Little Explorers at Fern Hollow

About this event

Little Explorers at Fern Hollow

A weekly outdoor gathering for children and their caregivers

***NOTE: Our first Friday session on October 2nd is full, you are welcome to join waitlist for this date and we will let you know if space becomes available. All other session dates are open and available to RSVP.

Join us Friday & Wednesday mornings (alternating each week) at Fern Hollow for a few hours of outdoor play, exploration, creativity, and connection on the farm and in the forest.

Little Explorers is a relaxed, child-centered gathering where children have space to follow their curiosity, play freely, get their hands dirty, and take part in the everyday rhythms of farm and forest life. Our 14-acre permaculture farm and surrounding family forest offer plenty of room to explore—from gardens and orchards to woods, fields, animals, and seasonal projects.

Mornings may include wandering the woods, building forts, digging in the garden, harvesting what's growing, feeding chickens, making art, gathering natural materials, helping prepare a simple snack, setting the table, or simply finding a quiet place to observe and play. We will offer invitations and activities, but there is no formal curriculum or expectation that children participate in everything.

The group is intentionally mixed-age and flexible. We welcome toddlers, preschoolers, elementary-aged children, and older siblings or homeschooled children who want to spend time outdoors and take part in the morning. Older children may have opportunities for more independent exploration, meaningful farm work, creative projects, or helping younger children when appropriate.

At the heart of Little Explorers are:

• Child-led outdoor play and exploration

• Imaginative play and storytelling

• Gardening, harvesting, and seasonal farm activities

• Creative work, crafts, and making things by hand

• Practical life skills—feeding animals, gathering, preparing food, setting the table, and caring for shared spaces

• Opportunities to build independence, confidence, and problem-solving skills

• Learning to notice and name feelings, practice emotional regulation, and navigate social experiences

• Healthy risk-taking and learning through real-world experiences

• Time to slow down, observe, rest, and simply be outside

This is a caregiver-and-child gathering, not a drop-off program . Parents and caregivers remain responsible for their children throughout the morning. We encourage adults to take an observant, supportive role—giving children room to explore independently while stepping in when needed.

We also hope this becomes a place for adults to connect with one another: to share a cup of tea, spend time outside, meet other local families, and become part of a small community growing around Fern Hollow.

When

Fridays · 10:00 AM–12:00 PM

Where

Fern Hollow Farm · Somerset, Ohio

We spend our time outdoors in all but the most difficult weather, so please come prepared for the conditions. Boots, layers, rain gear, and clothes that can get muddy are encouraged.

Little Explorers is offered freely, with optional donations welcome . If you'd like to contribute, donations will go directly toward materials, snacks, activities, and other things that help support the program.

A few shared agreements:

We want Little Explorers to be a space where children have room to explore, take appropriate risks, follow their own interests, and build relationships—with one another, with adults, and with the living world around them.

• Space for free play and exploration. Caregivers are encouraged to take an observant role and support children's child-led activity rather than directing their play.

• Be present. We ask adults to be present with their children, with one another, and with the environment around us. Whenever possible, save phones and outside work for another time.

• Respect the living world. We model and practice respect and open-mindedness toward animals, plants, the land, and one another.

• Care for one another. Help children navigate social interactions with kindness, awareness, and respect while allowing them room to work through age-appropriate challenges.

• Leave room for the unexpected. Farm and forest life doesn't always follow a plan, and some of the best parts of our mornings may be the things we didn't set out to do.