The Art Farm in the City, an animal-based education center for children in Manhattan, recently began two new programs: a home-school enrichment class and an after-school animal care program.
 Children will observe animal skull replicas in the home-school program. |
During the home-school program, children will have a hands-on living science experience during which they will be introduced to the 40 different animals at The Art Farm in the City, including rabbits, chinchillas, birds, lizards, turtles, guinea pigs, fish, frogs, and invertebrates, says director Valentina Van Hise. Children will also look at replicas of animal skulls and bones, and X-rays, to learn about the animals. The class runs Mondays from 11:30am-12:30pm for ages 6-8 and Wednesdays from 11:30am-12:30pm for ages 5-7.
The Animal Care after-school program gives children the opportunity to spend time with live animals while developing care skills. Each week during the winter session, children will learn about different classifications of animals, such as mammals, birds, and reptiles, then do an activity to drive home what they learn, Van Hise says. The class is offered 3:30-4:30pm on Mondays for ages 3-4, Tuesdays and Thursdays for ages 4-6, and Wednesdays for ages 5-7.
Children can enroll in the winter sessions for a prorated fee.
The Art Farm in the City also offers birthday parties, mommy and me classes, an alternative preschool, and a variety of drop-in programs, including Mornings on the Farm during which children can feed the center’s animals on Saturdays and Sundays from 8-10am.
The farm is an eco-friendly facility that focuses on teaching children about and caring for animals and the planet, Van Hise says. “And philanthropy is a big part of who we are. For every child that comes to our program, we donate to a charity that helps children go to school,” she adds.
