Homeschool Programming
Our homeschool programs are our oldest and longest running programs and very near and dear to our hearts. It has been an honor to deliver an experience of connection with the natural world to such an extraordinary group of young people who choose to come back into the woods with us year after year.
A note on age overlap in groups:
If this is your child’s first time at homeschool- we recommend registration for the younger group of that age.
Fall Homeschool 2026
Thursdays 9:00 am – 1:30 PM
Youngest Flock, Fall 2026
Welcome to Fall at 4-H Acres, home to acres of diverse environments: the Ash Grove, the Hemlock forest, the Beaver dam, bubbling streams, open meadows, and more. Meet Grandmother Hickory and explore Hearth Camp with its outdoor kitchen. Have a snack in White Pine Camp, then play epic games or watch the clouds from the grassy fields. On or off the trail, animal signs and plant life provide a natural scavenger hunt for us here.
Since 2001 we’ve welcomed children ages 6-17, to create time each week for community gathering, gratitude, individual interest exploration, and peer-based projects.
Thursdays 9:00am – 1:30pm
September 24 – December 10
(No Program Nov. 26)
Middle Flock, Fall 2026
Welcome to Fall at 4-H Acres, where we will explore the changing of the seasons while deepening our skills! Will you make a debris shelter with newly fallen leaves, sharpen your carving skills, or finally light a fire using a bow drill – the woods have endless adventures in store for us! In the middle flock, we also continue to develop our group mindset – being aware of how each of us can use our gifts to uplift and support the group in not only surviving, but thriving when we all work together.
**For 9 year olds that are new to this program, we recommend the 6-9 year old group. If you are unsure of which age group your child should be in, please contact primitivepursuits@cornell.edu
Oldest flock, Fall 2026
Welcome to Fall with the oldest flock of homeschoolers, where together we will explore 4-H Acres and deepen our skills through the changing of the seasons! Hone your fire making skills while cooking a delicious feast using the outdoor kitchen constructed by the oldest flock of season’s past, and explore the reaches of your senses during sit spots and awareness challenges. In the oldest flock, homeschoolers continue to develop their group mindset and awareness of how they can support the group in thriving and reaching their goals, as well as stepping into role modeling for the younger flocks. Come explore with us!
**For 13 year olds that are new to this program, we recommend the 9-13 year old group. If you are unsure of which age group your child should be in, please contact primitivepursuits@cornell.edu
Winter Homeschool: Tracks and Trails - Winter 2027
Youngest Flock – Thursdays 9:00 am – 1:30 PM
Winter is an incredible time to be outside and learn how to not just survive, but to thrive. We will continue to explore our incredible 4-H Acres location, following tracks through the snow, telling stories around the fire while practicing our fire-making skills, learning to identify Maple trees in preparation for Maple Sugaring, and maybe even squeeze in some sledding!
*For 9 year olds that are new to this program, we recommend the 6-9 year old group. If you are unsure of which age group your child should be in, please contact primitivepursuits@cornell.edu
Location: Drop-Off/Pick-Up at 4-H Acres
Thursdays 9:00 AM – 1:30PM
January 8 – March 12, 2027(No Program February 19)Cost: $430-$530 ($442.90-$545.90 with credit card)scholarships availableDeposit: $100Age range: 13-16
tracks and trails – Middle Flock, Winter 2027
Welcome to Winter at 4-H Acres, where we will practice our skills and strengthen our skills while we learn how to not only survive, but thrive in a world blanketed by snow. Build a quinzhee hut in the meadow, search for elusive Bobcat and Fisher tracks in the hemlocks, and learn to notice the subtle changes of Winter as Maple Sugaring season approaches. Come find out what makes Winter so special!
*For 9 year olds that are new to this program, we recommend the 6-9 year old group. If you are unsure of which age group your child should be in, please contact primitivepursuits@cornell.edu
winter explorers – Oldest flock, Winter 2027
This is a traveling camp for our oldest group of homeschoolers. Each week we will set out from 4-H Acres by van and travel to natural areas in our region to learn to identify trees, read signs of the history of a forest, track the changes of the season, and so much more. From sighting Snow Geese on Cayuga Lake to exploring Fischer Old-Growth Forest slumbering through the Winter, and even some sledding, there are so many unique Winter adventures waiting for us!
Drop-off and pick-up will be at 4-H Acres.
**For 13 year olds that are new to this program, we recommend the 9-13 year old group. If you are unsure of which age group your child should be in, please contact primitivepursuits@cornell.edu
spring homeschool 2027
Thursdays 9:00 am – 1:30 PM
Youngest Flock, spring 2027
Welcome to Spring at 4-H Acres! Join us as we witness the earth wake up from its Winter slumber and fill the woods with green again. Together we will learn about Spring ephemeral plants before they are shaded out by the growing leaf canopy, tune into the language of birds, and get muddy!
**For 9 year olds that are new to this program, we recommend the 6-9 year old group. If you are unsure of which age group your child should be in, please contact primitivepursuits@cornell.edu
Thursdays 9:00am – 1:30pm
March 25 – June 3
(No Program April 8)
Middle Flock, spring 2027
Join us as we slow down to notice the changes of Spring at 4-H Acres. Can you spot the Spring ephemeral plants that have sprouted this week, or see signs of an animal that has come out of hibernation, or track the growth of the canopy above? Tune into the language of birds as they build nests and raise their young, and notice who returns from Winter migrations to add their song to the chorus of the forest. Add your voice too as we explore, grow together, and get muddy!
**For 9 year olds that are new to this program, we recommend the 6-9 year old group. If you are unsure of which age group your child should be in, please contact
Oldest flock, spring 2027
Spring is a time of growth and renewal, in the forest and in ourselves. Watch as Spring ephemeral plants poke their way through the soil, and then fade away as the growing canopy fills the forest floor with shade. Discover more about your unique gifts and how you can use them to help your group thrive. Learn about wild edible plants as they grow, and even taste them as practice your fire making and campfire cooking skills. Step into being a role model for younger groups as you grow in your confidence, awareness, and skills. As we track the changes in the season, can you also track the changes in yourself?
**For 13 year olds that are new to this program, we recommend the 9-13 year old group. If you are unsure of which age group your child should be in, please contact primitivepursuits@cornell.edu