Farm PROGRAMS
Double J Riding Club classes and programs are designed to support early childhood, homeschool and students away from school with hands-on learning in a variety of academic, physical, and social areas.
Double J offers a variety of Farm Classes for children ages one and up. Our classes focus on teaching children skills that nurture a reverence for life, care-taking of both animals and the environment, sensory learning, and so much more! Our classes take place both indoors and outdoors and provide a unique environment to learn about animals, plants and ecology through interacting with them rather than just reading about them. We emphasize fostering a child’s intellectual, social, physical and emotional growth using our farm, animals, gardens and nature areas.
Programs run Year Round and are open to children ages one and up.
SPRING 2023 ENROLLMENT IS NOW OPEN!
Looking for a yearlong multi-hour program for your children to grow in confidence, learn in a safe and consistent environment and build life-long friendships? Then check out our FARM SCHOOL today!
2022-23 enrollment is open for children ages 3 to 15.
AGE RANGE
PARENT-TOT
Parent-tot classes are created for our littlest adventurers, ages 1-4, and focus on sensory learning, music, games, art, imaginative play and stories. These classes encourage students to work at their own pace so that they can learn while still receiving help from their actively participating guardian.
JUNIORS
Junior classes at Double J Riding Club are created for children ages 3 -7. These hands-on programs allow children to learn through purposeful play and discovery. Children will build confidence around animals in a safe environment and explore nature in every class.
YOUTH
Youth classes at Double J Riding Club are designed for children ages 5 and up. These classes not only incorporate a hands-on learning philosophy, but will dive deeper into animal care, science, agriculture, and art techniques.
Tiny Animal Adventures
Ages: 1-4 years old
Available: Spring M-W-F 10 am. Summer M-W-F 9:30 am and 11 am
Join our caregiver and tot class held at the silo classroom. Our littles farmers will learn about farm animals through a variety of activities. Activities may include listening to a story, creating a craft, playing a game, or making food for animals. Each class ends with a visit to the farm to meet and greet our animals. This class is perfect for getting children ready for Junior Farmers or Farm School. Each week is a different theme which makes it perfect to try out multiple weeks.
Touch a Tractor
Ages: 1-7 years old
Available: May 31st and July 7th. June 2nd and July 7th will have a riding lesson.
Touch-A-Tractor event gives children of ages 1-7 the chance to look at, touch, and climb through all kinds of real-life tractors and farm equipment! Additionally children will have a ball playing in our tractor dig, cleaning the tractors and of course meeting all of our favorite farm animals!
Tortoise Tea
Ages: 1-7 years old
Available: June 2nd. May 31st will have a Pony Ride for ages 3-7
Spring is here and it’s time to celebrate our tortoise friends! Join us in our outdoor venue as we read a tortoise story, learn about tortoises, make tea and treats for the tortoises, and of course, meet and greet our friends. It’s going to be a totally terrific time for tortoises and tots! Caregivers are welcome to attend the tea with their children.
Junior Classes (Ages 3-7)
To sign up for classes aged 3-7 click here
Bunny Brunch
Ages: 3-7
Available: Week of March 27th and April 10th. The week of April 1oth will include riding
Let’s celebrate this Easter season by making brunch for our bunnies and their friends! We’ll create a buffet of food to feed out to our seasonal stars, go on an Easter egg hunt and create a themed craft. You will certainly leave in a holiday mood after spending some time with our bunnies and friends!
Rodeo Roundup
Ages: 3-7 years old
Available:
Offered Spring Semester:
Week of February 27th-April 3rd- Wednesdays from 12:30-1:30 pm
Week of April 17th-May 15th- Fridays from 12:30-1:30 pm
Offered In Summer:
Week of June 5th-July 17th- Mondays from 12:30-1:30 pm
Week of July 24th-August 28th- Wednesdays from 12:30-1:30 pm
Calling all Cowboys and Cowgirls! This class is all about Rodeo fun! Each week will focus on a different aspect of being a proper cowboy or cowgirl. Learn to lasso, take care of your horse, or how to just have fun while working on a farm. Yeehaw! There will be a pony ride in every class.
Junior Farmers
Ages: 3-7 years old
Available:
Offered Spring Semester:
Week of February 27th-April 3rd- Fridays from 12:30-1:30 pm
Week of April 17th-May 15th- Mondays from 12:30-1:30 pm
Week of June 5th-July 17th- Wednesdays from 12:30-1:30 pm
Week of July 24th-August 28th- Fridays from 12:30-1:30 pm
Junior Farmers learn through hands-on, nature-based experiences that address the developmental needs of children ages 3 to 7 as they explore the plant life and animals at our farm. Every week has its own seasonal appropriate theme, so your child will learn new concepts all year long! These themes guide our educational activities and include a variety of: animal, agricultural, science, art and nature topics. There will be a pony ride in every class!
Unicorn Riders
Ages: 3-7 years old
Available:
Offered Spring Semester:
Week of February 27th-April 3rd- Mondays from 12:30-1:30 pm
Week of April 17th-May 15th- Wednesdays from 12:30-1:30 pm
Offered Summer Semester:
Week of June 5th-July 17th- Fridays from 12:30-1:30 pm
Week of July 24th-August 28th- Mondays 12:30-1:30 pm
This class is about all things Unicorn! Each week we will explore a different reason why unicorns are so awesome! Activities will vary from story time to crafts to games and more. Class would not be complete without meeting one of our very own unicorns and going on a UNICORN PONY RIDE! Don’t miss out on this magical class!
Exploring Nature Using Eric Carle
Ages: 4-7 years old
Available: Spring Thursdays 1:45-2:45 pm
The Hungry Caterpillar, The Grouchy Ladybug, The Tiny Seed. These are just a few of the books that were written and illustrated by Eric Carle. Each week students will listen to a Eric Carle story and then participate in a variety of book-inspired science, math, music, literacy, movement, and art activities. A different book is used each week which makes it a perfect class to come multiple weeks for!
Junior Farmyard Chefs
Ages: 4-7 years old
Available: Spring Thursdays 12:30-1:30 pm
Grab your chef hat and an apron and join us for Junior Farmyard Chefs! Our young cooks will explore textures, improve fine and gross motor skills, practice measuring, and caring for animals as they create everything from pig pies to goat salads in our mud kitchen. Together, we will follow recipes for some of the farmyard animal’s favorite treats. After we mix, mash and measure, we will head out to serve the animals our culinary delights! Bon appetit! This is a drop off class!
Youth Classes (Ages 5 and Up)
Parent’s Night Out
Ages: 4 years old and up
Available: Winter Months Friday 5:30-8:30 pm
Calling all night owls! Join us for Double J Riding Club’s Parent’s Night Out! Drop your kids off and enjoy an evening out – child free. Children will participate in nature/ animal activities and games, meet and greet with tons of animals, eat a pizza dinner, make fun crafts and experiments, and more! By the time you pick your child up they will be ready for a good nights sleep!
Horsemanship 101
Ages: 6 and up
Available: Saturdays from 1:30-3:00 pm
Students in this course will gain a strong understanding of horsemanship through activities in the classroom as well as plenty of time in the barn. During this hands on program, students will learn how to be safe around horses, properly handle horses, groom and tack independently, and more! Whether you are currently enrolled in riding lessons or have never handled a horse before this class will enrich your understanding of good horsemanship. There are no riding lessons included in this class. This class cannot be taken concurrently with Horsemanship 102.
Horsemanship 102
Ages: 6 and up
Available: Wednesday 4:00-5:30 pm
Students in this course will build on what they learned in Horsemanship 101. During this hands on program, students will learn how to maintain a clean barn, feed horses, identify and care for a sick horse and more! Whether you are currently enrolled in riding lessons or have never handled a horse before this class will enrich your understanding of good horsemanship. There are no riding lessons included in this class. You must complete Horsemanship 101 prior to registering for this class. This class cannot be taken concurrently with Horsemanship 101.
Equine Science
Ages: 7 and up
Available: 2023 Tuesday, Wednesday 12:30-1:30 pm (Ride Add On Available 1:45-2:45 pm)
Do you love horses? Then this class is perfect for you! This science class focuses on learning more about horses and horsemanship through readings, journaling, and hands-on activities. Topics covered include: horse anatomy, caring for a horse, identifying and explaining a horse’s gait, horse breeds, the history of horses, how humans use horses, and equestrian vocabulary. Each week students will interact with the horses at the Double J Riding Club and complete a page in their interactive journal to document their expanding knowledge of one of the most incredible animals on the planet.
A 45 minute group riding lesson is available as an add on option.
Zoology Cats
Ages: 7 and up
Available: Spring Wednesdays 12:30 – 1:30 pm
In this class students will study cats of all shapes and sizes. Students will learn about how we and other animal care organizations care for their animals. The class will be enhanced through readings, journaling, and interaction with cats. I am sure that Butters our barn cat will be joining in for the fun!
Advanced Zookeepers
Ages: 9 and up
Available: Spring 2023 Tuesdays 12:30-1:30 pm or Thursdays 4:30- 5:30 PM
Zookeepers are tasked with not only cleaning after and feeding each animal, but also knowing their natural history. Learn how zookeepers observe and maintain happy and healthy animals.
Textile Weaving
Ages: 7 and up
Available: Spring 2023 Tuesdays 12:30-1:30 pm
In this class we’ll be exploring the age-old art of textile weaving by designing and creating our own woven projects. From tapestries to rugs to hanging art, this class is great for artistic kiddos that love seeing their own ideas come together.
Nature in Illinois
Ages: 7 and up
Available: Spring 2023 Tuesdays 1:45-2:45 pm
Illinois has a rich natural history going back millions of years. Discover the present and past landscape of our state through fossil hunting, birding, botany, and more!
Pets Grooming
Ages: 7 and up
Available: Spring 2023 Tuesdays 4:30- 5:30 pm
Hair, nails, and teeth, oh my! Every animal from a reptile to a mammal needs to be groomed in some way. Learn how to keep a different animal healthy each day.
Experimental Science: Living Science
Ages: 7 and up
Available: Spring 2023 Wednesdays 12:30-1:30 pm
One of the best ways to learn about science is by conducting experiments and investigations. In this class students will explore living sciences through hands-on experiments, activities, and investigations. Students will also learn how to complete simple lab sheets and form hypotheses.
Advanced Entomology
Ages: 10 and up
Available: Spring 2023 Wednesdays 12:30-1:30 pm
Students will study insects, the largest group of animals in the world! Learn about how insects of all shapes and sizes adapt and live in almost every corner of the world!
Junior Zookeepers
Ages: 5 and up
Available: Spring 2023 Wednesdays 1:45-2:45 pm or 4:30-5:30 pm
In each 60-minute class, students will explore and compare two different species of animals. Activities may include: learning animal fun facts, building toys for animals, creating animal art masterpieces, viewing animal habitats, caring for animals, playing fun animal themed games, cooking animal treats in the kitchen, and of course meeting the animals!
Each class is themed and will guide our activities for the week. This is the perfect way to get your child exposed to a variety of different species of animals.
Nature and Novels: Charlotte’s Web
Ages: 5 and up
Available: Spring 2023 Wednesdays 1:45-2:45 pm
Nature and Novels is a new set of courses offered at the farmhouse that focuses on language arts and science skills. In this course, students will use Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White, the classic story about a pig and a spider. Each week the instructor will read selected chapters with students. Students will discuss the novel, practice language arts skills, and learn more about science. In addition, several STEM projects will be completed.
