Weekly Place-Based Learning at Mangaroa Farms
A steady weekly rhythm of learning, care, and creativity
One Day Learning Programs
Where children slow down, learn deeply, and find belong with nature each week.
Earth School Aotearoa’s One Day Programmes offer a weekly, term-based learning day for children aged approximately 5–12. Designed for families in Upper Hutt and the wider Wellington region, the programme can sit alongside homeschooling or mainstream schooling.
Each day is facilitated by experienced educators and grounded in place, relationships, and seasonal rhythms. Children spend time outdoors and in the schoolhouse, engaging in hands-on exploration, creative practice, storytelling, and shared care of spaces and materials.
One Day Programs at a Glance
Ages: ~5–12
When: One day per week, term-based
Days: Monday (Nature & Science) or Thursday (Culture & Expression)
Cost: $650 per child, per term
10% sibling reduction availableLocation: Mangaroa Valley, Upper Hutt
Enrolment: By enquiry
Schedule
One full day per week during term time
Mondays or Thursdays
Drop-off: 10:00am
Pick-up: 2:00pm
Program runs in line with the local school term calendar
Children attend the same day each week, allowing for consistency, rhythm, and strong relationships to develop over time
How It Works
One full day per week during term time
Small, mixed-age groups
Choice of Monday or Thursday focus
Weekly Focus
Mondays: Nature & Science
Outdoor immersion and scientific curiosity through seasonal ecological themes such as soil, water, plants, insects, weather, and food systems.
Thursdays: Culture, Story & Expression
Worldview, meaning-making, and creative expression through pūrākau, haka, waiata, art, music, and movement. Cultural learning is offered in an inclusive, invitational way — supporting curiosity, respect, and expression rather than performance or prior knowledge.
Overarching themes
While learning feels natural and child-led, it is thoughtfully grounded in the New Zealand Curriculum, including Science, Social Sciences, English, Mathematics & Statistics, and the Key Competencies, with a strong emphasis on environmental understanding, wellbeing, and care for people and place.
Fees
One Day Programs are offered as a term-based, one-day-per-week learning experience. Fees reflect small group sizes, experienced educators, and the use and care of Mangaroa Farms as a living learning environment. Farm fresh lunches are provided.
$650 per child, per term
10% sibling reduction
Limited needs-based support available by conversation
We aim to be transparent about costs and are happy to answer questions about how fees are structured.
Who This Is For?
Many families come to Earth School because something in their current rhythm isn’t quite working — too much sitting, too much pressure, or not enough connection. Our One Day Program offers a steady, supportive pause in the week and is suitable for:
Homeschooling families seeking facilitation and connection
Children attending mainstream school who benefit from a day of nature-based, creative learning
Families looking for a consistent, term-based rhythm rather than drop-in activities
These programs are facilitated learning experiences rather than a full-time school. Responsibility for children’s education remains with families.
Spaces are intentionally limited to protect the quality of the learning environment. Enrolment is by enquiry to ensure a good fit for children and families.
“This day has become the anchor of our week. My child comes home full of stories and a sense of belonging.” - Program Parent
