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:
2026/27 School Year
Mondays 1-4pm (3hr) 6 spots left
Begins August 17th, 2026
and/or
Tuesdays 9am-2pm (5hr) 2 spots left
Begins August 18th, 2026
and/or
Thursdays 9am-2pm (5hr) 2 spots left
Begins August 20th, 2026
Second Semester 15 week Program:
2026/27 School Year
Mondays 1-4pm (3hr) 6 spots left
and/or
Tuesdays 9am-2pm (5hr) 2 spots left
and/or
Thursdays 9am-2pm (5hr) 2 spots left
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Tuition:
2026/27 Registration Fee:
-Monday (3hrs)-$42 per family
-Tuesday or Thursday(5hrs)-$70 per family
-Tuesday and Thursday (10hrs)-$140 per family
**(all non-refundable)
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.
2026/27 Programming
(Each Semester is a 15 week Program)
MONDAYS(3hrs)
1 day: $630 per child ($42 per week) for 15 weeks
Drop in Fee: $50 per class
TUESDAYS or THURSDAYS (5hrs)
1 day: $1,050 per child ($70 per week) for 15 weeks
TUESDAYS & THURSDAYS (10hrs)
2 day: $2,100 per child ($140 per week) for 15 weeks
Drop in Fee: $80 per class (1 day)
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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.
**See Below For Financial Aid and Sibling Discounts Information
Making Nature-Based Learning Accessible
At Giving Gardens of Indiana, we believe every child deserves access to meaningful, nature-based learning experiences.
Thanks to new support from the DEKKO Foundation, we’re expanding financial assistance options for families. If cost has ever been a barrier, we encourage you to explore the opportunities below. 💛
💛 Income-Based Financial Aid
We offer confidential financial aid based on Free & Reduced Lunch guidelines:
25% off tuition – Reduced Lunch Eligible
50% off tuition – Free Lunch Eligible
Up to 75% off tuition – Available in select high-need situations
We’re happy to talk through your situation and help find the best fit.
👨👩👧 Sibling Discounts
We’ve increased support for families with multiple children:
2nd child: 10% off
3rd+ child: 15% off
Discounts are automatically applied to make enrollment more manageable for families.
🌿 Family Contribution Program
Families can now earn tuition credit by contributing time in a structured, consistent way.
Ways to participate:
Assisting during program time (activities, snack, setup/cleanup)
Helping with garden tasks
Supporting events like First Fridays, Plant Giveaway, or Farm to Fork
Participating in weekend work days or prep projects
How it works:
Participation is scheduled (not drop-in)
Credits are earned after completing a set commitment
Roles support staff, not replace them
This is a great option for families who can contribute time instead of additional tuition.
⚖️ A Flexible Approach
We know every family’s situation is unique. Our goal is to:
Support families with the greatest need
Help multi-child families stay enrolled
Offer flexible, creative ways to make programs accessible
We are always open to conversation and will do our best to find a solution that works for you.
💬 Let’s Talk
Interested in financial aid, sibling discounts, or the Family Contribution Program?
📧 Email: rachel@givinggardensofindiana.com
We’re happy to walk through your options with you.
At Giving Gardens, we are committed to creating, educating, and connecting our community through nature—and making sure every family has the opportunity to be part of it.
Financial Aid Information:
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
