Farm School Collective
Sowing Seeds to Save the Family Farm
Bringing nature-based early childhood education to
farms, backyards, and public spaces across the Carolinas.
Our Story
Welcome to the Farm School Collective.
We are so glad you are here.
Our story begins with a simple but powerful belief: if we want to preserve America's family farms, we must first help the next generation fall in love with the land that sustains us.
The Farm School Collective was created to make nature-based early childhood education accessible in communities everywhere—not only on working farms, but anywhere children can build meaningful connections with the natural world.
No Farm? No Problem.
While our roots run deep in agriculture, a working farm isn't required to create a thriving Farm School. Our curriculum and community model are intentionally designed to flourish in backyards, wooded properties, community gardens, parks, nature preserves, beaches, and other outdoor spaces.
Wherever children have room to dig in the dirt, look up at the sky, ask big questions, and explore with wonder, a Farm School can grow.
Rooted in Nature.
Built for the Future.
The Farm School Collective was founded by Alison Gordon—an environmental educator, lifelong conservation advocate, and passionate believer that childhood belongs outdoors.
Raised on a family farm where a love of nature, conservation, and land stewardship was woven into everyday life, Alison carries forward the legacy her parents instilled in her: that children flourish when given the freedom to explore, imagine, and connect deeply with the natural world. That philosophy inspired the creation of Farm School by the Sea and continues to shape every program, every lesson, and every woodland trail.
Today, Alison and her husband, Mark, alongside their three daughters, Emma, Katy, and Makena, steward Seahorse Stables Equestrian and Farm School by the Sea on their 12-acre farm in Wilmington, North Carolina. Each day brings a front-row seat to something remarkable—children growing more confident as they climb fallen logs, care for animals, splash through puddles, build forts, and discover the quiet magic of the changing seasons.
Yet that joy exists alongside a growing challenge. Across the country, family farms face increasing financial pressure, while many children spend less time outdoors than any generation before them. As farmland disappears and childhood becomes increasingly screen-centered, both our agricultural heritage and children's connection to nature are at risk.
The Farm School Collective was created to help change that.
By empowering farmers, educators, and landowners to open their gates to nature-based early childhood programs, the Collective creates new opportunities for family farms to thrive while giving young children the priceless gift of an authentic childhood rooted in the outdoors. Every farm school strengthens a local community, preserves working land, and inspires the next generation to care for the natural world.
This is more than an educational model. It is a movement to keep family farms alive, reconnect children with nature, and ensure that both continue to flourish for generations to come.
Little Sprouts Caregiver & Me
Birth - Toddler
A gentle, sensory-rich weekly playgroup designed for our youngest explorers and their caregivers to experience the natural world together. Toddlers build confidence and curiosity through play, nature crafts, storytime, and hands-on animal interactions.
Nature
Playschool
Ages 3-5
A play-based, outdoor preschool experience that anchors early literacy, math, and science in visible seasonal rhythms. Preschoolers foster independence, cooperative play, and emotional resilience through nature exploration and daily farm routines.
Homeschool Enrichment
Ages 5-10
A project-based program designed to enrich elementary homeschool education through real-world agricultural and environmental science. Students dive deep into animal husbandry, handcrafts, wilderness skills, and ecology while building lasting friendships under the open sky.
Day Camps &
Special Events
Ages 3-10 & Family Fun
Multi-day summer camps and ticketed seasonal festivals that keep your space vibrant and profitable year-round. From summer camps to signature community gatherings like Fall Festival on the Farm, these programs bring high foot traffic and steady seasonal revenue.
What’s Included in Your Get Started Package:
🌱 Complete Fall & Spring Curriculum
Full access to our 8-week Fall and 8-week Spring Little Sprouts lesson plans, sensory setups, mud kitchen ideas, book lists, and supply lists.
📚 Printable Admin & Enrollment Paperwork
Done-for-you enrollment forms, farm policies, liability templates, and printable activity sheets so you don't have to create anything from scratch.
💻 Monthly Coaching & Q&A Calls
Direct mentorship with Alison Gordon—a North Carolina native and environmental educator with 25+ years of experience. Monthly group calls run August–November 2026 for Fall and February–May 2027 for Spring.
📈 Marketing & Social Media Exposure
Custom promotional templates plus direct features on our social media channels to spotlight your farm and drive local family registrations.
🤝 Farm Visits, Content Days & Collaboration
In-person farm visits, content days, and ongoing connection with our growing network of farm schools across the region.
Partnering for Farm Success 🌾
The Commitment: Just 1.5 hours of hosting families, 1 day per week. 8 weeks in the Fall and 8 weeks in the Spring—only 16 program days total across the entire year!
The Revenue Potential: Welcoming just 20 families across the Fall and Spring sessions brings in an extra $4,000 in revenue using the farm infrastructure you already have.
Pilot Program Investment:
Regular Get-Started Package: $500
Pilot Member Pricing: $400 (Save $100 as a founding partner)
💡 Your entire year’s membership is completely covered by the tuition of just 2 enrolled families attending a single 8-week session!
In exchange, all we ask is for your feedback as we continue building and refining the program together.