Check Out: Spring & Summer Class Registration!
Education
Little Farmers
Ages 3 - 5
(must be 3 by May 1)
3-week series
Class Cost: $55
Little Farmers T-shirt is included for every child.
Bring your little animal lover to Critter Barn for our three week series: Little Farmer's Class. Children will begin to understand the difference between egg-layers and mammals, fur and feathers, hoof and paw, beak and bill, and so much more. Class meets one time each week for 3 weeks. Your child will meet, feed and interact with every species on our farm.
This is often a first-time encounter with live farm animals for children, so send an adult to share the memories and enhance your Little Farmer's experience. Bring your camera too!
For class frequently asked questions, click here
CRITTER CAMP
Ages 8-16
(must be 8 by May 1, 2022)
3-Days: MWF or TThF
June, July and August
8:30am - 3:00pm
Class Cost: $170
Enjoy an inside look at our entire farm operation. Campers learn the basics about each farm species. Campers will feed and care for our mammals and birds. They’ll learn about farming methods, fiber, animal nutrition, grooming, milking goats, egg production and composting.
Critter Barn’s experience teaches life skills and the rewards of good work while helping on our farm. Your Camper will meet new friends who enjoy animals too. They will grow confidence and a sense of responsibility as they work alongside our staff.
Our Critter Camp class is the prerequisite for children and youth to volunteer as members of our Critter Crew. Take the class and you can volunteer all year.
For class frequently asked questions, click here
Important Information
Class Frequently Asked Questions
Costs
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One-time class - $20
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Little Farmers 3-week series - $55
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Animal Adventures 2-Day - $60
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Animal Adventures 5-Day - $85
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Critter Camp - $170
Cancellation Policy
In the event you must cancel, money will be refunded ONLY with at least 2 weeks/14 days or more notice.
Changes in registration must be made in writing and emailed to
Medical emergencies resulting in cancelations will be honored when you provide a signed memo from the Attending Physician. We would be happy to reschedule your child or provide a refund.
ACCOMMODATIONS FOR SPECIAL NEEDS
Critter Barn makes accommodations for students with special needs to attend class. This includes but is not limited to allergies, disabilities, medical conditions and social/learning needs. Receiving adequate information from guardians is crucial for our success. Any information is kept strictly confidential. Please notify us of your child's needs as far in advance as possible to allow us to best prepare a quality experience for your child.
Scholarship
Information
Contact Us
Questions or concerns?
Contact us at 616-748-1110 or e-mail makayla@critterbarn.org
Spring Classes:
February - May
Summer Classes:
June - August
Fall Classes
September - November
Baby Animals
Ages 3-5
(must be 3 years old by February 1, 2022)
One-time class offered in the Spring
Class Cost: $20
Add a Baby Animal class t-shirt for $10
Meet the new "baby faces" at the Critter Barn: ducklings, chicks, lambs, kids, bunnies and calves are the new stars in the barn each spring. Our class includes hugging, petting, feeding, handling, and watching every one of our adorable baby animals! This one-time class experience is to be shared, so please being a grown-up along.
Please note, that our class curriculum changes with the weather, the seasons, and with who's just born in the barn. You’re invited to attend this class over and over!
For class frequently asked questions, click here
BEE Smart!
Ages 6-12
(Must be 6 by February 1, 2022)
One-time class offered in late winter
Class Cost: $20
There’s something new at the Critter Barn this year! Meet two professional beekeepers: Phillip Preston and Don Lam. Learn about the amazing honey bee! Without bees, there would be very little food for anyone to eat!
You will learn about beekeeping in all seasons plus the special equipment used to safely manage and handle hives. Try on a beekeeping suit! Learn how the worker bees truly do all the work. See beehive boxes, and learn about honey. Students will receive a copy of the informative booklet: Welcome to our Honey Farm.
*NOTE*
February and March classes will have no live residents in the hives (no bees!)
For class frequently asked questions, click here
Kids For Kids
Ages 6 -10
(Must be 6 by February 1, 2022)
One Time Class
Class Cost: $20
Add a Kids For Kids class t-shirt for $10
Meet our 4-legged kids and all the other new barn babies. Critter Barn's newest arrivals love to run and jump around the farm! Bottle feed the kids or calves, feed and water the ducklings, and add straw bedding for the little lambs. Cup your hands around a baby chick. We guarantee your kid will love the hands-on fun with our kids and all the new farm babies.
For class frequently asked questions, click here
ANIMAL ADVENTURES
Ages 6-8
(Must be 6 years old by May 1, 2022)
2-Day Class - $60
5-Days Class - $85
June, July and August
All students receive and Animal Adventure T-Shirt
Join us for a real farm adventure this summer! It’s Hands-on fun at its best! Adventures with our friendly farm animals will give your student an up close and personal experience all around our farm. Learn to hold and handle chicks and bunnies, walk the goats, feed giant baby bottles to our calves, give a bubble bath, feed treats, make mud for the pigs!
Choose a 2 day or 5 day option and plan to have an ADVENTURE to remember!
For class frequently asked questions, click here
Goodnight Barn
Ages 6 -12
One-time Class
Weeknights in the Fall: 6:00pm - 7:30pm
Class Cost: $20
Add a “custom” class t-shirt for $10
Have you ever heard a pig snore? Have you ever watched a goat sleep? Our Good Night Barn class lets kids experience the farm at the end of the day. We will turn the lights off as we finish caring for Critter Barn’s animals. As the sun goes down, we use flashlights to focus and see where to go. It's a one-of-a-kind-class! It’s fun to walk through the barn and see the animals settle down for the night... shhhhh!
For class frequently asked questions, click here
Fall Fun On The Farm!
Ages 5 -8 and Ages 9 -12
One-time Class
Tuesday / Thursday Evenings: 4:30pm - 6:00pm
Class Cost: $20
Are you looking for a little fun on the farm? This fall Critter Barn is offering classes for kids of all ages! The focus of the class changes each week, so take one, take two or take them all!
Some of the class focuses include:
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Exploring the garden! Planting new seeds and harvesting crops to feed the animals
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Learning about egg layers! Take a peek into the egg layers on the farm, learn about chickens, ducks, geese and turkeys, and of course… eggs!
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All about goats! Walk a goat, feed a goat, bathe a goat, milk a goat… all about goats!
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Our wooly friends! Learn about sheep, Angora goats and Angora rabbits.. all the animals that give us fiber!
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Mooooo! Learn about our cattle friends including the calves, Daisy our Heifer, and our steer!
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Hanging with the Kittys and bunnies! Spend some time with the cuddliest animals on the farm feeding, brushing and playing with the cats and rabbits!
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And so much more!
For class frequently asked questions, click here
Dear Parents and Friends
It is meaningful when a young person realizes that the quality of the job we all do determines the quality of our animals' lives. And it is inspiring to watch children and young people build bonds with the animals around our farm. We invite your child to engage in our farm chores, care for our garden, care for and feed our animals. It will change their life.
This year we are offering classes once again, and trust you will consider enrolling someone you know! We continue to follow safety practices, and ask that your student attends class when healthy. Details about our classes are explained, but if you have questions, feel free to contact us!
Keep growing!
Mary L Rottschafer
Founder, Executive Director
To view Critter Barn's Class COVID Guidelines Click the Button Below
For Class Frequently Asked Questions Click the Button Below