracelet, ornament, or small farm-themed keepsake. Projects may vary with age and available materials.
Pioneer Crafts: Try practical handcrafts inspired by farm and pioneer life. Activities may include a corn-husk doll, simple weaving or cordage, punched-tin-inspired designs on a safe material, hand stitching, or another traditional craft selected for the season.
Holiday Wreath Making: Begin a two-class holiday wreath project. Students prepare a wreath base, learn how greenery and natural farm-inspired materials are selected and secured, and start building the wreath's shape and texture with instructor guidance.
Holiday Wreath Making: Complete the holiday wreath by adding greenery, ribbon, pinecones, ornaments, dried botanicals, or other seasonal details. Students refine the arrangement, secure the decorations, and take home a finished wreath ready to display.
Meeting times
Mondays from 9:00-10:00 AM - immediately before Monday Animal Care
Tuesdays from 10:15-11:15 AM - immediately before Tuesday Animal Care
Fridays from 4:00-5:00 PM - after-school session
Saturdays from 12:45-1:45 PM - immediately after Saturday Horsemanship
Pricing: $215 per maker for the complete six-class series. Individual or drop-in classes are $40 per maker and are available by advance reservation, subject to space and material availability. Standard project materials are included.
Fall 2026 dates: August 24/25/28/29; August 31 and September 1/4/5; September 14/15/18/19; September 21/22/25/26; September 28/29 and October 2/3; October 5/6/9/10. No classes September 7-12.
Winter 2026 dates: November 2/3/6/7; November 9/10/13/14; November 16/17/20/21; November 30 and December 1/4/5; December 7/8/11/12; December 14/15/18/19. No classes November 23-28.215
Makeups and drop-ins: A makeup may be completed on another Farm Makers day during the same class week only when the corresponding project and materials are available. Advance permission is required. Drop-ins should register early because each project requires prepared supplies.
Safety and clothing: Wear closed-toe shoes and clothes that may get wax, dye, soap, soil, or craft residue on them. Warm wax, scissors, stamping tools, and other equipment are used only with instructor supervision. Please disclose relevant fragrance, botanical, skin, or material sensitivities before class.