Pioneer Farmapalooza! 

Kids today find it hard to imagine a time before cellular phones, video games, and movies on-demand in every possible location.  This week they'll get to experience something different -- excitingly different!  Kids will get to make and sample delicious farm to table food that they harvested themselves, and play with fun toys crafted with their own hands, and they'll engage in play that ignites all the senses and their imagination to boot -- and they'll meet animal companions / co-workers who share this earth and our friendship. 

Kids will have the chance to milk a goat, collect eggs, feed the animals, harvest from the garden, try some simple baking, make butter to slather on their fresh-baked goodies, and squeeze their own refreshing lemonade.  They can also make mudpies in the outdoor play kitchen, dress up the baby dolls, pan for "gold", paint with squirt guns ("Hands up, pardner!"), brush out the ponies, learn to sew, put on a show in the outdoor puppet theater, ride the rope swing, relax in the tree fort, and even scrub some clothes on the washboard. 

This week will also feature lots of fun farm themed arts & crafts, games, stories, and of course outdoor play.  Plus we'll also be busy in the garden learning, in a hands-on kid-friendly way, how things grow and where our food comes from. 

On Friday June 7 th we'll take a pioneer walk to the nearby prairie reserve to have an old fashioned picnic on the grass.  Campers can take turns pulling the wagon full of goodies and get pony rides in our mini covered wagon pulled by mini pony Cookie.  We will provide equipment for sack races, ball play and frisbee play and a docent guided exploration of the adjoining wild spaces.  Y'all come play!   

Walking field trip to the Soquel Prairie Reserve on Friday June 7 th.

Where the Wild Things Are:   Animal Teamwork!

 

 For centuries, people believed that life in nature was only about competition and survival of the fittest.  But scientists and wildlife observers of all kinds have discovered that there is much more kindness, caring, and cooperation going on in the natural world that we ever imagined.  From monkeys to meerkats, crows to wolves, and honey bees to farm yard buddies we'll learn and pretend about the animals that live and work together as teams.  We might even learn a few tips to make our own lives a bit happier.  Children will also sample cooperative games, and chores, that help them explore the value of cooperation and teamwork in the human world.

  And of course we'll also make fun arts & crafts in a variety of mediums and play and pretend with costumes, face paint, puppets, and more.   As always, we'll meet the farm animals, help with afternoon farm chores, and enjoy our beautiful outdoor play space.

Docent led walking field trip to the woods on Friday June 14^th.

Fairy Tale Fun 

Fairy Tales come to life this week as we celebrate childhood classics like Snow White, Rapunzel, Red Riding Hood, Jack & the Beanstalk, Alice in Wonderland and the 3 Little Pigs and the Big Bad Wolf. 

Play, pretend, create, and enjoy some magical outdoor story time readings, dramatic performance on our outdoor stage and of course puppet shows.  Don't forget to make your own puppets and props to use here at the outdoor puppet theater and to take home.

June 24^th –

June 28^th  

Medieval Make Believe  

 Welcome ye young lords and ladies, jesters & wizards, knights and princesses and princess-knights too!  It's time to frolic with the fairies and help us defend the castle against rogues and dragons! 

 Partake in the festive revelry of sword play, and archery.  Sew your own dragon. Make clothespin    fairies.  Build a mini catapult.  Decorate your own shield or crown.  Create your own fairy wand or magic scepter and dabble in the science and lore of gems & geodes.  Daily dress up and impromptu performances on our outdoor stage.

We will also be looking forward to another visit from the Terra Dragon!  And of course our resident unicorns will be expecting lots of love and attention.

Where the Wild Things Are 2:   Underground Animals!

Summer is here!  Let the wild rumpus begin!  We’ll grab our magnifying glasses, our digging tools and our critter collecting jars as we explore the world under our feet and answer the following questions: What makes those little mounds popping up in the yard?  Who lives in the mysterious holes and tunnels here on the farm and down at the meadow?  We'll discover that many kinds of creatures live in our gardens, parks and open spaces -- some who annoy us, some who help us, and others who will just amaze us, including moles, badgers, burrowing owls, snakes and so much more.

  Plus we'll dig in the garden, feed our worm farm, and do fun hands on science .  We'll also make fun arts & crafts in a variety of mediums and play and pretend with costumes, face paint, puppets, and more.   And of course, we'll meet the farm animals, help with afternoon farm chores, and enjoy our beautiful outdoor play space.

Walking field trip on Friday morning July 14th to explore the meadow just down the street with a naturalist from the Little Basin & Natural Bridges interpretative programs.   We'll gain new appreciation for real-life wild things both large and small that live under the farm and neighboring woods and fields.

Docent led walking field trip to the woods on Friday July 12^th.

Ocean Week:   Sharks, Whales, Mermaids, & Pirates
Ahoy there! Mermaids, pirates, and other sea denizens can join us for shark & whale lore, arts & crafts and lots more ocean themed fun and learning. Our very own docent from the Seymour Center will be on hand here at Little Garden Patch to help answer our burning questions about sharks and other creatures of the deep. We'll have a whale of a good time so don't forget a change of clothes because things are sure to get wet around here!

Little Garden Patch Farm is closed July 29th - August 2nd

Our after school care program resumes thereafter.