Program Content and Level

2023-2024 School Year

Programs and lessons will follow a unit structure. Each unit will last three months, or three programs. Units are structured to have lessons that are related. For example, the first lesson of a unit will be an introduction to the topic, and the second two lessons will explore an aspect of the topic in depth. Due to the connected nature of the units, it is recommended, though not required, for your student to attend each lesson in the unit.

All activities will be new for the 2023-2024 school year. Even if you’ve joined us for a homeschool program in a previous year, you can expect new lesson content and activities!

We offer two program levels: Young Learners and Elementary. All programs are 60-75 minutes and are designed for children who have reached specific milestones. Age/grade restrictions are due to the physical and mental demands of the program. Up Yonda Farm staff uses the guidelines below in creating educational programs, please review them to choose the best program for your child.

Young Learners are:

Ages 5-7 and/or in kindergarten or first grade
Learning to read and write
Able to count
Learning how to work in groups with others
Engaged in a program with a lesson that is NGSS aligned and may include an activity, game, craft, or story

Elementary Students are:

Ages 8-11 and/or in second through fifth grade
Mostly able to read and write without assistance (within reason)
Mostly able to work collaboratively in groups with others
Engaged in a program with a lesson that is NGSS aligned and may include reading, writing, and math in the form of an activity, worksheet, game, or craft

Program Fees

Most programs are $5 per student in addition to the per vehicle Day Use Fee, unless otherwise noted. Adult chaperones are free. The Day Use Fee and most homeschool programs are included free with a paid Up Yonda Farm Family Membership!

April Homeschool: Water Lesson 2
Thursday, April 18, 10:00am-11:15am

Young Learners: Students will learn about the water cycle and the path water takes through the environment by participating in activities and building a model.
Elementary: Students will travel back in time to experience life in the 1890s through reading from primary sources and calculating water use for a family in the 1890s. Then, they will feel the weight of the amount of water used in a day in a relay race. After the lesson, students will have the opportunity to reflect on their own water use in an at-home water audit.

May Homeschool: Water Lesson 3
Thursday May 16, 10:00am-11:15am

Registration Opens May 1st

Young Learners: Students will investigate water pollution and ways that we can minimize human impact on our water sources through an interactive story and demonstrations.
Elementary: Students will explore the concept of aquatic invasive species through a case study of the Asian Clam population in Lake George. Then, in a game, students will simulate an introduction of an aquatic invasive species to their “pond” and will record what happens to populations of native species in a graphing activity.

Homeschool FAQ

How do I register?

Registration occurs on a month by month basis. Registration opens on or around the first of the month, and closes at 3pm the Friday before the program. To stay up to date on the current month’s registration, sign up for our Newsletter and follow us on Facebook.

I have one Young Learners student and one Elementary student, can both students attend their respective 10am programs?

Yes, the Young Learners student and Elementary student can both attend their respective 10am programs.

If I’ve signed up to attend a program with my child, can my younger children (ages 4 and under) attend as well?

You’re welcome to bring non-participating younger siblings along if you’ve signed up with an older child, as long as they are supervised they do not detract from the program. We don’t currently offer homeschool programming for children ages 4 and under.

Can I drop my student off, go offsite, and pick them up when the program is over?

Sorry, no. We require an adult chaperone to be onsite at Up Yonda Farm when their child is in a program.

I have a child who I think should be in a different program than your guidelines state. What should I do?

Please contact us in advance of the program to discuss. Naturalists will be able to help you determine the best program for your child based on that month’s planned activities.

We signed up, but aren’t able to make it. What should I do?

Please contact us to cancel so we can offer your spots to a family on the waitlist. Penalties may apply for repeat no-call no-show reservations.

What else is there to do at Up Yonda Farm after the homeschool program?

There’s lots to do at Up Yonda Farm! We’re open year round, and have a variety of locations for you and your family to explore including our: turtle exhibit, museum, sugarhouse, StoryWalk, sensory garden, pond, butterfly garden, and trails. Many families choose to also pack a picnic lunch. With a paid Day Use Fee or Up Yonda Farm Membership, you get access to the whole facility!

What does the program cost?

Member – Homeschool programs and the Day Use Fee are included with a paid Up Yonda Farm Membership.

Not-yet-member – The homeschool program cost is $5 per participating student. There is also a $5 per vehicle Day Use Fee for entry and use of the facility for the day. Non-participating adult chaperones and younger siblings are not charged a program fee

Does Up Yonda Farm ever cancel homeschool programs?

If program minimums are not met, Up Yonda Farm may cancel a homeschool program or shift students from one program into another. Should this occur, families will be contacted ahead of time to choose how to proceed.

What are the units, and when are the 2023-2024 programs?

Unit 1: Habitats

Thursday, September 21st - Habitats Lesson 1
Thursday, October 19th - Habitats Lesson 2
Thursday, November 16th - Habitats Lesson 3

Unit 2: Adaptations

Thursday, December 14th - Adaptations Lesson 1
Thursday, January 18th - Adaptations Lesson 2
Thursday, February 15th - Adaptations Lesson 3

Unit 3: Water

Thursday, March 21st - Water Lesson 1
Thursday, April 18th - Water Lesson 2
Thursday, May 16th - Water Lesson 3

What happens if I can't make it to every lesson in a unit?

While it is recommended to attend all three lessons in a unit, it is not required. Relevant material will be reviewed at the beginning of each lesson in the middle of a unit.

Homeschool Programs are underwritten by the Glenn and Carol Pearsall Adirondack Foundation, “Dedicated to improving the quality of life for year-round residents of the Adirondack Park”