We Love Farming! (Ages 6-14) New Class 

Join us for this new class and become the farmers of Indian Ladder Farms. Share in the responsibility and care of our farm animals by keeping them clean, healthy, and happy. Participants will feed, water, and groom farm animals, clean animal pens, walk the farm animals on leashes and learn all about farm animal products and their uses. Learn how farmers prepare the land to produce a plentiful harvest and get hands on with the equipment they use every day. At the end of the week we will be planting our favorite herb to bring home.

We Love Farm Animals! (Ages 6-14)

Step into the world of the farm and get to know all our animals by name. Share in the responsibility and care of our farm animals by keeping them clean, healthy, and happy. Participants will feed, water, and groom farm animals, clean animal pens, walk the farm animals on leashes, help to build and create projects for the animals, and learn all about farm animal products and their uses. Always a fun time, this flagship class lets you explore our farm and learn about our animals!

 We Love Farm Animals! (Ages 6-14) Advanced

Are you a Barn School veteran? For students looking for a higher level of understanding and responsibility of our farm animals, this class offers a closer look at our livestock. Daily farm animal chores and hands-on tasks will be assigned to help keep our animals fed, watered, and groomed- like the original We Love Farm Animals class. But participants will gain additional experience with feeding, healthcare, and animal products, and go further in depth with a different topic or animal each day. Students in this class should be comfortable around our farm animals and must have previously completed a We Love Farm Animals class.

The Farmer’s Table (Ages 6-14)

Join us as we explore the different parts of the farm and the culinary wonders they offer. We will learn all about where food comes from and how it ends up on your table. Hands on experience will be given with some of our animals and in the orchard, berry patch, and garden to gather ingredients. Recipes and food prep will lead to a different food or beverage item each day. This holistic approach to the food we eat will teach your child the many benefits of eating fresh and local, as well as how to do so each season of the year. Our Farm to Table experience culminates in a tasty treat that your child will have prepared and that you are invited to share! 

Farm Wildlife Trackers (Ages 6-14)

Our farm is home to more than just livestock. In fact, Indian Ladder Farms is uniquely situated to host a rich diversity of wildlife. From feathers to fur, underground and in the air, we will explore the many different wild animals that can be found on the farm. We will keep our eyes open for any wildlife on the trails and learn how to spot and identify them and their tracks. Special focus will be on the important ways each of these animals are related to our orchards and one another. Bring your curiosity as you catch a frog with a net, look for salamanders under logs, go fishing with a pole, and learn how to identify and safely handle these animals and return them to their habitat. Then determine the role they play within the farm’s larger ecosystem. Participants will help to assess the health of the pond by catching even smaller water bugs and identifying these various macroinvertebrates.

Junior Veterinarians (Ages 6-14)

Calling all future Veterinarians and Veterinary Technicians! Participants will learn about and meet a variety of pets including traditional household pets, exotics, and large animals. Learn how to administer treatments and medication to animals on the farm and will meet and work with at least one new animal each day. Participants can expect to learn how to keep pets safe and healthy, as well as what is involved with owning different species of pets. We will learn about grooming, x-rays, view slides on a microscope, listen to heartbeats with stethoscopes, take temperatures and cuddle lots of animals! We will have fun with scavenger hunts throughout the farm and make yummy treats for dogs and farm animals (peanut/allergen free). 

We Love Chickens! (Ages 6-14)

Spend a week with chickens and learn by doing!  Feed the chickens, clean their coops, collect their eggs and even take them for walks or cuddling. Build and create projects for the chickens. Learn about chicken breeds, chicken health, and overall care for both adult birds and baby chicks.  Each child will be given their own chicken to be responsible for during the week of the class.  The week will culminate with a “fashionable” chicken show and graduates will have the option of adopting chickens to start their own backyard flock. 

Little Farmer & Friend (Ages 3-5) New Class

Calling all the youngsters! We are offering a new class this year to bring the farm experience to young children. We invite you to join your child as they explore the farm. Share in the responsibility and care of our farm animals by keeping them clean, healthy, and happy. Participants will feed, groom, and walk the farm animals on leashes. We will talk about what products we get from the farm and create a painting with our chickens. This class requires an adult to accompany the child for the week but trust as it will be a treat for all involved!

Junior Apple Farmers (Ages 6-14)

Let the harvest begin! Join us for a behind the scenes look at what we do best and help to harvest some of our early apple varieties that are ready to come off the trees. Participants will learn all about the apple growing process from seed to tree, and flower to fruit. Take a hayride out to the orchards, get familiar with the cider mill, and help our apple farmers with some picking and packing. Of course, we will be doing lots of eating too! Students will also explore some other fun recipes and ways to eat apples after all the hard work is done. 

Mindfulness, Nature and Martial Arts (Ages 6-14) New Class

Center your mind and body in this mindful taekwondo camp. Learn self defense, martial arts techniques, and self control while exploring nature in the farm. Find your inner peace and strength and learn about the tenets of taekwondo; courtesy, integrity, perseverance, self control, and indomitable spirit. Each day will consist of one full taekwondo class combined with on-farm learning and activities. No prior experience in martial arts required. This class will be taught by Michelle Stafford, an Instructor at Guilderland Martial Arts. She is a fourth degree black belt with 10 years with experience. She was a member of the National Team in 2018 and is a previous national champion.