At a Glance

• Ages: Approximately 5–12, learning in small, mixed-age groups.

• Days: Monday to Friday, with a different focus each day.

• Hours: Monday–Thursday, 10am–2pm; Friday, 9am–3pm.

• Location: Mangaroa Farms, Upper Hutt.

• Kai: Farm-fresh lunches included.

• Fees: $650 per child, per term, for each weekly day selected.

• Attendance: Choose one or more regular days each week, with enrolment for the term. Parents are welcome to stay, but this is optional.

Our Weekly Themes

Each day offers a different doorway into learning, with room to follow children’s interests and the changing seasons.

Mondays: Nature & Science

10am–2pm

Connecting with the living world through outdoor discovery, hands-on experiments and seasonal themes such as soil, water, plants, insects and food systems. Children practise observing, asking questions and following their curiosity, building scientific understanding and deepening their understanding of and care for the land..

Tuesdays: Nature & Art

10am–2pm

Following children’s questions and creative ideas through art inspired by the land. From working with clay and natural pigments to learning tikanga for harvesting and weaving harakeke, children develop artistic skills, express themselves and practise caring for the materials and places they learn from.

Wednesdays: Nourishing the Self

10am–2pm

Exploring wellbeing through nourishing food, movement and breath. Children follow the journey from soil to shared kai through growing, harvesting, foraging and cooking whole foods. Alongside gentle breathing practices, exercise and playful movement, they learn to listen to their bodies and connect healthy land, food and wellbeing.

Thursdays: Culture, Story & Expression

10am–2pm

Exploring identity, belonging and creative expression, grounded in our place in Aotearoa. Children engage with te ao Māori through pūrākau, waiata, haka and learning guided by Māori kaiako, while sharing and discovering stories, traditions, art, music and movement from cultures around the world.

Fridays: Forest School

9am–3pm

Slowing down, exploring deeply and building a living relationship with the forest. Through free play, bushcraft and guided exploration, children develop confidence and practical outdoor skills. Experiences include fire safety, cooking over a fire and discovering the regenerating forests and wetlands of a working farm.

Interwoven Learning

Four pillars weave through every day at Earth School:

• Nature: Discovering the living world and learning to care for the places that sustain us.

• Self: Understanding our bodies, feelings, interests and needs, and developing confidence in who we are.

• Community: Building friendships, learning across differences and contributing to community life.

• Discernment: Asking thoughtful questions, exploring different perspectives and making considered choices.

These threads come together naturally in the garden, around shared kai, through creative expression and in moments of discovery.

Child-led enquiry is central to our approach. We follow children’s questions, interests and observations, with kaiako providing guidance, resources and experiences that deepen their explorations. A discovery on the forest floor or a question over lunch can lead into science, storytelling, mathematics, practical skills and understanding one another.

Children spend time outdoors and in the schoolhouse, with a balance of shared experiences and space to pursue their own enquiries.

Who Is Earth School For?

Our programmes welcome families seeking more time for nature, creativity, practical learning and connection.

Time here can complement home education or provide a weekly learning experience alongside mainstream schooling. Some children come for outdoor adventure; others for creative expression, friendships or the opportunity to explore their interests at a different pace.

Regular attendance helps children become familiar with the place, develop friendships and feel part of the community.

Earth School offers part-time learning programmes and is not a registered school. Families remain responsible for their child’s education and for arranging any attendance away from their enrolled school.

Fees & Enrolment

$650 per child, per term, for each regular weekly day, including farm-fresh lunches.

• A 10% sibling discount is available.

• Fees are adjusted pro rata for children joining partway through a term.

• Limited needs-based support is available.

Enrolment begins with a conversation about your child, their interests and needs, and the days you are considering. Spaces are limited to maintain small groups and attentive support.

Come Find Your Place

We’d love to hear about your child and what you’re looking for. Get in touch to discuss availability and whether Earth School could be a good fit for your family. Enrolment begins with a conversation about your child, their interests and needs, and the days you are considering. We can then arrange a sample day so your child can experience Earth School before you commit to a term.