Important Info, Click each button to learn more!
We use Brightwheel for our enrollment and billing. When you enroll you will have to make an account.
Learn about our program:
Farm & Forest School
Farm & Forest is a nature-based program that combines child-led exploration with guided learning experiences. Children will spend their days outdoors exploring through possible activities such as gardening, tracking animals, studying plants and wildlife, creating nature art, playing games, building shelters, learning basic tool and fire safety, cooking over campfires, hiking, learning social skills, and connecting with one another through play.
Our program is mostly self-directed and experiential. We do not teach formal academics; learning happens through hands-on experiences, curiosity, and mentorship in nature.
At Giving Gardens of Indiana Farm & Forest School, we believe the natural world is a powerful classroom—supporting creativity, resilience, confidence, and meaningful social connections.
Farm & Forest School
4-12yr old
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Class Locations:
Class Locations:
Mondays: Class will take place at Giving Gardens of Indiana for every class.
Tuesday & Thursdays: Most classes will take place at Giving Gardens of Indiana or Morsches Park.
Location change will only be for scheduled field trips.
Main Locations for Class:
-Giving Gardens of Indiana
479 S. Towerview Dr.
Columbia City, IN 46725
-Morsches Park
1035 IN 205, Columbia City, IN 46725 (located in very back of park under pavilion next to the pond)
Field Trips to be announced.
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Dates/Times:
First Semester 15 week Program:
2025/26 School Year
Mondays 1-4pm (3hr)
and/or
Tuesdays 9am-2pm (5hr) (4 spots available)
and/or
Thursdays 9am-2pm (5hr) (FULL, but your child can be added to the waitlist)
Second Semester 15 week Program:
2025/26 School Year
Mondays 1-4pm (3hr) (4 spots available)
Begins January 19th
and/or
Tuesdays 9am-2pm (5hr) (4 spots available)
Begins January 20th
and/or
Thursdays 9am-2pm (5hr) (FULL, but your child can be added to the waitlist)
Begins January 22nd
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Tuition:
Registration: $65 per family (non-refundable) for 1 day option. $130 per family (non-refundable) for 2 day option. (TUESDAY & THURSDAY PARTICIPANTS)
$104 per family for 2 day option. (Monday & Tuesday or Thursday)
Mondays-$39 per family (non-refundable) for 1 day option.
This holds a spot for your child for the semester. This must be paid when you register to hold your child’s spot. This will be applied to your tuition when classes begin. If you choose to pull your child from the program, you will NOT be refunded your registration fee.
Each Semester is a 15 week Program:
TUESDAYS & THURSDAYS
1 day: $975 per child ($65 per week) for 15 weeks
Sibling discount: $50 off each additional child
2 day:
Drop in Fee: $70 per class
MONDAYS
1 day: $585 per child ($39 per week) for 15 weeks
Drop in Fee: $45 per class
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Payment Information:
Giving Gardens of Indiana offers the following payments plans: one lump payment OR weekly. If tuition is not paid in full, a full weekly payment is due at the end of the week. A registration fee will be applied to hold your child’s spot for each program and applied towards your tuition total. For early withdrawals from a program after the school year/semester begins, prorated refunds will be applied according to the time of withdrawal if tuition was paid in full, minus the registration fee.
All bills and billing plans are created in Brightwheel and paid through Brightwheel. A $25 late fee will be applied after 10 days of a missed payment.
If you choose to temporarily withdraw your child from our programming, we will not hold their spot in the program.
Scholarship Information:
Garden Scholarship: 25% off school year tuition. This is based off of income. You can fill out the scholarship form in the link at the top of this page. Our treasurer will review the form and make a determination if the scholarship is awarded. Scholarships are available on a first come first serve basis . There are no guarantees you will receive the scholarship.
You must apply each semester, if only participating in 1. If applying for the whole year, we will consider it for the year. You must re-apply every semester/year your child/ren will attend. You must have you scholarship request sent in no later than 4 weeks before each semester begins.
Fundraiser #2: Flower Power – Flowers & Bulbs
Families can sell beautiful flowers and bulbs to community members, with 40-50% of the profit applied directly to their student’s tuition.
Browse the Spring Catalog and share with friends, family, and neighbors!
How It Works:
1. Share the link with potential buyers.
2. Customers order directly online. No need to collect orders or money.
3. 50% of the total sales will be credited toward your student’s tuition.
4. ***When placing orders, customer needs to enter “Giving Gardens of Indiana & student name” in the notes section, or credits will not apply.
Get Started Today! Both fundraisers provide a fantastic way to lower tuition costs while engaging in meaningful community-based sales. If you have any questions or need assistance, please contact Rachel Alexander at rachel@givinggardensofindiana.com.
Happy fundraising! - The Giving Gardens of Indiana Team
Would your family be interested in fundraising to lower your own child’s tuition costs?
Then these fundraisers are for you!
Giving Gardens of Indiana is excited to offer two fundraising opportunities to help families reduce their student’s tuition costs. By participating, families can earn funds directly toward their student’s tuition while supporting local businesses and gardening initiatives!
Fundraiser #1: Filler Family Apiary – Local Honey & Products
Our garden beekeepers, Filler Family Apiary, are offering discounts on their high-quality honey and products. Families can sell these items, and the profit will go directly toward their student’s tuition.
Available Products:
- Local Raw Honey - 8 ounce bears 50% goes towards your tuition
- 30% of online orders. This includes subscription boxes
- 30% of a seasonal gift basket/bag
How It Works:
1. Share the link with potential buyers.
2. Customers order directly online. No need to collect orders or money.
3. The portion of the sales mentioned will be credited toward your student’s tuition.
4. ***When placing orders, customer needs to enter “Giving Gardens of Indiana & student name” in the notes section, or credits will not apply.
Student Tuition Fundraiser
ESA Voucher/Funding for students with special needs and support programing. If your child is being homeschooled and needs an ESA SP (IEP) you must go to your local school district to get this recommendation for your child to get qualified for this financial support. Your child must be 5+ years old to qualify. Follow the QR Code in the image to get funding. This funding can be used for tuition for our programs.
ESA Scholarship Account:
Daily Rhythm
Class Schedule:
8:50am-9am: Arrival Time
9am-9:30am: Morning Free Choice
9:30am-9:45am- Morning Meeting
9:45-10:30am-Lesson-Activity/Free Choice
11:30am-12pm-Lunch
12pm-1:45pm-Basecamp Exploration/Activities
1:45pm-2pm-Clean up/Good Bye
Free to Learn
“The drive to play freely is a basic, biological drive. Lack of free play may not kill the physical body, as would lack of food, air, or water, but it kills the spirit and stunts mental growth. Free play is the means by which children learn to make friends, overcome their fears, solve their own problems, and generally take control of their own lives. It is also the primary means by which children practice and acquire the physical and intellectual skills that are essential for success in the culture in which they are growing. Nothing that we do, no amount of toys we buy or “quality time” or special training we give our children, can compensate for the freedom we take away. The things that children learn through their own initiatives, in free play, cannot be taught in other ways.”
-Dr. Peter Gray, Free to learn
