Class Dates 2026:
Spring early and Spring late 2026 series below. No classes over the summer-check out summer camp and private lessons! Then we return to classes in August.
For each of the classes, this is the schedule. So if your class meets on Mondays, follow that schedule. See the individual classes for day choices. Classes with multiple dates can be made up other days of the same class.
Early Spring Series 2026 Dates
Class 1: February 23/24/25/28
Class 2: March 2/3/4/7
Class 3: March 9/10/11/14
Class 4: March 16/17/18/21
Class 5: March 23/24/25/28
Class 6: March 30/31 April 1 and April 4
Late Spring Series 2026 Dates
Class 1: April 13/14/15/18
Class 2: April 20/21/22/25
Class 3: April 27/28/29/ May 2
Class 4: May 4/5/6/9
Class 5: May 11/12/13/16
Class 6: May 18/19/20/23
CLASS DETAILS
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 your hand at archery or step your skills UP to the next level! In every archery class we offer— SAFETY on the range is top priority. Learn the commands and safety protocols that keep the range and all archers safe. Learn techniques to help you develop your skills, try new approaches or shooting styles, practice your favorites with guidance to help you advance.
This flex class is good for first time archers through advanced beginners.
We provide all equipment, included in the class price. Archers may provide their own equipment with instructor consent (just bring it along directly to the instructor on the first class for approval).
Axe Throwing is included in our teen and adult classes on SATURDAYS ONLY. So.Much.Fun! Learn to throw hatchets/tomahawks/axes at wooden log targets.
Each class is one hour. Sessions are 6 weeks.
Mondays at 4 pm ages 7-18
Wednesdays at 4 pm ages 7-18
Fridays at 4pm ages 7-18
Saturdays at 9:00 mixed ages-All ages welcome, 7 years old through Adult. Includes Axe Throwing.
Make-up classes available on other days if class is not full. Must have advanced reservations/permission due to size restrictions.
$180 per shooter for six class series. Single/ Drop in classes are $35 and first come, first served with reservations only. Adult chaperones and observers do not need to pay for class, only shooters. Private lessons available, email info@gilchristfarm.com to schedule.
Animal Care and Horsemanship Combo - Mon 10:00AM Tues 11:30am Wed 4:00PM SAT 10:00AM
Gilchrist Farm (map)
In this special 6 week class combined class, come to the Gilchrist Farm take our two most popular classes back to back!
Begin with our on hour Animal Care Class: learn how to take care of chickens, ducks, peacocks, pigs, goats, sheep, bunnies, cows and horses. Each class will focus on an animal or a group of animals for a close up look and feel - feed the animals, brush the animals, gather the eggs, milk a goat, groom a horse, and learn what caring for animals is all about.
Then, stay for our Horsemanship Series. Students will be introduced to horse handling safety, grooming, breeds, disciplines, cart driving, horse care and basic riding skills. As each rider progresses, additional skills are introduced as appropriate. This class is one and half hours. Class is introductory and best for new riders. Horse care is hands on during this class, where we learn all about cleaning, feeding and caretaking-as well as riding!
Children ages 5 and up are eligible to participate in this series (the Animal Care class can accommodate younger students, but the Horsemanship Series requires riders to be age 5 and older). Class is appropriate for both older and younger students but is geared specifically for beginning riders. Students should wear long pants or jeans, closed toed shoes or boots and may use our certified riding helmets or bring their own certified horse riding helmets.
Students staying for both classes should bring along water and a snack for in between the two classes.
Combo Class: $350 for the six week series. Not available as a drop in or single class- class is progressive. Series may be repeated. Make-ups may be done during the series on another day.
Animal care class - Mon 10:00AM Tues 11:30AM Wed 4:00PM Sat 10AM
In this special 6 week class, come to Gilchrist Farm to learn how to take care of chickens, ducks, peacocks, pigs, goats, sheep, bunnies, cows and horses. Each class will focus on an animal or a group of animals for a close up look and feel - feed the animals, brush the animals, gather the eggs, milk a goat, groom a horse, and learn what caring for animals is all about. Take as a stand alone one hour class or combine with our Horsemanship Series immediately following.
Appropriate for ages 3 & up with a parent. $35 per individual class or $180 for the series of 6.
Class is offered Mondays from 10:00-11:00AM, Tuesdays 11:30-12:30 PM and Wednesdays 4:00-5:00PM and SATURDAY form 10:00AM-11:00AM Each Series is 6 weeks. Series may be repeated in different seasons. Horsemanship follows immediately after for those students taking the combo class.
Tentative Schedule (subject to change based on actual births/arrivals and changes at the farm):
Class 1. All About Goats- We'll milk the goats, trim goat hooves, do some grooming and hair trimming, spend time petting and learning about different breeds, housing, food, habits, horns and more! April 2026 is the likely month of births this year.
Class 2. Chickens! -During this class we'll gather eggs, visit and learn about chicks and chickens and we'll put the eggs into the incubator-setting up for a hatch during week 5. We'll peek at the eggs, check on their progress and discuss their development in subsequent classes.
Class 3. In the Garden! We'll learn about gardening and how the garden works at the farm. Children will get to pick some weeds to feed to the animals (they'll feed the goats, bunnies, ducks, tortoise, chickens) and they will get to plant some seeds. We'll learn about planting for pollinators and native plants. We’ll learn about composting! Spring 2026 this will include setting up the Butterfly Encounter.
Class 4. How Now Brown Cow. We’ll learn all about the goings on with cows and more in this action packed class. We’ll cover the basics for bovine care in this fun class and help keep their space well bedded. We will possibly even work with the cows!
Class 5. Hatching! By class 5, we should have some hatching happening from the eggs we incubated. We'll focus on chicks, hatching. We'll visit with the peacocks, who have just shed all of their feathers and are beginning their new growth! We’ll spend some time with the other birds, ducks, and guinea fowl. We should also have butterflies emerging by this class or at the least some great chrysalids to explore.
Class 6. This Little Piggy...We'll get up close and personal with our pot bellied pigs and our several breeds of hogs. There may be some new piglets, getting ready for our Pig Races! (To be determined). We'll learn about the habits and happenings of pigs! And bunnies. We'll meet and greet our bunnies and learn how to take care of bunnies.
Each series is just a little different-join the next series if you liked it!
Mondays from 10:00 AM-11:00 AM
Tuesdays from 11:30 AM-12:30 PM
Wednesdays from 4:00 PM-5:00 PM
Saturdays from 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM
Horsemanship group series - Mon 11:00AM Tues 12:30am Wed 6:00PM Sat 11:00 AM
In the 6 week Horsemanship Group Series students are introduced to horse handling safety, grooming, breeds, disciplines, cart driving, horse care and basic riding skills. As each rider progresses, additional skills are introduced as appropriate. Each class is one and half hours. Class is introductory and best for new riders. Horse care is hands on during this class, where we learn all about cleaning, feeding and caretaking-as well as riding!
Children ages 5 and up are eligible to participate in this series. Class is appropriate for both older and younger students but is geared specifically for beginning riders. Students should wear long pants or jeans, closed toed shoes or boots and may use our certified riding helmets or bring their own certified horse riding helmets.
Class may be taken as a stand alone class for $180 or combined with the Animal Care Series for $350 Horsemanship is a one and a half hour class. Not available as a drop in or single class- class is progressive. Series may be repeated. Make-ups may be done during the series on another day.
Mondays from 11:15AM-12:30PM
Tuesdays at 12:45-2:00 PM
Wednesdays from 5:15 PM-6:30 PM
Saturdays from 11:15 AM-12:30 PM