Do you think your young child may do well in an outdoor school setting? Curious parents can visit Sequoia’s Farm and Forest School during an open house on Tuesday, August 5, or Wednesday, August 6, 2025, between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. to find out more. There will be tours of the Farm and Forest School and an activity to take part in. Light refreshments will also be available.
Sequoia’s Farm and Forest School is located at 3529 Libby Rd NE, Olympia, WA 98506. At this address, you will see a brown fence with a white banner sign. Please enter through the gate and park at the outbuildings, then let someone know you are there.
Sequoia’s Farm and Forest School has been around for four years and was recently fully licensed as an Outdoor Nature-Based child care program through Washington state. The Farm School is designed for children from 3.5 to 7 years old.
The Farm School program is open from 8:30 a.m. – 3 p.m., Monday through Friday. There are also options for before care from 7 a.m. – 8:30 a.m. and after care from 3 p.m. – 6 p.m., for additional fees. Sequoia’s Farm and Forest School accepts DSHS state subsidies and CCA military subsidies.
Sequoia’s Farm School Uses the Outdoors as its Classroom
“The curiosity of children keeps me on my toes,” says Willow, lead teacher at Sequoia’s Farm School. With nature all around, the curriculum evolves with the seasons. Days are spent on a farm that extends over 4 acres. Every day is a new experience with changing weather, farm animals, gardens with veggies and different fruits, a mud kitchen, climbing in the Wonderwoods, play deck and play structures, fruit bushes and trees, and more.
Learning is geared to the whole student through creativity, social emotional education, choice, mutual respect, and exploration which are important areas of focus in all of Sequoia’s programs.
Sequoia’s Farm and Forest School is inspired by the Reggio Emilia (Italy) Model of Education
The educational program at Sequoia’s Farm School is student focused, maintaining importance on social collaboration by encouraging children to work in groups and develop knowledge through communication with others. It is based on principles of respect, responsibility and community through exploration, discovery and play. “Communication, choice, mutual respect, learning through play, creativity and lots of outside time in nature build the framework for Sequoia’s Farm School experiences,” explains Sequoia Hartman, founder and owner. Children experience playing together and are encouraged to communicate their thoughts and feelings.
Early Education in Action with Farm Life
Children tend to all the animals including Lambert and Shaun, the two sheep, and Coco and Fudge, the two alpacas. Chickens roam the farm along with a peacock named Petey. Yes, kids get to ride the two ponies, Sophie and Lady. Youth are accompanied by an adult to enter the enclosed areas to fill hay troughs and pellet dishes and to gather eggs. The learning that goes along with tending to the needs of animals is much more comprehensive and hands-on than reading about it in a book.
Farm-to-Table Learning with Hands-On Experience at Sequoia’s Farm School
Other chores the children take part in on the Farm involve the garden. “We have a multitude of pumpkins, peas, Brussels sprouts, strawberries, and a variety of greens. Every week we have a cooking project,” says Willow. Young chefs make salads and bake bread. Children bring their own lunches, and food from the garden provides many of the snacks. Other projects may be canning tomatoes and curing potatoes for optimal storage.
Farmers need to learn about growing food under shifting conditions. Children get to experience this firsthand. The giant garden is an outdoor laboratory for planning, seeding and watering. It is necessary to pay attention to the effects of weather and insects. There’s planning for crops and figuring out what goes where. There are rows to count and seeds to distribute. Science and biology work hand-in-hand with understanding nutrients in the ground and in the plants and about amounts of watering required in relation to temperature and weather. Don’t forget the joy of watching things grow and doing some farm-to-table cooking to enjoy the fruits of their labor. There is also a new commercial sized green house where children will be able to grow plants year-round.
Wet Science is Always Popular at Sequoia’s Farm School
A seasonal creek – mostly winter – runs along one side of the property with an area of trees for climbing called the Wonderwoods. It’s the perfect environment to explore wildlife, plants, bugs, frogs and other critters. It is another rich teaching experience. There is also a large Mud Kitchen where dirt cupcakes and mud pies are made and served. Making watery messes is perennially fun.
The two large fields are perfect sites for group activities and games. Young learners also have time during the day to be quiet and reflect.
We live in a high tech, often low touch world frequently disconnected from ourselves, each other, and our physical world. Sequoia’s Farm School in Olympia helps to foster resilience, make personal connections and interact with our planet. Time outdoors in a stimulating environment is a wonderful opportunity for your young children. Investigate your opportunities at Sequoia’s Farm School this coming Tuesday and Wednesday.
Before and After School Care is Available
For families who need extended care, children may be dropped off as early as 7 a.m. After school care runs from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. This additional care comes with additional fees (please see the website for more info).
Fall 2025 school year begins September 3rd, 2025, and follows the South Bay Elementary School year calendar (Farm School is open during most Elementary School Breaks and Professional Development days). Check out the Sequoia Treehouse website for more information and registration. You can also arrange a tour by calling 360.515.5780 or email sequoiastreehouse@gmail.com. Parents may also have interest in Sequoia’s Treehouse Children’s Center for their younger children located within four minutes driving time from the farm.
Sequoia’s Farm and Forest School
3529 Libby Road NE
Olympia, WA 98506
360.515.5780
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