“Blending Homeschooling and Homesteading: Explore the Innovative New Park District Initiative!”

Children are urged to get involved and experience the dirt in a newly launched program by the St. Charles Park District. Hosted at Primrose Farm, Home School Homesteaders showcases agricultural activities tailored specifically for the homeschooling community.

“This initiative was designed following the success of our Homeschool Day event held in the fall,” stated Patricia Kennedy, supervisor of the farm program. “We believed it would be enjoyable to provide a hands-on and unique program for homeschoolers interested in diving deeper into agriculture and history.”

The program is set to occur over a two-hour period across three consecutive Thursdays, serving as an introduction to the homesteading way of life, which focuses on independence and creativity.

Children will have the chance to engage with various farm animals – including cows, goats, and chickens – while discovering how to care for them appropriately. Participants will also acquire gardening skills, assisting farm staff as they prepare for the upcoming spring planting season. Additional practical skills will encompass chopping firewood and learning how to cook using a wood-burning stove.

“Participants will prepare a meal to cook in the wood-burning stove, utilizing ingredients that can be cultivated at home with minimal store purchases,” Kennedy mentioned.

Facilitating this program is the farm’s newly established 2,400-square-foot educational center. Officially inaugurated in September 2024, the facility boasts ample teaching space, including a learning lab, alongside offices for the staff.

“It features a fantastic test kitchen which allows us to conduct more food-related agricultural programs,” Kennedy remarked about the area, which has a capacity of up to 75 individuals.

Home School Homesteaders targets children between the ages of 8 and 14 and is scheduled to run from 1 to 3 p.m. on three consecutive Tuesdays: Jan. 16, 23, and 30; Feb. 13, 20, and 27; and March 13, 20, and 27.

The fee is $50 for residents and $75 for non-residents.