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Welcome

       Ballentine Farm is a family owned and operated educational facility located in Waterford, Virginia.  Run by three generations of farmers and two generations of Virginia certified teachers, we are able to facilitate hands-on guided discovery amongst living laboratories of gardens, fields, orchards, barns, our pond and educational center.  Ballentine Farm prides itself on preserving the lifestyle of a small, working farm.  Our humble twelve acres allow us to offer individualized attention, providing meaningful learning experiences to visitors of all ages. 

Join us and see what you might discover!

Programs Offered at The Farm

Preschool & Kindergarten Programs

Engaging Field Trips

School Based Presentations

Summer Camp

Birthday Parties & Events     

After School Care Program

Summer CSA Program...& more!

 ________________________________________________________________________________                 New Preschool & Kindergarten Programs

We are proud to announce the begginning of the Preschool and Kindergarten programs at Ballentine Farm in the fall of 2017.  These programs will provide hands on learning experiences in a farm based setting.  Children will develop a love of learning and an appreciation for the Earth and its many gifts while working with farm animals, in gardens and in our unique nature settings.  Do your kids love to be outside? 

                    Then Ballentine Farm is the place to be!

Preschool will be open to ages 3-5 years of age and will run from 9am-12pm.

         Three year olds will have a 3 day per week option.

           Four and five year olds will have a 5 day per week option.

              Before and After Care available

Kindergarten will have a full or half day option.

          Full day program will run from 9am - 3pm Monday - Friday.

          Half day program will run from 11am - 3pm Monday- Friday.

                                  Before and After Care available.

For information contact debbie@ballentinefarm.com or call 703 216 9727.

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After School Care

Looking for something fun and educational for your child to do after school?  As teachers, we combine the structure and responsibility of school with the freedom of choice in a variety of engaging learning experiences.  Daily activities include: Snack, "Brain Break" (a chance to unwind and recharge,) Homework (time for school assignments, with opportunities for homework assistance from a certified teacher) Movement (outdoor physical activity in one of our large, open fields; including relay races, team building exercises, kickball and more!)  Activity time will allow for arts & crafts opportunities or farm animal fun; including theater, painting, sculpting, bathing horses, woodworking, science experiments & more!).  Slots will fill on a first come, first serve basis...don't miss out on the fun!  *Transportation to be provided at select schools. 

 After School Care Program Information

To register, call or email: 540-882-4546    debbie@ballentinefarm.com

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Educational Field Trips

Every field trip at Ballentine Farm is designed to address state educational standards (SOL & STEM) in an engaging learning environment.  All activities are hands-on and interactive.  Let us introduce a new unit of study or come for a review prior to state testing.  To see a field trip in action click on the following link.

vimeo.com/lcpstv/ballentinefarm

    We are currently booking all field trips for the 2015 - 2016 school year.  Click on the seasonal link for detailed descripton of each field trip.  Book your field trip today.  We fill our Fall and Spring field  trips quickly.  Admission Fee for students and chaperones.  All school employees are free.

  Fall Field Trips                Winter Field Trips           Spring Field Trips

 All About Pumpkins        Animals in Winter            Fascinating Frogs

 Pumpkin Fest                Food Chains and Webs        Egg to Chicken         

 Changing Seasons      Happenin' Habitats   How Does A Garden Grow?

Turkey Talk                     Simple Machines                 Simple Machines

Backyard Butterflies      Amazing Evergreens         Happenin' Habitats

                 

School budget limiting your field trips this year?   Contact Ballentine Farm about in school presentations.  Most of the above field trips can be adapted to provide a memorable learning experience in a school setting with a reduced price per student.  __________________________________________________        

  Summer Camp

If you are 16 years of age and are interested in interviewing for a counselor position or 13 - 14 years of age and interested in volunteering please go to the Counselor's Corner link and fill out an application.  Interviews for Summer Camp 2017 will start in February.

On first day of camp, couselors and campers get out some energy by dancing up a storm.

 Teacher Sarah shows campers how to make Goat Soap, using the milk provided by the farm's beloved goat "Crunch".

Campers use activity time to make fun masks.

Student campers experience how math can be used in baking as they prepare zucchini bread for snack!

 Campers paint the duckhouse and prepare it to be taken to the pond for the farm's new ducks to enjoy.

 Counselors and campers wave goodbye to another fun summer at Ballentine Farm.