Wright-Locke Farm’s youth programs offer children a unique, hands-on experience learning about farming and the natural world on our historic working farm. For each child, we aim to inspire curiosity about the natural world, foster a sense of comfort in the outdoors, and develop a sense of respect for living things. All of our programs include lessons and activities related to agriculture and the environment using our fields, pastures, barns, woods, and farm animals as a living classroom. Specific subjects include Wright-Locke farm animals (goats, chickens, honey bees), farm operations, outdoor exploration, and plant growth.
We have instituted tiered pricing for all of our youth programs. Please choose the price that works best for your family—regardless of which tier you select, everyone enjoys the same program! If you are able, please select Tier A or Tier B while registering to make tiered pricing possible.
Interested in a group visit or enrichment program? Please email us at FarmEd@WLFarm.org!
Please use this link to log in or create an account in our system.
Last year we transitioned to a new system!
If you had an account in our previous registration system:
- Select “Forgot your login information?” and check “I need to reset my password.” Choose your preferred way of resetting your password (text or email). On the next screen, your username is the email that is associated with our previous registration system. If you have issues resetting your password, please email FarmEd@WLFarm.org
If you did not have an account in our previous system:
- Select “New User.” Complete the subsequent forms to create your account.
Once you have logged in and created an account you will be able to browse our available sessions!
If you encounter any issues, please contact our Youth Programs Manager with any questions.
Payment & Refund Policy:
- Online payments can be made via the following credit cards: Visa, MasterCard, Discover
- Payment for a youth program, made by credit card, check, or cash, must be submitted at least 30 days in advance of the program’s start date. Failure to comply may result in the loss of your child’s spot in the program for which payment is owed.
- Tuition refunds are guaranteed up to 30 days prior to the start date of a program minus a $15 administrative fee. Cancellations within the 30 days prior to the program are nonrefundable if the child’s spot cannot be filled. (If the spot can be filled, a 50% refund minus the $10 administrative fee will be given.)
- There will be no tuition refunds for cancellations made after a program has begun.
- No full or partial tuition refund or credit will be given for a child’s failure to attend any part of a program for which they are registered.
- We will make every effort to adapt programs to the weather or reschedule if possible. In the event that we must cancel a program due to weather and we are unable to reschedule, the program tuition is nonrefundable.
Updated January 17, 2024.
Photo & Video Policy:
- The Conservancy may take photos and digital video footage of activities throughout the educational program season for record keeping and publicity purposes. Participant names are never used in connection with these photos or videos.
Liability Statement (Permission for the Conservancy to handle emergencies):
- I realize injuries can occur from participation in Farm programs. I hereby waive, release, absolve, indemnify, and agree to hold harmless the Wright-Locke Farm Conservancy, Inc., their Board of Directors, instructors, or assignees, and the Town of Winchester from any claim arising out of injury to my child or myself. Should my child be taken to the hospital for emergency purposes, I hereby grant permission to the attending physician and staff to administer anesthesia, medical, X-ray, and surgical procedures as may be deemed necessary or advisable. I understand that every attempt will be made to contact me in an emergency.
As part of Wright-Locke Farm’s goal to become a more diverse, equitable, and inclusive organization, we have instituted tiered pricing across all of our youth education programming. This allows families to choose the price that works best for them, reducing the cost-barrier to our programs. The tiers are calculated as follows:
- Tier A: 50% above the standard cost
- Tier B: 15% above the standard cost
- Tier C: The standard cost (what we normally charge for each participant)
- Tier D: 25% below the standard cost
- Tier E: 50% below the standard cost
Please select the price that is best for your family. If you are able, please consider selecting Tier A or Tier B prices. Families that register at these prices help support other children’s participation in our programs. Additionally, when you pick our above program cost tiers the Cummings Foundation matches those funds. A little extra goes a LONG way!
In addition to our tiered prices, limited financial assistance is available for all farm education programs. To request additional assistance, please email FarmEd@WLFarm.org.
Join us for another fall of outdoor programs at Wright-Locke Farm! Starting in September, participants will come to the farm once a week for six weeks to explore a variety of topics focused on the farm, our animals, signs of the fall, and the adjacent Whipple Hill Conservation Area. In addition to new topics each week, children will help with our chicken and goat chores! This includes bringing food and water to the animals and collecting the chickens’ eggs! These programs aim to facilitate a connection with the outdoors, develop a love of learning, and foster curiosity. Tiered pricing available ($120-$360).
This program is for children 4 years and older.
Session 1
Friday Morning
10am-12pm
9/13-10/18
Session 2
Friday Morning
10am-12pm
10/25-12/6
*No class on Friday, November 29th*
Join us for another fall of outdoor programs at Wright-Locke Farm! Starting in September, participants will come to the farm once a week for six weeks to explore a variety of topics focused on the farm, our animals, signs of the fall, and the adjacent Whipple Hill Conservation Area. In addition to new topics each week, children will help with our chicken and goat chores! This includes bringing food and water to the animals and collecting the chickens’ eggs! These programs aim to facilitate a connection with the outdoors, develop a love of learning, and foster curiosity. Tiered pricing available ($120-$360).
Session 1
Monday Afterschool
3:30pm-5:30pm
9/9-10/21
*No class on Monday, October 14*
Wednesday Afterschool
3:30pm-5:30pm
9/11-10/16
Session 2
Monday Afterschool
3:30pm-5:30pm
10/28-12/2
Wednesday Afterschool
3:30pm-5:30pm
10/23-12/4
*No class Wednesday, November 27th*
Join us for another fall of outdoor programs at Wright-Locke Farm! Starting in September, participants will come to the farm once a week for six weeks to explore a variety of topics focused on the farm, our animals, signs of the fall, and the adjacent Whipple Hill Conservation Area. In addition to new topics each week, children will help with our chicken and goat chores! This includes bringing food and water to the animals and collecting the chickens’ eggs! These programs aim to facilitate a connection with the outdoors, develop a love of learning, and foster curiosity. Tiered pricing available ($120-$360).
Session 1
Thursday Afterschool
3:30pm-5:30pm
9/12-10/17
Session 2
Tuesday Afterschool
3:30pm-5:30pm
10/29-12/3
Thursday Afterschool
3:30pm-5:30pm
10/24-12/5
*No class Wednesday, November 28th*
Join us for another fall session of our kitchen hybrid program at the farm. Participants will come to the farm once a week to explore a variety of topics focused on the farm, our animals, signs of the season, and the adjacent Whipple Hill Conservation Area. We will split our time for four of these weeks between the kitchen exploring farm to table cooking with Chef Kelcy. These programs aim to facilitate a connection with the outdoors, deepen our understanding of our food systems, and foster curiosity. Tiered pricing available ($130-$390).
Session 1
Tuesday
3:30pm-5:30pm
9/10-10/15
Join us for 9 weeks of Sprouts! This caregiver and toddler class is meant to engage our littlest explorers through a different topic each week. We will learn about our goats and chickens along with the environment around us! We always take advantage of what the season has to offer. This might mean stomping in puddles, exploring wind or learning about wild birds. This class is for 2 and 3 year olds accompanied by a caregiver. We will also share tips and tricks with caregivers on how to engage your kiddos in the outdoors and prepare you for some challenges that may arise. Tiered pricing available ($169-$338).
Tuesday Mornings
9/10-11/4
9:15am-10:15am
10:30am-11:30am
Wednesday Mornings
9/11-11/5
9:15am-10:15am
10:30am-11:30am
In this class we’ll explore the world through the camera’s lens together. We’ll use fun activities to learn about creative camera settings, composition, lighting and shadows, and posing.
We’ll do some fun ‘trick’ photography, portraits, documentary style photography and talk about the fundamentals of image creation using an exercise with cyanotype fabric. We’ll spend time exploring Wright Locke Farm as part of our documentary lesson and use the farm animals as our subjects.
This class is designed for 6th-8th grade students.
Requirements : A digital camera is required, this can be a dslr, point and shoot or even a mobile phone camera.
Tiered pricing available ($169-$338).
Wednesday Afterschool
9/11-10/16
3:30pm-5:30pm
Summer 2025
We will update our website with our summer schedule in December
Registration will open in mid/late January
Community Programming
Please note that some of the collaborative programs have varied registration guidelines and pricing.
If a program’s registration is managed by Wright-Locke Farm, please make sure that you have created an account in our system and that all information is accurate before our registration date. Please use this link to log in and update your information.
Our Fall Storywalk is up!
The Hike by Allison Farrell is picture book about three children on an adventure hike. It tells of the berries they pick, the stream they cross, climbing a mountain, and all the sights they see along the way!
Please come for your own hike on the farm and in the woods! We’d love to hear about your own adventure — what did you see? Who did you meet? Keep a look-out for ducks wading or frogs jumping or turtles warming themselves on the logs in the pond. Can you find the chickens pecking at the ground or laying eggs? You might even see a hawk or hear an owl!
This is a short and stroller-friendly loop, easy for little legs and leashed furry friends. Bring a snack and enjoy the farm.
Loop: You’ll start by the lower animal paddock near the Squash Barn, walking down the gravel path towards the pond. Loop around the pond, into the shaded woods. Come out by the Win Fast Forest and hike back up the hill to the farm property. (Be aware that there might be poison ivy, so please stay on the path.)
Special thanks to the partnership with Winchester Public Library and Winchester Cooperative Bank.
This is free and open to the public during farm hours.
Homeschoolers at the Farm
We’re revamping our Homeschool programs so please check back often! If you’re a homeschool family, we’re glad to hear from you. We’ll be creating a survey this summer so please reach out so we can share it with you!
Of course, feel free to email us about any homeschool inquiries/suggestions: farmed@wlfarm.org
Dates:
We’ll have more dates starting in the Fall! Check back often!
Time: 9:00am – 10:00am
Join Lauren Winterer with your family to learn about the Chickens at Wright-Locke Farm!
You’ll be invited into the chicken coop to complete the chicken chores with one of our Educators. The chicken chores include feeding and watering the chickens, collecting the eggs, checking on their bedding, and giving them all a lot of attention.
Please be sure to wear clothes that are comfortable and you don’t mind getting soiled.
Price per family:
$20 Buys a bag of Chicken Scratch
$18 Buys a bag of Chicken Feed
$15 Buys a bag of Bedding
We ask that children 3+ participate as some of our animals can be overwhelming to our youngest human friends. (Tag-along children welcome.)
Dates: We’ll have more dates starting in the Fall! Check back often!
Time:
1:00pm – 2:00pm
Take the goats for a walk at Wright-Locke Farm and into Whipple Hill!
Goats walks will take place in the fields and trails behind the farm on 82 Ridge Street. Participants will gather in front of the goat pen to learn about the goat’s diet, behavior, jobs on the farm, and their overall health. The group, led by an educator or a farmer, will then head out on the walk with our 5 goats. Just like the goats, the group will stay together as a herd as the goats graze on what is left for greenery this time of year. If the goats are lucky, they might find a few acorns that the squirrels missed.
Participants should be ready to hike over steep and off-camber terrain. The group will help by guiding the goats on the walk for about 30-45 minutes before leading them back to their pen. Participants are encouraged to pet the goats and take pictures with them. The walks are subject to cancellation during inclement weather.
Clothing & shoes: Please be sure to wear clothes that are comfortable and you don’t mind getting soiled. Always wear closed-toed and water-proof shoes.
Please do not bring anything to feed the goats.
Price per family:
$20 Buys a Goat Pedicure (Pay-It-Forward)
$18 Buys a Bale of Hay (Cost to run the program)
$15 Buys Straw for Bedding (Reduced price for accessibility)
We ask that children 3+ participate as some of our animals can be overwhelming to our youngest human friends. (Tag-along children are welcome.)
Financial Assistance
In addition to our tiered prices, limited financial assistance is available for all farm education programs. To request additional assistance, please email FarmEd@WLFarm.org.
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the Youth Programs Manager
Farm education programs are generously supported by the Cummings Foundation and the John and Mary Murphy Foundation. You can support the Farm by making a donation.